christmas, puritans, history, culture, holidays, celebration, 2016, leap second, timekeeping, new years eve, time

When Christmas Was Illegal, and Why 2016 Will Be One Second Longer

Your weekly dose of some of the world’s latest and greatest science news, technological advancements, absurd curiosities, and groundbreaking research in everything from ancient history to the future of astrophysics. Join Lauren Vogelbaum and the HowStuffWorks team as they explore humanity’s newest discoveries in HowStuffWorks NOW.

Society & Culture

Personal Journals

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

Since sexual contact can transmit disease, why don't any diseases increase our sex drive? Why is Wednesday pronounced differently than it's spelled? Why do British lawyers and judges still wear powdered wigs? The answers, plus a fond farewell.

Why We're Not Sex Zombies, Wednesday's Pronunciation, and British Lawyers' Wigs

There's science behind why reheated coffee is terrible. In the incredible future, we may have better ways to mammogram. Plus, the woman who founded home economics was all kinds of amazing.

Reheated Coffee, More Comfortable Mammograms, and the Chemist Who Created Home Ec

Research into missing limbs indicates that our brains control function differently than we thought. Underground mole rats can live without oxygen. Plus, the mysteries of Blood Falls have been solved.

Missing Limbs, Naked Mole Rats, and a Blood-Red Waterfall

Female Supreme Court justices get interrupted three times as often as male justices. Climbing stairs may be as effective as caffeine at perking you up. Plus, today's teens are doing pretty OK. Really.

Gender Bias in the Supreme Court, Stair Climbing vs. Caffeine, and Teens Are OK, Really

Are humans nutritous enough to make cannibalism feasible? Could Trump's proposed border wall be improved with a Hyperloop?. Plus: Should the FBI be able to use everyone's photos in their crime-solving facial recognition program?

When Christmas Was Illegal, and Why 2016 Will Be One Second Longer

Download our free app to listen on your phone