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    • Top 10 Inventions by African-Americans
      Top 10 Inventions by African-Americans

      During February, the United States celebrates African American History Month. Here, take a look at 10 notable inventions credited to African-American innovators that you might not know about.

    • How the U.S. President Works
      How the U.S. President Works

      On this day in 1789, George Washington was elected as the first U.S. President. When the framers of the Constitution considered an executive branch, they were still stinging from the despotic rule of King George III. Ultimately, the framers saw the need for a single person to lead. Enter the president of the United States.

    • 5 Tips for Picking the Right Smartphone
      5 Tips for Picking the Right Smartphone

      An unverified image of the new BlackBerry smartphone has leaked to the Web, and there’s no keyboard in sight. With so many phones on the market, here are some tips to figure out what you want and what you can do without.

    • Science Xplained: The Physics of Football
      Science Xplained: The Physics of Football

      As millions of viewers settle in to watch the Super Bowl, Yale scientist Ainissa Ramirez describes the physics behind the game and what gives a football its speed, drag and spin. Tune in now to this special Super Bowl edition of Science Xplained.

    • Top 5 Richest Internet Entrepreneurs
      Top 5 Richest Internet Entrepreneurs

      Facebook filed for an initial public offering Wednesday, which could create a few millionaires when the stock shares go public. See how hard work has paid off for this list of Internet entrepreneurs in ways the rest of us can barely imagine.

    • How Riots Work
      How Riots Work

      A riot after a soccer game in Egypt on Wednesday has left more than 70 people dead. Riots may garner attention for people who feel frustrated and oppressed, but are they really effective?

    • How to Survive a Sinking Ship
      How to Survive a Sinking Ship

      Hundreds of people were rescued on Thursday after a ferry off the coast of Papua New Guinea sank, and the search continues for additional survivors. Do you know what to do when a ship goes down?

    • 10 Signs the Economy Is Improving
      10 Signs the Economy Is Improving

      Last week, claims for initial unemployment benefits dropped. According to some economists, the most recent U.S. recession ended in June 2009, but not everyone can see the difference. It may surprise you to learn that the economy is showing signs of life, and here are 10 of the most vital.

    • iPod Pictures
      iPod Pictures

      Rumors are circulating that the new iPod Nano will feature a camera. Take a look Apple's current products and see how the models have changed throughout the years.

    • Can animals predict the weather?
      Can animals predict the weather?

      After celebrating Groundhog Day this week, we ask the question, if animals can predict the weather, do we stop trusting the weatherman and start visiting the zoo to get tomorrow's forecast? Find out how much animals can tell us.

    • 5 Things LEGO Blocks Can Teach You About Structural Engineering
      5 Things LEGO Blocks Can Teach You About Structural Engineering

      Playing with LEGOs isn't just child's play. In fact, two Canadian teens recently sent a LEGO man into space with a weather balloon. Take a look at what LEGO can teach us about structural engineering.

    • How Human Reproduction Works
      How Human Reproduction Works

      Pfizer is recalling 1 million packets of birth control pills due to packaging errors that may increase the likelihood of pregnancy. What's the biology behind getting pregnant?

    • 5 Super Bowl Party Games
      5 Super Bowl Party Games

      Think throwing the perfect Super Bowl party is all about fun and games? Well, it can be. Get ready to tap into the competitive mood of your partygoers with some challenging activities sure to spark your festivities.

    • What is the universe made of?
      What is the universe made of?

      For the first time, a NASA probe has detected matter outside of our solar system. It wasn't so long ago that astronomers thought the universe contained normal matter, or baryonic matter, the base unit of which is the atom. But when it comes to the cosmos, there's always more than meets the eye. What else is hanging out in space?

    • 5 New Engine Technologies That Make Cars More Fun to Drive
      5 New Engine Technologies That Make Cars More Fun to Drive

      Starting next year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration may push for laws which will require cars to communicate with one another as a means to avoid collisions. Safety is always the highest priority, but technologies like tiny city cars with a direct-injected engines or supercars with "push to pass" hybrid booster buttons promise that the future of driving will still be fun.

