Earth is a planet of environmental extremes, ranging from numbing cold to blistering heat. With only a few exceptions, humans live primarily in temperate regions, but an eclectic array of other creatures thrive in the inhospitable. These organisms are known as extremophiles. Here are a few

Team Edward, Team Jacob, and Team Leeches? Probably not. While Hollywood vampires—especially those in the Twilight series—have a devoted fan base, real-life bloodsuckers aren’t so adored. Transmitters of diseases and often just downright creepy, they prove that drinking blood isn’t always sexy. So,

Have you ever wished you were an eagle, soaring high above the prairie? How about the mythical phoenix, rising from the ashes? For centuries people have wistfully watched birds take wing and felt a bit jealous. But what about birds that don’t fly? You’d think they’d hold a grudge against their

While honeybees seem to get all the attention, there are actually more than 20,000 species of incredible bees in the world. Bees of all kinds (with a tiny handful of exceptions) are essential pollinators to an astounding 80 percent of the world’s flowering plants. Thank you, bees! Here are eight

Edgar Allan Poe was an early master of horror. He famously seated its source in the soul, writing "If in many of my productions terror has been the basis, I maintain that terror is not of Germany but of the soul.” His uncanny ability to sound the depths of the human psyche is demonstrated in many

The collection of paintings at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna—the Picture Gallery—can be traced as far back as 16th-century members of the House of Habsburg. The building that currently houses the Picture Gallery was opened in 1891, though the museum also has several other expansive

They don’t do interviews or write self-promoting memoirs—though some definitely know how to strike a pose. Yet animals have been capturing the public’s imagination for centuries. Some have impressed with their loyalty and devotion, and others have garnered attention for saving lives. A few have

Catherine Deneuve: …François Ozon’s 8 Femmes (2002; 8 Women) and smaller roles in Oliveira’s Je rentre à la maison (2001; I’m Going Home) and Une Filme falado (2003; A Talking Picture). She later reteamed with Ozon for the farcical comedy Potiche (2010). Deneuve starred as a woman who embarks upon a road…

As a botanist and a foodie, sampling edible plants is one of my favorite pastimes. The following is a list of fruits that I’d love to try but might have trouble finding in my local grocery store or farmers’ market. How many of these have you eaten? list, fruit, fruits, exotic, tasty, bucket-list,

Most people think of Hollywood as a place full of glitz and glamour--and don’t get us wrong, there’s plenty of that--but it has its share of sordid secrets, as well. It turns out some of your favorite Hollywood haunts might just be…well…haunted. In a town where most of the citizenry yearn to live

Some borders, like that between the United States and Canada, are peaceful ones. Others are places of conflict caused by rivalries between countries or peoples, disputes over national resources, or disagreements about the past. Eight of the most contentious borders in the world are described in

What are the qualities of a great swimmer? Discipline, toughness, perfect technique, a nutty compulsion to conquer the world’s most inhospitable bodies of water? In this list, we explore eight amazing swimming achievements to keep in mind as you head off to the pool or beach. list, encyclopedia,

One of the most important and useful means that has been employed by abolitionists is the written word. Freepersons across the globe advocated for the abolition of slavery, but perhaps the most inspiring stories have come from enslaved people themselves, who were self-taught or abounding with

Those who suffer from musophobia might want to stop reading. This list is about rats! We’ve come up with eight facts that you might not know—or want to know—about the rodent everyone loves to hate. list, rat, rodent, Black Death, gerbil, reproduction, Chicago, Bosavi woolly rat, house rat, Taxi!

The architectural heritage of the Islamic world is staggeringly rich. Here’s a list of a few of the most iconic mosques, palaces, tombs, and fortresses. list, Islamic architecture, mosques, Middle East, Islam, Ottoman Empire, architecture, islamic, alhambra, taj mahal In 1631 Mumtaz Mahal, the

Kim Basinger: …protagonist in the Eminem vehicle 8 Mile (2002), a kidnap victim in the thriller Cellular (2004), and the love interest of an aging boxer in Grudge Match (2013). After acting in The Nice Guys (2016), she appeared in Fifty Shades Darker (2017) and Fifty Shades Freed (2018), both of which…

