Dave Roos

It's a curious West Point graduation tradition – a special award is presented to the cadet who has the lowest GPA. But West Point graduates are proud to get it. Here's why.

By Dave Roos

UBI stands for universal basic income, a guaranteed government cash payment. Pilot programs are testing whether having UBI improves lives. What have they learned so far?

By Dave Roos

Some of the most paradoxical, profound words that Jesus spoke can be contained within these eight beatitudes. So what do they really mean?

By Dave Roos

The dense Aokigahara Forest has acquired another name, the "suicide forest." Why has it acquired that reputation and what is being done about it?

By Dave Roos

Nuclear power plant accidents are rare, but when they happen, there can be lasting effects from the radiation. Here are the five most horrific accidents in history.

By Dave Roos

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, more widely known as the Mormon church, can generate a lot of questions: Is there really special underwear? Is it a cult? We bust some myths.

By Dave Roos

No doubt the coronation of King Charles III will be full of pomp and circumstance. But it also will include priceless pieces of the royal crown jewels.

By Dave Roos

Junko Furuta was a Japanese schoolgirl, brutally raped and killed by four young men, who received shockingly light sentences. How did they get off so easily?

By Dave Roos

Today she is widely known for her beauty and her seductive ways, but scholars say we've been hoodwinked by propaganda written by her enemies. So what was the real Cleopatra like? And do we know her ethnicity?

By Dave Roos

There's a whale of a difference between the United Kingdom and Great Britain. But whatever you do, don't call someone from Scotland "English."

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

While the words "equality" and "equity" sound alike, the meanings are quite different. Here's what they stand for and why it matters.

By Dave Roos

The Kaizen philosophy of continuous improvement started in Japan but is used around the world. So, how do companies put it into practice? And how does it differ from Six Sigma and Lean?

By Dave Roos

It's seeped into movies and popular culture, but what does "six degrees of separation" really mean? Are we really that connected to each other?

By Dave Roos

Nowadays, it seems that U.S. consumers are being asked to shell out more in tips and service charges than ever before. But is there a difference between the two?

By Dave Roos

Now that former President Donald Trump has been indicted in Manhattan, what happens to his Secret Service detail? Would he get protection if he goes to prison, too?

By Dave Roos

To U.S. taxpayers, April 15 comes with lots of scrambling and sweating to send some cash or paperwork to the IRS. But why does Tax Day fall on that particular date? And why is it on April 18 sometimes?

By Dave Roos

Belief in the evil eye has existed since at least 3300 B.C.E. and is found in Jewish, Islamic and Christian cultures of the Mediterranean and Middle East. But why has belief persisted for so long?

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

This sensational scandal involved sex, torture, witchcraft and poisoning. And the court of King Louis XIV, sending shockwaves through the aristocracy.

By Dave Roos

Jesus's death and resurrection are celebrated by Christians either in March or April (depending on the year) and there is no agreement as to the actual dates of the events. So, when do most scholars think Jesus died?

By Dave Roos

In the U.S., the bar for running for president is deliberately set low – only age and citizenship rules are written into the Constitution. Still, are there any laws that would bar a felon from running for the highest office in the land?

By Dave Roos

We've seen the words in movies, books, art, and even anime, but what are the seven deadly sins? And who came up with the list?

By Dave Roos

The numbers 666 are a favorite of horror movies dealing with the occult. But where did they come from, and what or whom do they really refer to?

By Dave Roos

It seems like a plot from a spy novel: British spies (including Ian Fleming) left fake "secret" plans for an invasion on a dead man's body hoping to fool the Nazis. And it worked.

By Dave Roos