    • Top 10 Things You Should Not Share on Social Networks
      Top 10 Things You Should Not Share on Social Networks

      Recently, two British citizens were detained upon arriving in the United States and sent back home after tweeting about destroying America. Bad idea. See what else you shouldn't share online.

    • What will the Earth look like in 500 years?
      What will the Earth look like in 500 years?

      Researchers have just determined that volcanic eruptions caused the Little Ice Age approximately 500 years ago. A lot has changed since then. What might be in store for us 500 years from now?

    • Top 5 Myths About Facebook
      Top 5 Myths About Facebook

      One of the Internet's most popular destinations, Facebook, has stirred up a few rumors. Recently, the question is whether or not the social networking site will sell shares of stock to the general public. Which past rumors have been purely fiction?

    • How Invisibility Cloaks Work
      How Invisibility Cloaks Work

      German scientists were recently able to hide a cylindrical tube using what they call plasmonic cloaking. A true invisibility cloak seems perfectly believable in the magical world of Harry Potter, but in the real world, it's impossible, right? Not so fast.

    • 10 of the Biggest Lies in History
      10 of the Biggest Lies in History

      On Jan. 26, 1998, U.S. President Bill Clinton denied having sexual relations with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky, only to later admit to the affair. Lots of us lie, but what are the biggest fibs ever told?

    • Fact or Fiction: Surviving an Animal Attack
      Fact or Fiction: Surviving an Animal Attack

      What happens if you accidentally encounter an animal that feels threatened or frightened by you? What if it attacks? Take this quiz to see whether you've got what it takes to survive or if Mother Nature will reign supreme.

    • Fact or Fiction: Composting
      Fact or Fiction: Composting

      The average American household throws away 470 pounds of food waste every year. Sure, composting is the responsible thing to do, but isn't it complicated and labor-intensive? Doesn't it stink up your yard? Take our quiz and find out.

    • The Ultimate Harry Potter Quiz
      The Ultimate Harry Potter Quiz

      Even if you haven't cracked open any of the seven enormous volumes in the series, you probably know who Dumbledore is and how Harry got that scar on his forehead. If you have read them all, you know that 20 questions barely scratch the surface -- so don't dwell on what we've missed. Pretend this quiz is your N.E.W.T. exam and see if you pass.

    • How much do you know about polyamory?
      How much do you know about polyamory?

      Is it really possible to love more than one person? People who practice polyamory think so. Find out how much you know about polyamorous relationships with this quiz.

    • Ultimate Classic Toys Quiz
      Ultimate Classic Toys Quiz

      What was your favorite toy when you were a kid? How much do you really know about classic toys, such as Silly Putty, Monopoly or Mr. Potato Head? Take our quiz to find out.

    • Are you a werewolf?
      Are you a werewolf?

      Do you have hair in weird places? Do you find yourself suppressing an urge to howl at the moon? Does your significant other call you an animal -- and not in a good way? Well, you’re either extra quirky or you’re a werewolf. Take this quiz to find out what’s really keeping you up at night.

    • Fact or Fiction: Coffins and Caskets
      Fact or Fiction: Coffins and Caskets

      We read about them in books and see them on the silver screen, but what's the real deal on coffins? Test your knowledge of the realities and myths that surround these creepy containers with this fact-or-fiction quiz.

    • Fact or Fiction: Google
      Fact or Fiction: Google

      Sometimes it feels like Google is taking over the world. Seriously, "Google" is actually in the dictionary as a verb. And rumors are always swirling about the next new Google development. Do you know which of them are true? Take our quiz and find out.

    • Science + Gasoline = Race Car?
      Science + Gasoline = Race Car?

      Unless you're an automotive designer or a car fanatic, you probably don't know too much about automotive physics. But don't be intimidated if you don't know a carburetor from an alternator -- take our quiz and you'll learn a little something about what's going on under the hood of your car.

    • Partly Cloudy With a Chance of Data Compromise: Cloud Security Quiz
      Partly Cloudy With a Chance of Data Compromise: Cloud Security Quiz

      Worried about your online passwords being compromised? Think you're playing it safe? Take the quiz to find out if you're doing all you can to protect your information online.

