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To help preserve the meridian line—but also to draw more attention to it—the church has roped the line off from the feet of daily visitors. Just visible here, in a plaque in the marble floor, are the zodiac signs of Pisces and Scorpio. Both appear near the spring and autumn equinoxes, respectively.
churches

Why Catholics Built Secret Astronomical Features Into Churches to Help Save Souls

After centuries of war, Catholicism and science reconciled over meridian lines.
Geoff Manaugh November 15, 2016
The end of the line – the final fort on the eastern end, near Kaser-e Pishkamar, hugs the foothills of the eastern Alborz.
fortresses

Iran's Great Wall Is Now Buried and Forgotten

The Great Wall of Gorgan, once the world's largest fortification, was mysteriously abandoned.
Stuart Denison November 14, 2016
Minority women in southern China were accused of poisoning northern men with a special poison made of venomous creatures.
poison

The Legendary Chinese Poison Made by Forcing Snakes, Scorpions, and Centipedes to Fight

"Gu" was a mythological substance born from fear, with a dramatic backstory.
Lauren Young November 11, 2016
The opening scene of the Bond film <em>Spectre</em>, showing a Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City.
film locations

Mexico City’s New Day of the Dead Parade is Based on a James Bond Film

The cultural event first appeared in "Spectre."
Simon Schatzberg November 11, 2016
Arnold Schwarzenegger as Governor of California in 2008.
politics

Why Americans Consider Celebrities for Political Office

Trump’s celebrity past may have been his biggest political advantage.
Natalie Zarrelli November 10, 2016
Dorian Corey in a still from <em>Paris is Burning</em>.
mummies

A Famous Drag Queen, a Mummy in the Closet, and a Baffling Mystery

Sequined gowns weren't the only thing stashed in Dorian Corey's wardrobe.
Julianne Tveten November 10, 2016
The total solar eclipse of 1999, in France.
astronomy

The Tiny Kentucky Town That Eclipse Fans Are Obsessing Over

Hotels are charging astronomical prices for a weekend next August.
Robbie Clark November 9, 2016
Extra life!
video games

How '1-Up' Went From Pinball to Gamer Speak

Turns out Mario mushrooms owe a lot to pinball machines.
Eric Grundhauser November 9, 2016
President Reagan receiving Walter Mondale's concession call in 1984.
politics

A Short History of the Awkward Concession Phone Call

The first such call occurred in 1968.
Sarah Laskow November 8, 2016
Does the God Helmet actually help you find God?
science

The Controversial Device That Might Make You Feel the Presence of a Higher Power

The "God Helmet" has its detractors as well as fans.
Linda Rodriguez McRobbie November 7, 2016
People innocently packed into the Love Parade 2010 venue just moments before a chaotic outbreak.
features

What Happens When Crowds Try To Flee For Their Lives

Researchers study past tragedies to try and prevent them in the future.
Lauren Young November 4, 2016
Korean War aces in 1950, probably razzing each other.
war history

The First People to Push the Panic Button Were Korean War Pilots

What started as a last-ditch safety tool became a way for soldiers to make fun of each other.
Cara Giaimo November 4, 2016
RUN!
film

Did a Silent Film About a Train Really Cause Audiences to Stampede?

A closer look at an enduring tale of movie-induced panic.
Eric Grundhauser November 3, 2016
Keep calm.
disasters

32 Things We Are Not Panicking About

But totally could be.
Sarah Laskow November 3, 2016
<em>Freddy's Nightmare's</em> had a great intro.
television

Jumpstart Your Halloween With These '90s Horror TV Intros

Fear and intrigue, together in the opening titles.
Eric Grundhauser October 31, 2016
<em>Friday 13th Part VI: Jason Lives</em>.
31 days of halloween

How the Hidden Sounds of Horror Movie Soundtracks Freak You Out

From altered voices to "infrasound," these audio tricks spook and unsettle.
Natalie Zarrelli October 31, 2016
Typical items in an 18th-century kitchen.
food

In the 1800s, Sick People Would Consult Cookbooks Before Doctors

Need to bake a pie AND cure consumption?
Lauren Young October 28, 2016
Bobbing for apples could predict who you'd marry.
food

The Forgotten Halloween Games That Predict Who You'll Marry—And When You'll Die

How to use produce to divine the future, on one night only.
Sarah Laskow October 28, 2016