John is a freelance writer based in the suburbs of Atlanta. A longtime sports scribe with too much time covering college sports, the NFL, the NBA and Major League Baseball, he now writes on science, health, history, current events and whatever other weird non-sports stories that he and the editors at HowStuffWorks dream up. He has a journalism degree from Arizona State, a wife, a son, a dog that sheds too much and a bad case of eyestrain.
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Is sending federal troops to the U.S.-Mexico border even legal? As it turns out, a U.S. law called the Posse Comitatus Act has something to say about it.
How in the world did a search engine company like Google become synonymous with a fun form of art? It all started with Burning Man.
A group of 21 U.S. kids — ages 11 to 22 — are taking the government to court for failing to address the climate crisis. Can they possibly win?
The 100-year anniversary of the end of World War I offers up a reminder — and a second chance — for us to remember the soldiers' sacrifices and to learn from our past mistakes.
The Anti-Defamation League identified nearly 2,000 anti-Semitic incidents throughout the U.S. in 2017 — an increase of nearly 60 percent over those in 2016. And for the first time since 2010, one occurred in every state.
The annual bison roundup in South Dakota's Custer State Park is a spectacle full of cowboys, horses and of course wild buffalo, all set against the backdrop of the rolling Black Hills. It's also about as Americana as you can get.
President Donald Trump proudly declared he is a 'nationalist,' much to the chagrin of many Americans. Still others support his comment. So what exactly does it mean?
Your home's totaled. You have no cash. No supplies. And nowhere to go. Now what?
It's also known as "maternity tourism," and defined as travel to the U.S. for the purpose of having a child on American soil.
Most people probably think high winds are the deadliest aspect of a hurricane. But they'd be wrong. It's the wall of water brought on by storm surge that barrels on shore taking out everything in its path.
Brett Kavanaugh's nomination certainly isn't the worst the U.S. has seen. Anybody remember Harriet Miers?
Properly disposing and storing coal ash is extremely tricky, and it only takes one small trigger to cause a catastrophe.
When Mother Nature is at her worst, the state and federal governments often step in to protect U.S. citizens. But moving masses of people away from the coast isn't an easy feat.
Forensic linguists may never get their own TV show, but these scientists do help solve crimes in their own way.
Even though Hurricane Florence was downgraded to a Category 2, the storm could still unleash an historic amount of rain.
College sports just wouldn't be the same without those silly costumed humans (and live animals) parading around the sidelines pumping up the fans.
Fake videos created by AI-assisted algorithms — deepfakes — are here and nearly impossible to detect, adding another layer to the misinformation wars.
Lying in state beneath the U.S. Capitol Rotunda is an honor that has been bestowed on only 32 people in history, but who decides which Americans are so honored?
They're worshipped by 'cargo cults' on the Pacific Island of Tanna. What can their ideals tell us about our own political and social beliefs?
For the first time ever, three men will be cheering professionally for the National Football League. Is breaking this barrier a way to get the NFL some positive press or a sign of changing times?