    • How much do you know about Chrome?
      How much do you know about Chrome?

      The Google Chrome Web browser is full of fun and useful features. How much do you know about Chrome? Surf through this quiz to find out!

    • No Wires Required
      No Wires Required

      Wireless networks are easy to set up and inexpensive. They're also unobtrusive -- unless you're on the lookout for a place to use your laptop, you may not even notice when you're in a hotspot. But as you’ll find out in this quiz, there’s a lot more to them than meets the eye.

    • The Ultimate Bicycle Quiz
      The Ultimate Bicycle Quiz

      Learning to ride a bicycle seems to be a universal experience for children around the world. Whether you've been riding bicycles since you were a child or just recently started pedaling, how much do you know about this elegant and simple vehicle?

    • Roses are red. Violets are blue. But how does color affect you?
      Roses are red. Violets are blue. But how does color affect you?

      When it comes to painting your home, there's more to picking a color than meets the eye. Your choices are often based on deep-seated psychological reactions to color that you may not even think about at first. Take this quiz to see how much you know about the effects of color on your mind!

    • Fact or Fiction: Spray Paint
      Fact or Fiction: Spray Paint

      So you think you know a lot about spray paint, huh? OK, smartypants -- let's see if you can tell fact from fiction when it comes to aerosol paint.

    • Could you survive a plane crash?
      Could you survive a plane crash?

      You probably figure you're a goner in the event of a plane crash, right? In some situations, yes, but don't count yourself out. With some advance planning and quick thinking you could improve your chances -- even when falling from 35,000 feet.

    • Get in Touch With the Dark Arts
      Get in Touch With the Dark Arts

      How much do you actually know about the unknowable? It's time to put your supernatural knowledge to the test. Pray you spent enough time in your bookstore's candlelit occult section.

    • Popular Commercial Slogans Quiz
      Popular Commercial Slogans Quiz

      Those of us who have grown up around TV can't help but have heads full of snappy slogans and jingles from watching (or really, just listening to) commercials. While you'd never admit it in polite society, you know every one of the following slogans, and probably many, many more. But can you match them with the right brands?

    • A Different Kind of Keyless Entry
      A Different Kind of Keyless Entry

      If you find yourself locked out of your house, you might be tempted to learn your way around a lock pick. But while the theory is easy, getting a lock to open without a key is a little harder.

    • Don't Try This at Home
      Don't Try This at Home

      We humans can do amazing things -- whether it's out of sheer will to live (see "surviving adrift at sea") or an intense desire to be globally recognized for a bizarre achievement. Can you guess what these record breakers got up to?

    • 10 Most Long-lived Empires in History
      10 Most Long-lived Empires in History

      Empires rise and empires fall -- it's a seemingly unavoidable fact of life on Earth. But these superpowers reigned longer than any others. What can we learn from their missteps and achievements?

    • 10 Egregiously Bad Sports Contracts
      10 Egregiously Bad Sports Contracts

      It may not seem that way all the time, but professional athletes are generally worth every penny they make -- except when agents and general managers hand out overpriced contracts like candy. Here are 10 of the worst.

    • 10 Construction Projects That Broke the Bank
      10 Construction Projects That Broke the Bank

      Whether we're trying to save a sinking city or digging massive tunnels, our appetite for construction knows no bounds. But if designers had known the cost of these 10 projects, they might have gone back to the drawing board.

    • 10 Ways to Get the Most Out of iTunes
      10 Ways to Get the Most Out of iTunes

      iTunes is like most other complex tools. It works well right out of the box, but it can become a powerful, personalized media manager with a few simple modifications and adjustments. So, what can you do to get the most out of iTunes?

    • Top 5 Myths About Apple
      Top 5 Myths About Apple

      Apple is one of the most successful companies around -- and one of the most mysterious. Here, we consider and debunk five of the biggest myths surrounding this tech giant.

    • 10 Inventions That Changed the World
      10 Inventions That Changed the World

      If you think that the world's greatest inventions came from the fevered minds of solitary geniuses, think again. As you scan this list of the 10 inventions that changed the world, note how many of them perfected workable designs.

