VIDEO

Imagine a world where burly Norse warriors discover a new continent—and then just... walk away. Wild, right? Get ready for a story into why the Vikings pulled the ultimate “not interested” move on North America. But first, an introduction.

VIDEO

Field Marshal Bernard Law “Monty” Montgomery was instrumental in defeating the Axis forces during WWII. His strategic brilliance, however, was second only to his massive ego and total lack of tact. More people need to know about Bernard “Monty” Montgomery, the man who Winston Churchill himself described as, “In defeat, unbeatable; in victory, unbearable”.

VIDEO

A gentleman to some and a menace to others, John Dillinger put America in a frenzy with a spree that led to the formation of the FBI itself—until his luck ran out.

VIDEO

There are plenty of reasons for Canadians to feel a sense of national pride. Maple syrup, bacon, beavers, and igloos might come to mind, but when the fireworks get going, look no further than the inspirational and heartbreaking story of Terry Fox to simultaneously pick you up and make you cry.

VIDEO

Patricia Highsmith was most famous for her sharp thrillers like The Talented Mr Ripley, where rage and fear seethes on every page. Seemingly every relationship Highsmith ever had, from familial to romantic, was shot through with agony—and, sadly, Highsmith may have been the root of the problem.

VIDEO

From the moment of her birth, Margaret of Austria was in a position of great power. However, that power was not always her own. After years as a political pawn—bought and sold through marriage after marriage—Margaret saw the chance to embody her power and took it.

F

History's most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily.

Thank you!
Error, please try again.

PEOPLE

Defying his father and following his acting dreams, Robert Duvall made his mark in both theater and Hollywood. This is his wild story.

PEOPLE

Henry I, England's unlikeliest monarch, changed the country forever—yet few people know this ruthless king's dark history.

PEOPLE

Steve Clark was the guitarist and songwriter who shredded for Def Leppard. But the only thing he shredded harder than a guitar riff was his liver.

PEOPLE

Naomi Campbell Facts. Supermodel, activist, troublemaker: Naomi Campbell has made waves in fashion for decades—but few people know her chilling history.

PEOPLE

Enigma. Icon. Rebel. These words have all been used to describe Grace Jones, but still, few people know her dark history.

PEOPLE

Maria Theresa of Spain thought her dreams had come true when she was engaged to King Louis XIV of France—but her fairy tale romance came at a high price.

Advertisement

EDITORIAL

The history of Mexico City stretches back almost two centuries before the Spanish ever set foot in the Americas. Rather, the Spanish built their capital on top of the ashes of one of the most beautiful and unique cities in history: Tenochtitlan.

PLACES

Alcatraz was only in operation for less than 30 years, but in that time it gained the reputation as one of the most notorious prisons in American history.

PLACES

Area 51's workers don't drive there. They fly in on a classified US Government airline known only as "Janet."

PLACES

The Cooper’s Ferry archaeological site in Idaho has altered how researchers understand the presence of the earliest human migrants in North America.

PLACES

The stone walls of Matera do not whisper history—they press it into the air. The scent of damp limestone still clings to cave ceilings carved thousands of years ago, while narrow passages funnel light exactly where ancient families needed it most. Long before electricity or plumbing, people here shaped homes directly into rock faces to create a settlement that never stopped evolving. Archaeological research over the last several decades has revealed that Matera's cave dwellings, known as the Sassi, are among the longest continuously inhabited regions on Earth. These findings challenge old assumptions about early human life, showing adaptability and social structure that lasted from the Paleolithic era through modern times.

PLACES

The Rock of Gibraltar is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world.

EDITORIAL

The James Webb Space Telescope looks like some weird, honeycomb, spaceship...thing. What gives? Well, this brilliant machine has a few tricks up its sleeve.

EDITORIAL

The tragic loss of the Rainbow Warrior caused unbelievable grief, shameless lies, and a maelstrom of political intrigue so terrible—it's unforgettable.

THINGS

Here at Factinate, we like to think that finding a good fact is our bread-and-butter. We spend all day researching new bits of fun trivia for our loyal readers, because we believe that there's nothing...

THINGS

CSI: Miami was a TV series about a group of detectives and crime scene investigators that busted bad guys and solved mysteries by using high-tech crime scene investigation techniques in a city that star David...

THINGS

"Harvard takes perfectly good plums as students, and turns them into prunes."—Architect Frank Lloyd WrightTry to name an American university, and most people will probably think of Harvard first. This little school just outside of Boston is one of...

THINGS

Clerks What makes for a good cult following? These gems are cinematic underdogs that have garnered over-the-top admiration and adoration from a dedicated fan base. They’re usually low-budget, improvised, controversial, subculture magnifiers, and originally shunned...



Want to learn something new every day?

Join thousands of others and start your morning with our Fact Of The Day newsletter.

Thank you!

Error, please try again.