Alex Palmer

Experience:

Alex is a writer and expert excavator of fascinating facts. He’s the author of five books, including Weird-O-Pedia, Happiness Hacks, and the New York Times–bestseller The Santa Claus Man.

people enjoying the summer on Mackiniac island main street

people enjoying the summer on Mackiniac island main street

The Most Mispronounced Places in America

Never be mistaken for a tourist again.

Sea turtle in ocean

Sea turtle in ocean

10 Things You Can Do to Help Save the Turtles

Ditching straws is just the start.

John F. Kennedy on a boat

John F. Kennedy on a boat

50 Facts About America That Most Americans Don’t Know

Most Americans consider themselves as fairly knowledgeable about their country’s history. They could probably tell you...

santa claus giving double rock-on sign — santa puns

santa claus giving double rock-on sign — santa puns

This Is Why Santa Wears Red

There are a few things we automatically associate with Santa Claus: A big belly, a...

This Is Why People Say “Brass Tacks”

This Is Why People Say “Brass Tacks”

This Is Why People Say “Brass Tacks”

When was the last time you used a brass tack? Or even saw one? Probably...

pluto

pluto

This Is Why Pluto Is Not a Planet

As Joni Mitchell pointed out, “You don’t know what you got ’til it’s gone.” Nowhere...

ocean waves on beach at sunrise - why is the ocean salty

ocean waves on beach at sunrise - why is the ocean salty

This Is Why the Ocean Is Filled with Salt

It probably seems kind of strange that some bodies of water on Earth are salty...

Fire truck in Brooklyn, used to explain why fire trucks are red

Fire truck in Brooklyn, used to explain why fire trucks are red

This Is Why Fire Trucks Are Red

When you think of a fire truck, it’s highly unlikely you picture it any color...

a wild turkey at dusk in the woods - how turkeys got their name

a wild turkey at dusk in the woods - how turkeys got their name

This Is How Turkeys Got Their Name

‘Tis the season where we think about turkeys—namely: how best to eat them. But while...

a tuxedo cat playing with catnip - why do cats like catnip so much

a tuxedo cat playing with catnip - why do cats like catnip so much

Why Are Cats Obsessed with Catnip?

It’s a question as old as time (or at least Egyptian papyrus): Why do cats...

a young child being held by mom and dad, how parenting has changed

a young child being held by mom and dad, how parenting has changed

Why Do We Call Our Parents “Mom” and “Dad?”

They’re two of the first words we learn, and two that we use most often...

couple sitting on a sofa playing with augmented reality smart home settings

couple sitting on a sofa playing with augmented reality smart home settings

Crazy Ways Your Home Will Be Different in 2030—According to Futurists

Sure, it’s impossible to predict the future. Pick a topic, ask five different futurists what...

Vintage Fridge in Apartment

Vintage Fridge in Apartment

27 Amazing Facts About Household Objects

Home, as they say, is where the heart is. For most people, it’s the most...

pricetag on produce

pricetag on produce

This Is Why Prices Always End in “99 Cents”

It’s such a familiar sales tactic that you’d think we eagle-eyed shoppers would have seen...

black friday secrets

black friday secrets

Genius Ways to Be Much Savvier Shopper

On every shopping trip, you have two missions: to find what you need (or want),...

man doing finance paperwork with a calculator at a coffee table, skills parents should teach kids

man doing finance paperwork with a calculator at a coffee table, skills parents should teach kids

50 Things No One Over 50 Should Waste Their Money On

With age comes wisdom—usually. After a lifetime of spending, the lens on what’s worth buying...

sex and the city

sex and the city

Here Are the Yearly Salaries of Your Favorite TV Characters

Have you ever watched a sitcom and thought, “There’s no way that guy can afford...

Breakfast Club

Breakfast Club

50 Original Titles for Hit Movies We’re So Glad Didn’t Happen

When you’ve seen a classic movie countless times, it’s so easy to settle into the...

hippo yawning - funniest jokes

hippo yawning - funniest jokes

30 Most Deadly Animals on Earth

It can be a scary world out there. From 1,000-pound man-eating crocodiles to tiny parasite-carrying...

confused french woman

confused french woman

American Sayings That Leave Foreigners Totally Puzzled

If you grow up hearing certain expressions or phrases all the time, it can be...

Next