Hal Ashby: The 1980s: Ashby’s final film, 8 Million Ways to Die (1986), was only marginally better. A freewheeling adaptation of a Lawrence Block novel, it starred Jeff Bridges as alcoholic private eye Matt Scudder, with supporting performances by Rosanna Arquette as a call girl in trouble and Andy Garcia as her…

Music festivals loom large in rock history, but it took organizers several decades to iron out the kinks. Woodstock gave its name to a generation, but the concert itself was a debacle that nearly bankrupted its promoters. The tragic events at Altamont, held just months later, were immortalized in

Andrew Mellon donated more than 150 artworks that would become the core of the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.; he also donated money that would be used to build the museum’s first home, today called the West Building. The formal acceptance of his gifts by the U.S.

From towering heights to closed spaces, taxes, and giant insects, the real world offers more than enough things to cause a fright. Why not enter the realm of the fantastic and explore some of the terrifying creatures that roam the wilds of the imagination? Count your blessings—these eight

Even if you’ve never lived through one, you’ve seen the devastation a hurricane can cause to human settlements. News photos document in harrowing detail the loss of life and property that almost inevitably results when one of those storms passes through an inhabited area. Seemingly endless scenes

The site now occupied by Moscow was likely inhabited in Neolithic times, though 1147 is typically considered the year of the city’s founding. It has remained at the center of Russian life, and its architecture is a unique reflection of the country’s history. Earlier versions of the descriptions of

From alchemists to false princesses, sorcerers to political imposters, tricksters have played an eminent role in history. The outlandish schemes of these wily characters have never failed to attract public attention. Here are eight charlatans, con artists, and other tricksters who left legacies of

Vegetarianism (following a meatless diet) and veganism (the avoidance of all animal products) are becoming more and more visible and popular dietary choices. But the idea of skipping meat isn’t new by any means—people have done it since ancient times. Here are a few of history’s most famous

Nellie Bly, the renowned investigative journalist, was a force to be reckoned with. Born Elizabeth Cochran in 1864, she adopted the pen name Nellie Bly and went to extraordinary lengths to write impactful stories exposing poverty, corruption, and injustice. Here are 8 of the most sensational

Some empires didn’t just make history—they dominated it. Until they didn’t. Here are eight of the largest empires the world has ever seen. list, empires, empire, history, imperial, biggest, largest Also known as the Achaemenian Empire, the kingdom created under Cyrus the Great stretched from Iran

Even in the 21st century, there are places on the planet where few people tread. Lonely mountain tops, desert interiors, Arctic ice floes, or the vast frozen ice sheets of Antarctica are remote places that come to mind immediately. But what about faraway islands of adventure? Are there any that

While the Olympics have numerous traditions, perhaps one of its most enduring is cheating. Since ancient times, athletes have often ignored the rules in their quest for glory. Below are just a few of the cheating scandals that have tarnished the Olympics. list, Olympics, cheating, doping, Marion

The origins of the word democracy reveal its meaning: it comes from the Greek word dēmokratia, which was derived from dēmos (“people”) and kratos (“rule”). In other words: rule by the people. The questions and answers in this list are taken from the Top Questions sections of the articles on

The Moon is Earth’s only natural satellite, and it’s been a source of human fascination since prehistoric times. In fact, during nine Apollo missions, 24 astronauts (all Americans) have gone to the Moon, and 12 of them walked on it. As part of the Artemis space program, launched in 2017, NASA aims

World War I was a war that was virtually unprecedented in the slaughter, carnage, and destruction it caused. Some 8,500,000 soldiers died as a result of wounds or disease, and as many as 13,000,000 civilians also died. It concluded with the Treaty of Versailles, which was signed in 1919. The

Throughout history, women have faced punishment that has ranged from mild to extreme. History maintained more rigid rules than we might recognize today for women’s behavior and roles, and a step out of line might call for a cruel punishment to remind women of their positions in society. Women

Catherine Deneuve: …François Ozon’s 8 Femmes (2002; 8 Women) and smaller roles in Oliveira’s Je rentre à la maison (2001; I’m Going Home) and Une Filme falado (2003; A Talking Picture). She later reteamed with Ozon for the farcical comedy Potiche (2010). Deneuve starred as a woman who embarks upon a road…

