Conclave, the new Pope is elected: it is Robert Francis Prevost. His name will be Leone XIV Habemus Papam! These two Latin words echo across the Vatican every time a new leader of the Catholic Church is chosen. But behind this short...
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During the Cold War, the CIA launched Operation Acoustic Kitty, an attempt to use cats as covert listening devices. The plan involved surgically implanting microphones and transmitters into...
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The Statue of Liberty, a symbol of freedom and democracy, once had a brief stint as a lighthouse. After its dedication in 1886, the U.S. Lighthouse Board attempted to use Lady Liberty's torc...
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In the remote town of Longyearbyen, Norway, it's famously illegal to die due to permafrost preserving bodies. But did you know there's a U.S. town with a similar law? Welcome to Barrow, Ala...
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A “Skynwalker” isn’t just a typo of "Skywalker"—though don’t tell that to Star Wars fans. The term actually comes from Skinwalker Ranch, a real place in Utah that has become a hotbed for par...
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Admiral Richard E. Byrd was no ordinary explorer. A decorated U.S. Navy officer, he made history with expeditions to the North and South Poles. But beyond his medals and maps lies a legend t...
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Most people use Bluetooth daily — to connect headphones, speakers, or even cars. But few know that the technology is named after a real person: Harald “Bluetooth” Gormsson, a 10th-century Vi...
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You’ve heard it a hundred times: “Please switch your device to airplane mode.” But have you ever wondered what actually happens if you don’t? Airplane mode disables your phone’s ability t...
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Before the World Wide Web, there was ARPANET — the U.S. government-funded project that laid the foundation for the modern internet. In its early days, the network was small and experimental…...
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If you grew up before flat screens, you probably remember the strange whine or buzz that old TVs made when turned on. That sound wasn’t imaginary — and it came from something called a flybac...
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