Josh Clark wanted to be a professional writer since his third-grade teacher told him a short story he wrote was kind of good. He's written ever since. He's a former senior writer for HowStuffWorks and current co-host of the Stuff You Should Know podcast. Josh lives with his wife, Umi. The pair really, really enjoys traveling, solving mysteries, having pizza parties and visiting museums (both renowned and obscure). Josh has been to the real-life house that served as the Robin's Nest on "Magnum, P.I." and is on an indefinite hiatus from being a jerk.
Recent Contributions
The concept of revenge predates legal history; you could even say that it's part of who we are as humans. But sometimes the need for vengeance can kick into overdrive – as in these 12 infamous acts of revenge.
Discussing what goes on in the bathroom is considered taboo in many social circles, but you should be having frank discussions about your waste if you own a septic tank. What's the protocol for dealing with fecal matter?
Water is just hydrogen and oxygen, so why can't we do what nature does and combine the two? Unfortunately, it's not that simple, and the results can be rather ... explosive.
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Genghis Khan is said to have killed 1,748,000 people in one hour. But is that possible? If not, what really happened?
By Josh Clark
The U.S. and Soviet Union fought the Cold War for 45 years via proxy wars and a near-complete polarization of the rest of the world. But did either side really win?
Getting shot is not something anybody hopes will happen, but if it does, where is the best place to take a bullet? Find out what the experts think.
Maybe you've sung along with that well-known tune: "Davy, Davy Crockett, king of the wild frontier." But have you ever wondered how he earned that royal title?
By Josh Clark
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Even if you've heard the term, you may not know how important habeas corpus is to the U.S. Constitution. How can an ancient Latin phrase for "you have the body" be so relevant today?
By Josh Clark
The idiom says whatever can go wrong will go wrong. Is it the mysterious power of Murphy's Law, or is it simply people who give the law relevance?
By Josh Clark
Overloaded outlets and poorly made power strips can cause an electrical overload that can ruin your holiday plans. How many plugs does it take to start a fire?
By Josh Clark
If you've picked up a newspaper lately, then you're aware of the economic troubles raging on Wall Street. But the culprit may very well be in your own neighborhood: Are mortgage-backed securities to blame for the mess?
By Josh Clark
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The game of dominoes is quite simple -- all you have to do is connect tiles with the same number of pips to each other until you have none left. Playing the game is simple, but winning is another story.
By Josh Clark
You'd think that earthworms are good for fish bait and little else, but that isn't the case at all. Earthworms are the engines that help local ecosystems run. They aerate soil, help facilitate plant composition and so much more.
By Josh Clark
With your checklist and cleaning supplies in hand, you're ready to scrub your house from top to bottom. But where does this seasonal tradition come from?
By Josh Clark
Joe Biden won the 2020 U.S. presidential election, securing the most votes ever. How did he get there and what are his goals as president?
By Josh Clark & Dave Roos
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World War I lasted more than four horrific years. But that first Christmas, soldiers from both sides spontaneously put down their guns, shook hands and celebrated together.
By Josh Clark
When the framers of the Constitution considered an executive branch, they were still stinging from the despotic rule of King George III. But, they saw the need for a single person to lead. Enter the president of the United States.
This American institution began with Abraham Lincoln following Stephen Douglas on the campaign trail. Today, the presidential debate is one of the most anticipated markers of candidates' campaigns.
When Gov. John White left Roanoke to gather supplies from England, he was astonished at what he found when he returned. The colonists were gone, their houses were gone and the only clue to their whereabouts was a tree carved with the word "CROATOAN."
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Political primaries let voters choose which candidate they want to represent their political party as president. But not everyone is happy with the process. What are the problems, and can they be fixed?
Can a dead stingray's sting kill you? It's highly unlikely, but you'd still be in for a world of hurt if you get stung.
By Josh Clark
What makes the American Revolution stand out in world history? Was it the introduction of guerrilla warfare or its stage outside the borders of its parent nation? All those were noteworthy, but the real revolution was what the Revolution created.
By Josh Clark & Dave Roos
While Londoners on the East End saw their fair share of grime, drugs and prostitution, nothing could've prepared them for Jack the Ripper's bloody rampage in 1888. What's the story behind this legendary killer?
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A bad LSD trip can drive a person to suicide. So why would the CIA use American citizens as guinea pigs for its drug research?
By Josh Clark
Sen. John McCain was a retired Navy veteran, a supporter of the war in Iraq and the Republican Party's 2008 nominee for president. How did he earn a reputation for being a maverick?