Animals can bring tremendous joy to our lives, but they can also make us sick. Every year, tens of thousands of people fall ill to diseases transmitted through animal contact. These conditions are known as zoonotic diseases, or zoonoses. Here are some of the most common. list, disease, animals,

Group of Seven (G7), intergovernmental organization that originated in 1975 through informal summit meetings of the leaders of the world’s leading industrialized countries (the United States, the United Kingdom, France, West Germany, Italy, Canada, and Japan). Canada did not attend the initial

dye: Azo dyes: H-acid (8-amino-1-naphthol-3,6-disulfonic acid) has both functional groups and can be selectively coupled to two diazo components in a two-step process. C.I. Acid Black 1 is formed by coupling first to diazotized p-nitroaniline in weakly acidic solution and then to diazotized aniline in alkaline solution.

Sally Field: In the sports comedy 80 for Brady (2023), she costarred with Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno, and Lily Tomlin.

Alcor, star with apparent magnitude of 4.01. Alcor makes a visual double with the brighter star Mizar in the middle of the handle of the Big Dipper (Ursa Major). The two are 1.2 light-years apart and may be gravitationally bound to each other. Alcor itself is orbited by a faint red companion star.

Sebastian Coe: …major race in 1977, an 800-metre event at the European indoor championships in San Sebastián, Spain. He first ran against Ovett in Prague in 1978 in an 800-metre race that neither won. The next year in Oslo, Norway, Coe set his first world records, in 800-metre and one-mile races. At…

On June 15, 1215, rebellious nobles compelled King John of England to sign the Magna Carta. Although it is firmly rooted in the concerns of feudal law, the charter’s treatment of individual rights was revolutionary. The charter and its numerous revisions codified the concept of due process and

Kanye West: Late Registration, Graduation, and 808s and Heartbreak: In 2008 West released 808s and Heartbreak, an album that dwelled on feelings of personal loss and regret. (His mother had died the previous year from a heart attack following cosmetic surgery.) Its sound differed radically from his previous releases, as West chose to sing (with the assistance of…

Dave Eggers: …2002 of Eggers’s nonprofit organization 826 Valencia, based in San Francisco, was a further foray into literary advocacy. It was a volunteer-based writing laboratory devoted to developing kids’ creativity and love of books through programs that included free tutoring and writing workshops. Soon after, branches of 826 Valencia opened in…

Deepika Padukone: Actress and producer: In 83 (2021), a biopic on the famous cricketer Kapil Dev and the Indian team that won the 1983 Cricket World Cup (India’s first World Cup win), Padukone played Romi Dev, the wife of Kapil Dev, who was played by Padukone’s real-life husband. Padukone also coproduced…

Mel Brooks: Work as producer and actor: … (1980), Frances (1982, uncredited), and 84 Charing Cross Road (1987), the last of which starred his second wife, Anne Bancroft, whom he married in 1964. Brooks costarred with Bancroft in To Be or Not to Be (1983), a remake of the Ernst Lubitsch-directed film of the same name. His work…

MS-DOS, the dominant operating system for the personal computer (PC) throughout the 1980s. The acquisition and marketing of MS-DOS were pivotal in the Microsoft Corporation’s transition to software industry giant. American computer programmer Timothy Paterson, a developer for Seattle Computer

Usher: 8701 and Confessions: Usher’s third studio album, 8701 (2001), further cemented his reputation as a smooth, seductive, and bankable artist. Music from 8701 gave Usher two number-one pop hits, “U Remind Me” and “U Got It Bad,” and his first two Grammy Awards. On his fourth album, Confessions (2004), he extended his…

eschatology: Renewed interest in eschatology: …late 1980s with Edgar Whisenant’s 88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will Happen in 1988 (significantly, 40 years after the creation of the State of Israel), the premillennial dispensationalism became increasingly prominent in the United States and Latin America. Led by such figures as Pat Robertson, Oral Roberts, and Hal Lindsey,…

half-track: A typical type was the 8t SdKfz personnel carrier, which weighed almost 12 tons, could carry 12 soldiers, and had a top speed of 50 km (31 miles) per hour.

