Rare & Remarkable Human Traits
Where Did the Tradition of Pardoning the Thanksgiving Turkey Come From?
Learn how the White House turkey pardon really began, from 1870s gift birds and Kennedy's reprieve to Reagan's joke and Bush's 1989 ceremony.
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Rare & Remarkable Human Traits
Why Thanksgiving Moves Around the Calendar (and the Year It Moved Twice)
Learn why Thanksgiving moves around November—and the presidential controversy that convinced Congress to finally fix the date in 1941.
Rare & Remarkable Human Traits
How Long Does a Thanksgiving Turkey Take to Thaw Safely?
USDA thaw times for turkeys by weight, plus the safe methods: refrigerator, cold water, and cooking from frozen. Plan your Thanksgiving timing.
Comedians
Who Was the First Black Comedian to Have a Network Television Special?
Cosby's 1968 NBC special is the earliest on record, but Flip Wilson's 1970 hit show made him TV's first Black superstar.
Mind & Character
What Is Seasonal Affective Disorder and How Common Is It?
Learn what seasonal affective disorder is, how common it is (about 5% of US adults), who gets it, and the main treatment options.
Rare & Remarkable Human Traits
Why Does Cold Weather Make Your Nose Run?
Cold air makes your nose run because it overworks its built-in humidifier. Learn how the nose warms and moistens air, and why it overshoots.
Rare & Remarkable Human Traits
Can Identical Twins Have Different Fingerprints?
Identical twins have different fingerprints. Learn how prints form in the womb, how alike they are, and whether scanners can tell twins apart.
Rare & Remarkable Human Traits
What Is the Rarest Hair Color in the World?
Natural red hair is usually named the rarest color, held by an estimated 1–2% of people. Learn why it's scarce and where it clusters.
Rare & Remarkable Human Traits
Can Humans See Ultraviolet Light? Only Without a Lens
Normal human eyes can't see ultraviolet because the lens blocks it. People without a lens can, and Claude Monet may have been one.
Rare & Remarkable Human Traits
Why Do Your Fingertips Prune in Water? It's Your Nerves, Not the Soaking
Pruney fingertips come from nerves tightening blood vessels, not from water soaking in. See what the science says about whether the wrinkles help grip.
Amazing Feats
The Hunter's Moon: why October's full moon has a hunting name
Discover why the October full moon is called the Hunter's Moon, its rich history, and when to see it in 2026.
Rare & Remarkable Human Traits
Chimerism: People With Two Sets of DNA
Learn how some people become chimeras with two genetically distinct cell lines, how it was discovered, and why it can confuse DNA tests.