Trivia, History & Games

The costume maker who convinced Hersheypark to embrace candy mascots and ‘chocolatize’ their old-timey theme park

The park, with its name originally two words, Hershey Park, opened in the early 1900s when Milton Hershey built it for his chocolate factory workers and their families.
Hersheypark underwent a total transformation in the 1970s, when candy mascots and thrill rides replaced barn animals and old-timey recreations of Tudor England.
The Declaration of Independence did more than assert the Colonies' independence from Britain.

1776’s Declaration of Independence inspired Washington’s troops to fight against the odds – and also helped bring in powerful allies

The Declaration of Independence isn’t just a philosophical breakup letter. It was a strategic move to secure vital support for America after its first declaration of war.

A rare win in Indian Country: How tribes drove out a mining company in one week

The Economic Hardship Reporting Project and The Guardian report that tribes united to successfully drive out a mining company from Pe' Sla, a sacred site in South Dakota.
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Halloween should be scary. Your bill doesn't have to be
CreditFresh reports that Halloween expenses are rising, with families facing higher costs for candy, costumes, and decorations. 
Passport reports seven e-commerce mistakes that can hinder growth during peak season, emphasizing the need for early preparation and streamlined operations.
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 Exclusive: Hybrid schools open new legal front for choice
The 74 reports that Roots Learning Academy, a hybrid homeschool program in Pennsylvania, faces state scrutiny and potential closure due to childcare licensing requirements.
Food-rescue groups in Canada turn to processing facilities to respond to waste and insecurity
Future of Good reports that food-rescue groups in Canada are opening processing facilities to reduce waste and improve food security, focusing on nutritious options for students.
Trump has promoted AI in education. His FCC may end school internet subsidies.
Chalkbeat reports that FCC reviews of school internet subsidies, driven by concerns over screen time, could disrupt access to essential online resources.
An engraving of the surrender of British forces to George Washington at the Battle of Yorktown in 1781. Michael Lee/Moment via Getty Images via The Conversation
What happened at the end of the Revolutionary War? Here’s how Americans set up a brand-new country once the fighting ended
The United States came out of the Revolutionary War victorious. But building a new nation was very different from fighting a war.
Rediscover the lost secrets of history, one mystery at a time
(BPT) - Where is Alexander the Great really buried? What led to the disappearance of the dodo? And how much do we truly know about the Neolithic cultures that shaped the earliest chapters of human …

New prison policy gives Trump administration more power to punish enemies

The Marshall Project reports that a new prison policy under the Trump administration gives Attorney General Todd Blanche the power to manipulate prisoner placements, raising concerns of political favoritism and corruption. 

The leaked document about AI data centers, oil and gas causing a stir in Alberta

The Narwhal reports on a leaked cabinet document revealing plans to revamp Alberta's natural gas pipeline system to support AI data center growth, sparking controversy.

Paleontologists uncover a new ‘Spinosaurus’ species by following a clue from a decades-old book into the Sahara Desert

In this illustration, _Spinosaurus mirabilis_ fight over a carcass some 95 million years ago in what is now the Sahara Desert in Niger. Dani Navarro

The hunt for a mythicized fossil hot spot took a team of researchers on a journey through the Sahara Desert.

The Narwhal reports Ontario Premier Doug Ford threatens to cut electricity exports to the U.S. amid trade tensions, affecting 1.5 million homes and businesses.
Michelangelo's 16th-century fresco 'The Last Judgment.' Sistine Chapel collection via Wikimedia Commons
Why Michelangelo’s ‘Last Judgment’ endures
The artist used daring imagery that sparked controversy from the moment it was unveiled.
As part of the Artemis II mission, humans will fly around the Moon for the first time in decades.
NASA’s Artemis II crewed mission to the Moon shows how US space strategy has changed since Apollo – and contrasts with China’s closed program
Today, there aren’t just two countries competing to get to the Moon. More countries have space programs, and private industry plays a larger role.
Your shoes might not necessarily free your mind.
Can shoes alter your mind? What neuroscience says about foot sensation and focus
Your feet can send a lot of sensory information to your brain. But whether you believe that your footwear is affecting your cognition may matter more than what shoes you wear.
A land manager examines young longleaf pines, some in their grassy phase, in a private forest in South Carolina.
How fire, people and history shaped the South’s iconic longleaf pine forests
One of North America’s richest ecosystems, sustained and shaped by Native peoples before European contact, nearly disappeared. A recovery is underway.
Boston and much of the U.S. faced a cold winter blast in January 2026.
How the polar vortex and warm ocean are intensifying a major US winter storm
The atmosphere is a complicated place. Warm temperatures in one spot can contribute to brutally cold storms somewhere else.