number symbolism: 9: In contrast to 8, the number 9 often represents pain or sadness. The 16th-century Catholic theologian Peter Bungus arguedthat the ninth Psalm predicts the coming of the Antichrist. In Islamic cosmology the universe is made from nine spheres—the traditional eight of Ptolemy, plus a…

Cats are among the most beloved pet animals in the world. Second only to dogs as the most common pet of choice, cats are cherished by their human companions for their unique personalities, their helpfulness in keeping away pests, and their beauty and intelligence. As Chinese artist and activist Ai

Kim Basinger: …the controversial and explicitly sexual 9 12 Weeks (1986). She costarred with Richard Gere in the thriller No Mercy (1986), with Bruce Willis in Blake Edwards’s Blind Date (1987), with Jeff Bridges in the comedy Nadine (1987), and with Dan Aykroyd in My Stepmother Is an Alien (1988).

The word counterculture generally refers to any movement that strives to achieve ideals counter to those of mainstream society. During the 1960s and ’70s, people—particularly young people—in many Western countries sought to upend what they saw as outdated and restrictive values. In the United

Greed and lust—for power as well as for sex—are the essential elements of most political scandals. Other contributing factors often include mendacity, obfuscation, obsession, moral bankruptcy, naïveté, misplaced loyalty or trust, and lapse of good judgment. Frequently, a vigilant investigative

Mimicry, in which an organism resembles an unrelated species, is one of the great marvels of evolution. Leaf mimicry is an especially clever form of camouflage. For some animals, looking like a leaf serves as protection from hungry predators. For others, it is a useful way to wait in plain sight

Imagine a Modernist house causing a scandal in a Classical neighborhood, or a bank designed with flexibility in mind. Learn the stories behind these nine architectural landmarks in Argentina’s capital, Buenos Aires. Earlier versions of the descriptions of these buildings first appeared in 1001

Pregnancy is a time of excitement and anticipation, and mothers-to-be are often brimming with questions, many of them, unfortunately, based on myth and superstition. If I drink coffee during my pregnancy, will my baby be born with brown spots? Can looking at a lunar eclipse really cause a deformity

The articles in this list don’t have all the answers. However, they serve as a useful primer on the basics—what we know about the universe and how our species evolved, how we perpetuate ourselves, and how we die, and the logical tools we use to understand our world. You’re just a click away from

The history of the Czech Republic reaches back more than a thousand years, and its capital, Prague, reflects that rich and varied existence. This list describes just nine of the Czech Republic’s innumerably significant buildings. Earlier versions of the descriptions of these buildings first

In the beginnings of science, astronomers studied the motion of the Sun, the Moon, the planets, and the stars. They discovered patterns in the motion of these objects. But since the heavens were the abode of the gods, when something unusual happened in the sky, it seemed to presage something

Though it makes us wince to say so, we are all mortal. We may not have William Shakespeare’s sense of humor about that (as, for example, when he has the fatally wounded Mercutio say “Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man”), but we know, intellectually anyhow, that eventually death

A recently translated 13th-century bestiary says: “As men learnt little by little about the kinds of fishes they were given names often from their similarity to creatures on land such as frogs, calves, lions, blackbirds, and peacocks.” Indeed, if you scroll through the common names of the known

On the outside, we look relaxed, peaceful, and unaware. But what really goes on while we sleep? We spend nearly one-third of our lives—approximately 25 years—in a state of sleep, yet we remember little to none of it. When you hit the pillow, your body doesn’t turn off. It begins an intricate cycle

Humanity has sent probes to every planet, so we now have a decent idea of what’s in our neighborhood. Even before that, astronomers tracked the movements of the solar system for millennia. Sometimes their eyes (or brains) played tricks. Or did they? What ever happened to the ghost planets, those

Florence was founded in the 1st century BCE as a Roman military colony. During its long history it has served many other roles, including a brief stint as the national capital of Italy in the 1860s. But the city remains best known as the birthplace of the Renaissance, and most of these nine

From the last of the Seven Wonders of the World left standing to a presidential gaffe that inspired a huge new project, these are only a few of the incredible historical places worth exploring in Egypt. Don’t miss the opportunity to learn about these pyramids, temples, and houses. Earlier versions