    • 5 Successful Counterfeiters
      5 Successful Counterfeiters

      It doesn't take much skill to steal, but printing and using fake currency requires some finesse. Counterfeiting has become something of a lost art over the years, but here's a list of five of its best practitioners.

    • Top 10 Tech Tools for Managing Your Money
      Top 10 Tech Tools for Managing Your Money

      Knowing how to manage your money is a valuable skill, regardless of the state of the economy. And in today's tech-savvy climate, an array of tools can help you do just that. Read on to see the top 10 tech tools for managing your money.

    • 5 Ways to Snare Dinner in the Wild
      5 Ways to Snare Dinner in the Wild

      If you're stranded in the wild and you're not carrying a hunting rifle, your best bet for bagging dinner is probably a snare or a trap. But how do you set one up?

    • 10 Incredible Wind Power Facts
      10 Incredible Wind Power Facts

      In the race to find alternative energy sources, wind power is a strong contender. In fact, it's already making its mark. How much do you know about this up-and-coming energy source?

    • Top 10 Wacky Inventions for the Home
      Top 10 Wacky Inventions for the Home

      A levitating lounger, a toilet seat that rises to greet you, a fold-out balcony. Some of these household gadgets are useful, and some are absolute fluff. Which ones are the wackiest?

    • 10 Important Photography Terms
      10 Important Photography Terms

      Even the best camera needs a good photographer to capture the best images possible. No matter your skill level, you still need to know the basic terms and tenets of photography. Here are 10 of the most important ones.

    • 10 Private Islands We Wish We Could Afford
      10 Private Islands We Wish We Could Afford

      For most of us, the dream of buying an island is just that -- a dream. But if you're having fun pretending, or you've actually lucked out and inherited a ton of cash, check out these 10 secluded isles. Trust us, they're all over-the-top.

    • 10 Great Reasons to Change Jobs
      10 Great Reasons to Change Jobs

      Leaving a job can be one of the most stressful occasions in your working life, but some situations make it almost mandatory for a career-minded person to change jobs. What are some of the best reasons to switch to a new job?

    • 10 Shows That Changed TV Forever
      10 Shows That Changed TV Forever

      The airwaves bring a variety of sports, sitcoms, dramas, news and reality shows into our homes. But the best shows punch through these genres to create -- well, something new. So what are some of the shows that changed the way we view TV?

    • 10 Best Places for Outdoorsy Types to Live
      10 Best Places for Outdoorsy Types to Live

      It's nice to take off for a week of kayaking, hiking and rafting. But it'd be a whole lot cooler if all that adventure were right in your backyard. Where can you live that lifestyle?

    • 5 Ways to Make Extra Money from Home
      5 Ways to Make Extra Money from Home

      Who couldn't use a little extra cash at some point? You may not have the time to go out and hit the pavement in search of a second job, but you could use the skills you have to get the cash you need.

    • Top 10 Things That Women Invented
      Top 10 Things That Women Invented

      Necessity may be the mother of invention, but many inventors are also mothers. By the end of the 20th century, female inventors held 10 percent of all patents -- a disparity indicating the hurdles women faced in receiving credit for their ideas. The inventions on this list overcame those obstacles.

    • 10 Great iPhone Apps
      10 Great iPhone Apps

      It wasn't so long ago that Apple sold its one billionth iPhone application. What are some of the best applications that run on Apple's smartphone?

    • 10 Most Breathtaking Views in the World
      10 Most Breathtaking Views in the World

      There are some views so magnificent that people travel across oceans and continents to see them. What are they?

  • Social Stuff from the HowStuffWorks writers and editors

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    • Color Match
      Color Match

      Put on your sweatbands and get ready to train your brain! Improve your concentration by matching words and colors in the Color Match Game. Flex your brain and focus your mind, play Color Match today!

    • Jigsaw Puzzle: Advanced
      Jigsaw Puzzle: Advanced

      With these free jigsaw puzzle games, you won't have to worry about losing a piece under the dining room table.

    • Cannon Challenge
      Cannon Challenge

      Take charge of your own Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS) Cannon, the revolutionary gun that represents the future of U.S. Field Artillery.

