Père-Lachaise Cemetery
Final resting place of Paris’s rich and famous
The most famous cemetery in Paris rose to fame because of fictional characters supposedly buried there, and now contains the remains of legendary historical figures.
The Longitude Problem
Finding your way around the world with a watch
Finding your longitude at sea today is a simple matter of glancing at your GPS. But before satellites, computers, and digital clocks, the problem was quite a bit more complicated.
E Clampus Vitus
Brotherhood of the absurd
The world's strangest fraternal society achieved popularity by poking fun at the likes of the Masons, wearing goofy outfits, and drinking a lot. But they also manage to do real historical research and charitable work.
Foucault’s Pendulum
Low-tech proof of Earth’s rotation
In order to prove the rotation of the Earth, all you need is a heavy weight, a long wire, and a tall, sturdy ceiling from which to hang it. Well, that and enough grasp of math, geometry, and philosophy to interpret the results.
The Story of Ketchup
How the tomato found its true calling
The history of ketchup is surprisingly complex; the earliest recipes didn't even use tomatoes. This miracle condiment was once considered a vegetable, but it could have turned out to be a meat instead.
The Cheese Course
Recipe for a civilized meal
If you think of cheese as a mere ingredient or garnish, consider the virtues of a stand-alone cheese course in your meals.
Icewine
How a little frost can do wonders for wine
No, it's not wine made from ice or wine on the rocks! This delicious dessert wine is made from the concentrated juice of grapes that freeze on the vine and are pressed while still frozen.
Scruples and Stones
A pebble for your thoughts
The words scruple and stone can both refer to units of measurement, and their metaphorical meanings intersect with those concrete meanings in interesting ways.
The Story of Doughnuts (and Donuts)
The truth, the hole truth…
When and how doughnuts were invented (and how they got their name) is the subject of some disagreement. People also disagree about what counts as a real doughnut and whether you really need all those extra letters when you spell it (spoiler: you don't).
Macarons
The wonderful, if frustratingly named, French sandwich cookies
This French sandwich cookie is a delightful combination of flavors and textures. But it is not a clump of shredded coconut, so please don't call it a macaroon.