Dave is a freelance journalist who has contributed hundreds of articles to HowStuffWorks since 2007 reporting on every topic under the sun: history, culture, politics, economics, technology, religion and more. He’s also a regular contributor to History.com and a writer/researcher for Stuff You Should Know.
Raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Dave attended Duke University where he earned a B.A. in comparative religious studies and more importantly met his amazing wife Mandy. They have three kids and live in Boise, Idaho.
Recent Contributions
The "Don't Tread on Me" flag, showing a rattlesnake on a yellow background, has its roots in America's Revolutionary War but has become a right-wing symbol in the 21st century. What does it really mean?
By Dave Roos
The prosperity gospel is one of the most popular forms of Christianity in the entire world. But where did it come from and how did it get so big? And why do critics say it gives a false picture of Christianity?
By Dave Roos
Ashura is a very important holiday to both Shiite and Sunni Muslims but the two groups attach very different meanings to the day.
By Dave Roos
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Originally, 'Pagan' was a putdown for the country folk who continued to worship the old Roman gods, rather than embracing Christianity. Today, paganism is having a resurgence but with a modern twist.
By Dave Roos
An island doesn't necessarily have to be small. You might be surprised by the size of some of these islands on our list. Here are the nine biggest ones.
By Dave Roos
Many Jewish people will affix a mezuzah, a decorative case, to the doorframe of their houses. What's the significance of this?
By Dave Roos
Herodotus was a natural-born storyteller, whom scholars revere as the first historian ever, and critics dismiss as just a teller of tall tales. What's the real story?
By Dave Roos
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Is the U.S. a democracy or a republic? Or both? And what's the difference, anyway?
By Dave Roos
An obscure passage in Genesis mentions a group of superhumans who were the offspring of angels and women. Who were the Nephilim and what do they have to do with the Watchers?
By Dave Roos
The black-haired "demoness" of folklore turns up in many ancient legends, but in the 21st century, Lilith has been recast as a feminist symbol. This is her story.
By Dave Roos
Apparently, Kansas is the state whose name is mispronounced.
By Dave Roos
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Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama was a ruthless man determined to force his way into the lucrative spice routes of India. But without any valuable gifts to trade for the spices, the whole trip took a horrible turn.
By Dave Roos
We can easily picture a group of beard-and-toga geniuses hunched over scrolls inside a magnificent colonnaded hall. But what was the real Library of Alexandria like? And why do some scholars doubt its existence?
By Dave Roos
The @ sign is so much a part of the internet that it may surprise you to know it's been around for at least 1,500 years.
By Dave Roos
In the 1300s, Mali's Mansa Musa set out for Mecca with an entourage of 60,000 people bearing thousands of pounds of gold. So, where did all that gold come from? And what would that be worth today?
By Dave Roos
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"The unexamined life," said Socrates, "is not worth living." So what was the life of this Athenian sage really like?
By Dave Roos
Some 50,000 people jammed in an area one-hundredth of a square mile. An urban planning nightmare, it was home to gangs, factories and vibrant nightlife. How did it start, and what caused it to end?
By Dave Roos
IVR, or interactive voice response, is a new technology that many of us use everyday. Learn more about IVR in this article.
By Dave Roos
Statesman, military leader and Emperor of France, Napoleon Bonaparte was one of the most fascinating characters in European history and his height was the least of it.
By Dave Roos
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It's the oldest (and probably most obscure) monotheistic religion. So, how did it influence so many of the better-known ones? And will Zoroastrianism survive?
By Dave Roos
Shabbat is the holiday that is central to Jewish life, occurring every Friday at sunset to Saturday night. But what is it and how is it observed?
By Dave Roos
In TV shows and movies, sometimes an angel of death appears to tell some unfortunate soul their time on Earth is over. But where did this idea come from? And what if you tell the angel, "I'm not ready?"
By Dave Roos
Psychiatrist Viktor Frankl is best-known for penning "Man's Search for Meaning," after surviving three years in Nazi concentration camps. This book has been a beacon of hope to millions over the years.
By Dave Roos
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This very famous castle (and the inspiration for Sleeping Beauty's castle at Disneyland) was built for just one person, often called Mad King Ludwig. But was he really insane or just slandered by his enemies?
By Dave Roos
Members of the Osage Tribe were some of the richest people on Earth around 1920. Then they started dying, mysteriously. Who was killing them and what did oil have to do with it?
By Dave Roos