Where Was Soccer Invented? A New Archaeological Discovery Suggests Scotland, Not England, Was the Sport’s Birthplace
Archaeologists say they’ve found the ruins of a soccer field in southwest Scotland that date to the 17th century
These Ancient Scrolls Have Been a Tantalizing Mystery for 2,000 Years. Researchers Just Deciphered a Title for the First Time
Mount Vesuvius’ eruption preserved the Herculaneum scrolls beneath a blanket of ash. Two millennia later, X-ray scans show that one of them is a philosophical text called “On Vice”
Discover the Renaissance Origins and Mystical Evolution of Tarot Cards
An exhibition at London’s Warburg Institute traces tarot decks’ evolution from the 1450s through the present
This Flamin’ Hot Cheeto Is Shaped Like a Pokémon Charizard. It Just Sold for Nearly $90,000 at Auction
The “Cheetozard” resembles an orange dragon-like figure from the popular Japanese franchise. Its seller had purchased it on eBay for $350 in 2019
Every March, Runners Race Reindeer Through the Streets of Anchorage
For three and a half blocks, athletes and ungulates share the road during the headlining event of Alaska’s Fur Rendezvous Festival
The Asian Game of Mahjong, Which Creates Order Out of Chaos, Is Trending in the West
The 200-year-old tile game is popping up in clubs, hotels and parties as a way for Gen Zers and millennials to connect
Using A.I., Researchers Peer Inside a 2,000-Year-Old Scroll Charred by Mount Vesuvius’ Eruption
For the past two years, citizen scientists and scholars have been working to reveal the previously hidden texts of the Herculaneum scrolls
Seventy-Seven Fascinating Finds Revealed in 2024, From a Mysterious ‘Anomaly’ Near the Great Pyramid of Giza to a Missing Portrait of Henry VIII
The year’s most exciting discoveries included musket balls fired in the early days of the American Revolution, a lost composition by Mozart and a medieval chess piece
The Best Board Games of 2024 Will Excite Players of All Ages
Whether you love cheese, wordplay, “Star Wars” or Japanese culture, this year’s list has something for everyone in what turned out to be a fantastic year for board gamers
The Italian Town That Becomes a Giant, Goose-Themed Board Game Each Fall
With teams competing in outlandish physical challenges, the Zogo dell’Oca of Mirano showcases Italy’s flair for invented traditions
Six Cars Raced to the Finish Line of the U.S.’s First Automobile Race—at Speeds of Seven Miles Per Hour
Held on this day in 1895, the 54-mile round trip took more than ten hours and involved accidents with streetcars, horses and snowbanks
The Real History Behind Ridley Scott’s ‘Gladiator II’ and Life as a Fighter in the Ancient Roman Arena
The “Gladiator” sequel centers on Lucius Verus, the secret son of Russell Crowe’s character from the 2000 film. Both men achieve fame as enslaved fighters driven by their desire for revenge
The Ouija Board Can’t Connect Us to Paranormal Forces—but It Can Tell Us a Lot About Psychology, Grief and Uncertainty
The game was born from Americans’ obsession with Spiritualism in the 19th century. Since then, it’s functioned as a reflection of their deep-seated beliefs and anxieties for more than a century
The Creepy Doll Contest Is Back—and It’s Time to Cast Your Vote for the Most Terrifying Toy
Step right up and see the spooky circus dolls—from creepy clowns to frightening fortune-tellers—in a Minnesota museum’s vintage toy collection
Bionic ‘Pilots’ Compete for the Gold at the Cybathlon
In the international competition, people with physical disabilities put state-of-the-art devices to the test as they race to complete the tasks of everyday life
Minnesota Teacher’s 2,471-Pound Gourd Triumphs in Annual Pumpkin-Weighing Competition
Travis Gienger, who nicknamed his prize-winning pumpkin “Rudy,” has been growing gourds for nearly 30 years
A Treasure Hunter Just Uncovered the $100,000 Prize Hidden in the Massachusetts Woods
Two weeks ago, organizers of Project Skydrop stashed a golden statuette in a secret location somewhere in the northeastern United States
Nintendo Switches Things Up With a New Museum That Embraces Nostalgia and Celebrates Gaming History
The Kyoto museum will feature interactive exhibits, gaming artifacts, workshop spaces and oversized controllers inspired by iconic video games
Rare Yellow-Eyed Penguin Wins New Zealand’s Bird of the Year Contest
The noisy-but-shy bird, known as the hoiho, has earned the most votes for a second time amid threats to its survival
Breaking Just Made Its Olympic Debut. Will It Return in 2032?
The event won’t be featured at the Los Angeles Games in 2028, but that doesn’t mean its Olympic journey is over
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