Fads
Fads define a society's popular styles and trends throughout the decades. Whether it be crazy hairstyles, popular games or geek chic - you'll find it here.
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Vintage Tupperware, in all its pastel glory, has come to symbolize 1960s domesticity in the United States. But how did these still-popular plastic containers get their start?
Or you could use that goofy, flesh-colored substance to block some low-frequency sounds, clean your keyboard or, of course, copy that cool newspaper article you were reading. Stretch your brain even more in How Silly Putty Works.
The beloved hula hoop has zipped around the hips of fire dancers, video game assassins and regular folks for centuries. Step into the circle of fun with How Hula Hoops Work.
By Robert Lamb
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In the 1960s, the concept of "flower power" encapsulated the hippie counterculture's peaceful response to social unrest. Who popularized this idea?
'Come on, baby, let's do the Twist!' That's the call heard 'round the world in 1960 when Chubby Checker's dance song hit the airwaves. But how did the simple Twist leave such an indelible impression on generations since then?
By Julia Layton
What do you get when you take a gooey, rubberlike substance and compress it under 3,500 pounds of pressure? A SuperBall! Do you know what else makes this big bouncer so super?
With stage revivals of "Saturday Night Fever," it's clear that the leisure suit has never entirely faded from cultural consciousness. Perhaps it's the everlasting nature of poly fibers, but what's made the suit of the '70s a fad with such permanence?
By Julia Layton
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Think Disco Demolition Night was the death of the catchy, danceable music of the 1970s? The name "disco" may have faded, but not the music to help you shake your groove thing.
It happens at concerts and live events all across the United States -- inevitably, someone screams out "Play 'Freebird'!" Where did this musical fad -- awesome to some, annoying to others -- come from?
Injection-molded soft plastic footwear -- jellies to the rest of us -- is the fad that just doesn't quit. Whether you wore the glittery, perforated version in the '80s, or prefer the opaque ballet flat variety today.
Michael Jackson backslid his way into history when he performed the moonwalk in 1983, and the iconic dance step has been associated with him ever since. But did he actually invent it?
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Are you the type who wouldn't be caught dead without your makeup? You're not alone; even ancient Egyptians were known to have makeup kits buried with them in their tombs. But the history, ingredient and safety concerns are just part of how makeup works.
As fashion, fetish and historical foundation, the corset continues to fascinate. Think you know the scoop on this misunderstood garment? Think again!
By Craig Haggit
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
It might be called flavor tripping, but there are no drugs involved. People pop a berry known as miracle fruit and marvel as sweet becomes sour and savory becomes sweet. What is this magical berry? How does this "miracle" happen?
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At the end of the day, do you like to unwind with a cold drink? Perhaps a bubble bath or a nice, long walk? If beating someone to a bloody pulp is more your style, you may be in luck: A real-life fight club could be just a Web search away.
By Josh Clark
Hundreds of people are protesting down the street. The police arrive and find -- no one? The protesters are gone, but how did they know what to do?
By Josh Clark
Everything new is old again in the world of steampunk. Steampunk artists overhaul technology with a neo-Victorian style. But what makes the gadgets so expensive?
Ron Popeil has made a name for himself by selling unique and quirky items on TV such as the Veg-O-Matic. Popeil is an inventor who has made millions of dollars selling his products through infomercials. See our list of 11 items sold by Ron Popeil.
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The '70s saw some funky fads, like mood rings, disco balls, and roller skates. Explore the funkiest on this list of 8 funky fads of the 1970s.
"The question isn't 'What are we going to do?' The question is, 'What aren't we going to do?'" said Ferris in the movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." And that quote pretty much sums up the fads of this decade.
By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd. & Clint Pumphrey
We like defining decades by their trends, fads and fashion. The '90s are a little hard to define, because the '80s were so easy to describe, but here are a few fantastic fads that are all '90s, all the way.
The 1960s were a groovy time, with fads like the lava lamp and go-go boots making their debut. Find out what the grooviest crazes of the 60s were.
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Swanson TV dinners were developed in 1953 when families were watching shows such as "I Love Lucy". Read more about the history of Swanson TV dinners.
By John Fuller
Geek chic: Is it a style, a trend, a movement, a cultural shift or just a love affair with all things uncool? First off, what is a geek? If you're getting ready to argue about this definition, you might be one of them.