Almanac
Phil Edwards explains the world through its footnotes. Read more below or watch Almanac on Vox’s YouTube channel.
The safety coffin has a long history. And it just might save your life.
It was written on the skin of a calf for a reason, even though printing was widely available.
Volta was behind batteries and a pretty amazing methane gun. Learn how he did it.
They are pretty strange-looking, and it’s entirely intentional.
Why do all memes look so similar? There are a few very good reasons.
Sick of laboriously lifting whiskey shots to your mouth? Use this rifle instead.
Facial recognition (from a legal perspective).
Jesse Day is known in Korea for his ability to handle spice. Here are a few of his best tips.
What do you really know about one of our greatest taboos? These are a few things you probably got wrong about cannibalism.
Every state has one. But that doesn’t mean they’re recognizable at all.
Those subway announcements come from somewhere. Meet the people behind the voices.
Think auctioneers talk funny? You’re right — but there’s a good reason.
Dayton, Tennessee, fought hard to host the trial. And then they milked it for all it was worth.
The legendary feud is more about our own values than theirs.
History isn’t always comfortable, according to the men who landed on the moon.
When you were 8, summer lasted forever. Is this why it flies by now?
People have tried to improve on the classic mousetrap for a long time. The results aren’t pretty.
Fry, Bender, Leela, and the rest of the gang were voiced by an incredibly talented cast.
Pepsi used to brag about its “Quick Food Energy” — including how many calories it had.
Trained squirrels, more breweries, and 4 other slightly trivial reasons to prefer bygone eras.
People are doing self-checkouts wrong. These tips will show you how to fix it.
Prepare to feel the bodies of strangers for hours at a time.
It explains exactly why George Washington Carver was so obsessed with peanuts.
You know the voices. But do you know who they really are?
Time zones seem normal — until you see a map of them without land.
Bad coffee, no couches, and 4 more reasons not to time-travel.
Women’s soccer players used to wear cowls. Now they wear medals.
Susan Bennett is the real voice of Siri. This is what she sounds like.
The cheesiest jokes must be explained, as condescendingly as possible.
The humidity matters, and other secrets from a fireworks professional.
John Adams predicted a lot about Independence Day. But he got the date wrong.
If you forgot about Dre, this chart shows that he will probably curse at you.
See when hippos, alligators, and bears roamed the White House lawn.
People thought these amazing inventions were just fads. They were wrong. Very wrong.
These are the pages Wikipedians fight about the most. And some of the topics may surprise you.
What does it take to win Super Mario Kart for SNES? One of the world’s best players shared tips and revealed how obsessive you have to be to play at a high level.
Pneumatic tubes were once the great hope of subways, mail carriers, and veterinarians.
Learn about the forgotten genius who made the spoon and fork one.
Pickles were a delicious, and possibly deadly, fad diet in the 1900s.
The movie’s roars rely on a surprising array of sounds, including dolphins.