The murder of a president, prime minister, king, or other world leader can resonate throughout a country. Sometimes the assassination of a leader is so shocking and profound that it triggers what psychologists call flashbulb memory in a country’s citizens. Many will remember forever where they were

Many of the most compelling love stories are tragic ones. From Romeo and Juliet to Ennis and Jack, here’s a look at nine romances that have had the opposite of happy endings. How many have left you in tears? list, love, tragedy, tragic endings, stories, literature, love stories, romance, romantic,

The United States is filled with memorials and monuments to its past. These nine commemorate some of the most important episodes in American history. Earlier versions of the descriptions of these places first appeared in1001 Amazing Places You Must See Before You Die, edited by Richard Cavendish

In their quest for survival, plants have evolved to produce an amazing variety of chemical compounds known as secondary metabolites. These chemicals often serve to deter herbivores, protect against pathogens and neighbors, or mitigate the effects of radiation, among numerous other uses.

This list discusses some of the most infamous corporate criminals of the 20th and 21st centuries, in chronological order of the crimes for which they are notorious. list, corporations, crime, fraud, environmental crime, pollution, manslaughter, obstruction of justice, Enron, Big Tobacco, Philip

The artist-muse relationship is a well-known trope that has been around for centuries (think of the nine muses of Greek mythology). These relationships are often romantic and always dramatic. Sometimes the muses have more to offer than inspiration, however, as did the following nine women. These

The Detroit Institute of Arts houses one of Detroit’s most vibrant and extensive collections of art. Here are just nine of the paintings worth seeing there. Earlier versions of the descriptions of these paintings first appeared in 1001 Paintings You Must See Before You Die, edited by Stephen

It turns out that a number of people throughout history have mysteriously disappeared. Some were famous when they went missing and became even more legendary afterward, and some reached celebrity status simply because they disappeared. Here are nine strange tales of people (aside from Amelia

Dredged out of the past and hinting at violent mysteries, bog bodies intrigue and haunt us. The how of their existence is known: bogs (cold-weather swamps) are excellent preservers of human bodies. The oxygen-free environment prevents decay, and the excessive tannins—naturally occurring chemicals

Poetry is a precise art. A great poem is made up of components that fit together so well that the result seems impossible to imagine any other way. But how to describe those meticulously chosen components? With highly specialized terminology, of course. Thanks to centuries of effort by scholars,

Humans have used petroleum (or oil) for thousands of years in medicine and weapons of war. However, the use of this material did not truly surge until the Industrial Revolution—where oil became valuable as both a fuel for illumination and a lubricant—before it became a replacement for wood, coal,

Mammals are the soft, cuddly creatures of the animal kingdom. Often, mammals are the animals people are most familiar with. They are employed as working animals in the fields, as guards and companions in homes, and their visages inspire the stuffed animals on the beds and in the arms of young

Few animals strike as much fear into people as venomous snakes. Although the chances of running into a venomous snake, much less being bitten and dying from the toxin injected into one’s body, are miniscule compared to dying from cancer, heart disease, or an automobile accident, this seemingly

More than 51,500 different species of spiders are found in the world. Of these, only a small number are said to be dangerous, and less than 30 (less than one-tenth of one percent) have been responsible for human deaths. Why are so few spiders harmful to humans? Much of the reason may result from

Deep lakes hold a special place in the human imagination. The motif of a bottomless lake is widespread in world mythology; in such bodies of water, one generally imagines finding monsters, lost cities, treasures, mermaids, realms of the dead, and so on. Although today we can study bodies of water

Among the most opulent historical buildings in England are its palaces. Here are 9 of the most spectacular ones—most of them royal palaces but a few others too. Earlier versions of the descriptions of these buildings first appeared in 1001 Amazing Places You Must See Before You Die, edited by

The American Civil War was fought from 1861 to 1865 between the United States and 11 Southern states that seceded from the Union and formed the Confederate States of America. The questions and answers in this list are taken from the Top Questions sections of the articles on the American Civil War,

The Vietnam War was a protracted conflict that pitted the communist government of North Vietnam and its allies in South Vietnam, known as the Viet Cong, against the government of South Vietnam and its principal ally, the United States. It lasted from 1954 to 1975. The questions and answers in this

