Jesse Singer articles

You probably have strong opinions about what belongs on a hot dog. Well, prepare to have a few more. Across these various states, regional traditions and local twists might change your usual order—or make you appreciate plain mustard even more. How adventurous are you feeling?

Most predictions about the end of humanity leave themselves a little breathing room. A century, perhaps. A distant future nobody reading will have to worry about. But in 1960, three researchers put a year on their warning—and then went considerably further. They named the day.

You might think becoming a flight attendant’s favorite passenger involves expensive tickets or handing out gifts. Apparently, the bar is considerably lower. Crews say some of the things they appreciate most take almost no effort—and a few will definitely leave you wondering what everyone else has been doing.

When David Hole found a heavy rock with his metal detector, he took it home and tried to get it open. He thought there was gold inside—lots of gold. Three years later, he brought it to a museum and learned just how wrong he’d been.

You might think they’d all choose the same handful of states. But when Americans were asked directly which ones they considered the most desirable places to live, the answers got interesting. Some obvious favorites made the top 25, but a few surprises did too. Is your choice on the list?

Spaghetti seems like a pretty safe dinner—until you see what some Americans put on it. These combinations might have you reaching for your fork, or wondering who let these people near the kitchen. Would you ask for seconds—or ask what on earth they were thinking?

Some animals look dangerous. Others look like they belong on a postcard—right up until you get too close. From the hiking trail to the swimming hole—or even your own backyard—every state has at least one dangerous animal you definitely want to avoid. Have you ever come into contact with any of these?

An all-inclusive vacation is supposed to mean leaving your wallet—and your worries—behind. But while your friends were enjoying dinner, you were wondering what you could actually eat. Now you want some of your money back. Fair enough? One detail could change who should pay.

King Tut’s tomb gave the world enough gold to make it seem like the discovery of a lifetime. But what if the most important part was never opened? More than a century later, researchers are looking at its walls—and wondering what everyone might have missed.