February 8, 2019

Why do people look unhappy in old photographs?

Peruse photos from the late 19th century and you’ll notice that every person portrayed – from Civil War generals to Wild West cowboys – looks extremely […]
February 8, 2019

Why did people once settle grudges with deadly duels?

Today, anyone with a beef might hire a lawyer to settle a disagreement in court or simply argue in online message boards and let public opinion […]
February 8, 2019

Why did Salem, Massachusetts, have a Witchcraft trial?

Centuries before they were portrayed as heroes in the Harry Potter books, witches were considered public enemy number one. Church officials in 16th-century Europe linked the […]
February 8, 2019

Why were people once accused of witchcraft?

They floated instead of sank when dunked: One test for a suspected sorcerer was to tie him or her to a chair and toss it into […]