World War II was the world’s largest and most destructive war. It involved nearly every region of the world, and it resulted in the deaths of as many as 50,000,000 people. The questions and answers in this list are taken from the Top Questions sections of the articles on World War II, Adolf Hitler,

Suze Orman: Orman’s follow-up, The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom (1997), was on The New York Times best-seller list for more than one year. Soon after, she began presenting workshops on public television, and her Financial Freedom hour was one of the most successful programs in public television’s pledge-drive…

The etymology of words can be complicated. In English many words derive from ancient languages such as Latin (candle) and Greek (biology) or are borrowed from other languages (guru, cigar, karaoke). Some common words, however, actually derive their names from people, though that source is often

Adolf Hitler is one of the most well-known—and reviled—figures in history. As the leader of Nazi Germany, he orchestrated both World War II and the Holocaust, events that led to the deaths of at least 40,000,000 people. In the ensuing decades, he was the subject of countless books, documentaries,

The power of the veto held by the president of the United States has served as an important check on the legislative actions of Congress and has been utilized to varying degrees throughout history. Some presidents have chosen to use it in only a handful of instances, whereas others have completely

Alexander, Napoleon, Rommel. Military greatness can most easily be defined by comparison. These battlefield bumblers serve to provide that contrast. list, worst generals, Lee, Confederate, World War I, ancient Rome, Civil War, American Civil War, World War II, NapoleonThis entire list could be

anthraquinone, the most important quinone derivative of anthracene and the parent substance of a large class of dyes and pigments. It is prepared commercially by oxidation of anthracene or condensation of benzene and phthalic anhydride, followed by dehydration of the condensation product. Alizarin

Angela Bassett: …Los Angeles police officer in 9-1-1. She also served as an executive producer on that show and, beginning in 2020, on its spin-off, 9-1-1: Lone Star. Over her career Bassett lent her voice to many animated movies, including Meet the Robinsons (2007), Curious George 3: Back to the Jungle (2015),…

9-11 Commission, bipartisan study group created by U.S. Pres. George W. Bush and the United States Congress on November 27, 2002, to examine the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States. The commission’s report served as the basis for a major reform of the U.S. intelligence

hormone: Pheromones: of the honeybee (Apis mellifera), 9-oxodecenoic acid, stimulates the olfactory receptors of the drones (males). Secreted by the queen bee in the hive, the pheromone inhibits the development of the ovaries of the worker bees (sterile females) but is entirely effective only when it acts in conjunction with another inhibitory…

Whoopi Goldberg: Later career: …this time included the drama 9/11 (2017), which centers on a group of people trapped in a World Trade Center elevator during the September 11, 2001, attacks, and the comedy Nobody’s Fool (2018), wherein she played the mother of a recently paroled ex-convict (played by Tiffany Haddish).

9/11 Memorial, a monument at the site of the former World Trade Center complex in Lower Manhattan, New York City, honoring the victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Nearly 3,000 individuals were killed on September 11 at the World Trade Center

9/11 Memorial, a monument at the site of the former World Trade Center complex in Lower Manhattan, New York City, honoring the victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Nearly 3,000 individuals were killed on September 11 at the World Trade Center

September 11 attacks, series of airline hijackings and suicide attacks committed in 2001 by 19 militants associated with the Islamic extremist group al-Qaeda against targets in the United States, the deadliest terrorist attacks on American soil in U.S. history. The attacks against New York City and

James Bridges: Bridges next wrote and directed 9/30/55 (1978; also known as September 30, 1955), a dramatization of a fan (Richard Thomas) struggling to come to grips with the death of idol James Dean in 1955. However, it was the suspenseful The China Syndrome (1979) that became Bridges’s first breakout hit. Jane…

Massimo Bontempelli: …expressed particularly in his review 900 (founded 1926). European in outlook (one foreign editor was James Joyce), 900 sought a middle ground between the extremes of traditionalism and the literary avant-garde.

Siege of Leningrad, prolonged siege (September 8, 1941–January 27, 1944) of the city of Leningrad (St. Petersburg) in the Soviet Union by German and Finnish armed forces during World War II. The siege actually lasted 872 days. After Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941, German armies