Light-hearted conversation with callers from all over about new words, old sayings, slang, family ex
In 1944, an Italian scientist discovered a drug that he later named for his wife. His wife’s name wa
In Cockney rhyming slang, apples and pears is a synonym for "stairs," and dustbin lids means kids. P
National Book Award winner Barry Lopez had wise advice for young writers. First, read widely and fol
Thunderstorms might sound scary, but playful explanations for all those booms can help reassure litt
What kind of book do people ask for most often in prison? Romance Novels? No. The Bible? No. The mos
Twice a day the River Thames recedes, revealing a muddy shoreline. Hobbyists known as mudlarks strol
Many of us struggled with the Old English poem "Beowulf" in high school. But what if you could actua
The phrase old as Methuselah describes someone quite advanced in years. In ancient scripture, Methus
What's it like to hike the Pacific Crest Trail all the way from Mexico to Canada? You'll end up with
The words cushy, cheeky, and non-starter all began as Britishisms, then hopped across the pond to th
Astronauts returning from space say they experience what's called the overview effect, a new underst
Scientists have named some recently discovered species of tree frogs after characters from Star Trek
In the 15th century, the word respair meant "to have hope again." Although this word fell out of use
Do people who work together sound alike? Yes! Over time, they may begin to develop similar patterns
Asthenosphere, a geologist's term for the molten layer beneath the earth's crust, sparks a journey t
How and why do words from one language find their way into another? Vietnamese, for instance, includ
Amid court-ordered busing in the 1970s, a middle-school teacher tried to distract her nervous studen
Some TV commercials launch catchphrases that stick around long after the original ads. The exclamati
In 1971, when a new public library opened in Troy, Michigan, famous authors and artists were invited
What exactly is a planet? Controversy over this question led to Pluto’s redefinition, along with a b
