Decoder Ring is the show about cracking cultural mysteries. In each episode, host Willa Paskin takes a cultural question, object, or habit;... more
In 1980, a variety show debuted on NBC called Pink Lady and Jeff. Its stars were a pair of Japanese... more
The fear that the Earth could be destroyed by a killer asteroid is an anxiety that pops up all the... more
There is a prominent bird in the 2000 film Charlie’s Angels that makes absolutely no sense. This so-called Pygmy Nuthatch... more
Whatever happened to selling out? The defining concern of Generation X has become a relic from another era. How that... more
Oscar-winner Warren Beatty first secured the rights to the comic book character Dick Tracy in the lead up to his... more
Adults have a long history of trying to find morals and lessons in children’s literature. But what happens when a... more
In the late 1970s, a new and unusual concept for a restaurant chain emerged in California—video games plus bad pizza... more
“Hysteria” is an ancient word carrying thousands of years of baggage. Though the terminology has changed, hysteria has not gone... more
If you’re lucky, it’s possible you’ve never thought much about sitting. It’s just something your body does, like breathing or... more
Lawn ornaments are everywhere—but for something so ubiquitous, they’re also mysterious. What’s the person with the flamingo or the gargoyle... more