Yves is a writer and podcast host and producer based in Atlanta. Beyond her articles for HowStuffWorks, her writing has been featured in Lapham's Quarterly, The Bitter Southerner, Paper Darts, and elsewhere on the internet and in print. Hiking, traveling, practicing yoga, and watching horror are a few of the many activities that bring her joy.
Recent Contributions
Slot machines are more popular than table games at casinos — the personal interaction with dealers at the tables is often intimidating to some. On the slots, it's just you and the machine.
By John Grochowski & Yves Jeffcoat
You've probably heard that staring at the sun is bad — even a few seconds can damage your eyes. But what if you looked at a solar eclipse?
One of the most quoted (and misquoted) African American women, Maya Angelou's words and works resound with people of all ages and stages in life. Here are five quotes that explain why.
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Is it millions of marchers with clever signs and slogans, or does effective protest take more than just raised voices and collective outrage?
George C. Parker was so successful he gave rise to the phrase, "And if you believe that, I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you."
Changing your name legally can involve a lot of steps. We'll break it down for you.
Among the millions of pictures taken every year, some capture our hearts and stand the test of time. Here are the stories behind 13 of the most iconic.
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On Aug 22, 1781, the court ordered that Mum Bett, later known as Elizabeth Freeman, should be emancipated from slavery. She was the first enslaved black woman to sue for her freedom and win.
Dreams combine verbal, visual and emotional stimuli into mystifying storylines. Should we bother to interpret them? Are they random brain impulses, or do they offer insight into our waking lives?
Burqas are commonly associated with repression and religious extremism. But to many people, the veil is a sign of modesty and piety, as well as a badge of honor. What is the true meaning of the veil?
Dreadlocks have been worn for thousands of years and in countries across the globe. Anyone with any hair texture (and a lot of patience) can grow them. Find out more about the hairstyle and the people who wear it.
By Matt Sailor & Yves Jeffcoat
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A show that has several million viewers may seem popular to us, but a network may need millions more watching that program to make it a financial success. How do they figure out how many people are watching a show?
Afrofuturism isn't just about placing a Black person in a futuristic landscape. It takes into account the challenges Black people face and allows them to imagine futures of their own making.
Blackface is alive and well. HowStuffWorks explores the history behind the practice, from minstrel and Halloween costumes to Shirley Temple and Drake.
Some people really can hear silent moving images. It's called visual-evoked auditory response, or vEAR, and one in five people may have it.
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Free kids books that come out of a vending machine? Yes, please!
'Black Panther' may be the first superhero blockbuster of the year, so what's the deal with all the hype? We'll tell you.
Americans are struggling to maintain their core values in the face of heightened political polarization.
They blend right into their neighborhoods, but hidden inside are systems integral to maintaining a city.
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Get your ugly holiday sweater fill in one go with these nine horrid knits.
Yes, these nocturnal mammals can fly faster than our most beloved speedy birds. And they beat the record by a long shot.
We blink our eyes so often, yet we usually don’t perceive that the world has gone dark, if only for a microsecond. Why is that?
HowStuffWorks loves podcasts, and our staff of podcast hosts offer up recommendations of their favorite ones to obsess over.
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Whether it's tag, jumping rope or playing with dolls, kids in every part of the world, and in every generation, play. Philosophers and psychologists say they do it for more reasons than just having fun. But the future of play may be in jeopardy.