The world standard in knowledge since 1768
Strange but True
Unbelievable events from history.
Killed by sex? One of the greatest painters of the Renaissance, Raphael also had a reputation as a lothario, and biographer Vasari speculated that his early death was caused by a night of excess passion. The world's shortest war It lasted no longer than 40 minutes. Mystery in Siberia In 1908 central Siberia, Russia, was the site of a still-unexplained explosion that had the force of 15 megatons of TNT. Johnny Cash and a murderous ostrich Read how the Man in Black was almost killed by an ostrich in our list of six dangerous birds. “Sweet, sticky death” In 1919 Boston was attacked by more than two million gallons of molasses.
Breaking the Color Barrier
On July 6, 1957, Althea Gibson became the first black tennis player to win the Wimbledon singles championship. It was one of many history-making moments for the Harlem-raised Gibson. The previous year she had become the first black player to win a Grand Slam title (the French Open), and she later was the first black player to be ranked number one. We take a closer look at her incredible life as well as other trailblazing African American athletes.
New on Britannica

Many of the Founding Fathers acknowledged that slavery violated the ideal of liberty that was so central to the American Revolution, but, because they were committed to the sanctity of private property rights, the principles of limited government, and the pursuit of intersectional harmony, they were unable to take bold action against slavery.

From the latter half of the 19th century until the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the renewed push to expand territorial control included not only the earlier colonial powers of western Europe but also newcomers such as Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, and the United States.
Browse by Category

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Percussion instrument
musical instrument
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Destination Bollywood: Fact or Fiction?
You may be familiar with India’s film industry, but...
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A-List of Actors: Fact or Fiction?
From a cowboy to Gandhi, sort through the facts and...

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Cave
geology
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Destination Asia: Fact or Fiction?
You may know that Asia is one of the most populous...
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Exploring Korea: Fact or Fiction?
Did the 38th Parallel originally divide North Korea...

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Heredity
genetics
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The Human Brain
How much do you know about the human brain? Test your...
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What’s the Difference Between Veins and Arteries?
They want to pump you up (with blood).

- Anarchism
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Why Is Pride Month Celebrated in June?
Pride Month: From Stonewall riots to annual celebration.
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What If the President Is Impeached?
How, when, and why impeachment happens.

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Novel
literature
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Literary Terms (Part Three) Quiz
Do you know what figure of speech relies on the words...
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Another Russian Literature Quiz
Who wrote Dead Souls? Which...

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Buddhism
religion
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Why Is Christmas in December?
No one knows when Jesus was born, so why celebrate...
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Murder Most Horrid: The Grisliest Deaths of Roman Catholic Saints
Methods of martyrdom you may not have heard of.

- Political philosophy
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Global Governance Quiz
Intergovernmental cooperation is essential to resolve...
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What’s the Difference Between Libel and Slander?
When you make a defamatory statement, you should know...

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Cell
biology
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Are Bats Really Blind?
They’ve got great hearing, but is there truth to being...
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What’s the Difference Between Llamas and Alpacas?
While often conflated, alpacas and llamas differ in...

- Olympic Games
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Australian Rules Football
Dating back as far as the 1850s, Australian (Aussie)...
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Baseball
Do you think you know about baseball? Test your knowledge...

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Nuclear reactor
device
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How Does Wi-Fi Work?
Basically, the Internet is run by a bunch of 1s and...
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6 Fast Facts about Alexander Graham Bell
Bell’s contributions went beyond the telephone.

- Art
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Everything in Art and Design (Part Four) Quiz
Want to learn a little about nearly everything in art...
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Another Dance Quiz
Who pioneered the serious presentation of dance on...

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South African War
British-South African history
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5 Fascinating Battles of the African Colonial Era
Explore Africa’s history.
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9 U.S. Presidents with the Most Vetoes
Hail to the chief.