    • TextTwist 2
      TextTwist 2

      Super TextTwist revolutionized casual word games. Now, TextTwist 2 takes it to the next level. Featuring 25,000 words to find, amazing new graphics, and nearly endless family fun, TextTwist 2 is a must-have for word game fans.

    • The Clockwork Man
      The Clockwork Man

      Peel back the curtain and visit a 19th century world that never existed in this beautiful hidden object game! The Clockwork Man takes seek-and-find gameplay to new dimensions.

    • Plants vs. Zombies
      Plants vs. Zombies

      Plant powerful perennials and defend your brain from hordes of hungry zombies in the all-new Plants vs. Zombies -- Game of the Year Edition. The zombies are on the march for tasty brains and only you can stop them!

    • Ranch Rush 2
      Ranch Rush 2

      Enjoy the island fun of Ranch Rush 2, a new tropical farming sequel to the hit game! More than 120 levels of farm-frenzied fun await you in this exciting new adventure.

    • The Magician's Handbook II - BlackLore
      The Magician's Handbook II - BlackLore

      Return to a magical world beyond your wildest dreams in The Magician's Handbook II, a hidden object adventure to defeat an evil magician pirate!

    • Raindrops Game
      Raindrops Game

      Improve your mathematics skills and sharpen your mind with the Raindrops Game. Can you solve the math equations in the raindrops before they hit the water? Flex your brain and play Raindrops today!

    • Flip Out
      Flip Out

      Flip Out is a game chock-full of unique twists that will tickle your brain just the right way, with a fun visual style and feel-good gameplay to keep you coming back for more.

    • Roads of Rome
      Roads of Rome

      Overcome dangers including rugged terrain, vicious animals and natural disasters. Can you get Victorious back to Rome?

    • Fishdom™ 2
      Fishdom™ 2

      Build an all-new underwater kingdom in Fishdom™ 2, the highly anticipated sequel to the hit game! Fishdom is back and better than ever with a rewarding aquarium escapade.

    • Fix-it-Up 2 -- World Tour
      Fix-it-Up 2 -- World Tour

      Expand your car repair empire in Fix-it-Up 2 -- World Tour, the fun sequel to the hit automobile restoration game!

    • Jane's Hotel Mania
      Jane's Hotel Mania

      Upgrade the hotels with charming décor, learn new skills to become more efficient and challenge eight wonderful mini-games to stay on the right track. Together, you'll help Jane and Jenny succeed in Jane's Hotel Mania!

    • Youda Survivor
      Youda Survivor

      Can you balance the urge to fulfill a prophecy and the need to survive and get out of this unbelievable predicament? Bring your adventurous spirit to life and take part in this wild journey.

    • Around the World in 80 Days
      Around the World in 80 Days

      You only have 80 days to circumnavigate the globe. Think that sounds easy? Travel back in time to the late 19th century and get ready for spectacular adventures on land, sea and air together with the English daredevil Phileas Fogg and his loyal French servant Passepartout.

    • Mahjongg Age of Alchemy
      Mahjongg Age of Alchemy

      Think you have what it takes to make the high score? Get to the top spot and earn extra treats for being the queen or king of online Mahjongg Age of Alchemy.

    • Flip Words
      Flip Words

      You'll flip over our new word game: Flip Words! Click on letters to make words and solve familiar phrases.

    • Auto Channel: Picture Pieces
      Auto Channel: Picture Pieces

      Prove that you’ve got those keen special eyes with Auto Channel: Picture Pieces!

    • Magical Mysteries - Path of the Sorceress
      Magical Mysteries - Path of the Sorceress

      Play two extra mini-games, test three difficulties, and enjoy a fine balance between fast-paced battles and brain-teasing puzzles.

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The Ultimate World's Tallest Building Quiz
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stuff of the day

Did you know: Ben Franklin was the 15th child and youngest son in a family of 20. He spent two years at the Boston Latin School before dropping out at age 20 and going to work for his father, and then his brother, as a printer. Another random fact

“Idealism increases in direct proportion to one's distance from the problem.” Who said it?