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Human Subcultures
Subcultures are a variety of cultures and sub-groups that become part of society. Learn more about sub-cultures like Geisha, the Amish, Freegans or the Mafia.
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Who Is Karen and Why Is She So Mad?
The name Karen has somehow become the universal term for the angry, white woman. But when and how did that happen?
What's the Difference Between a Samurai and a Ninja?
Movies often pit dark-robed, masked ninja assassins against elite samurai warriors. But just how accurate is our modern outlook on these two Japanese fighters?
The Bizarre, Brazen Life of Cultist Aleister Crowley
The late Aleister Crowley liked being known as the "wickedest man in the world." But today he's most remembered as a brash cultist who was the father of a strange religion.
How Punk Works
There's a fascinating story behind how punk, both the music and the cultural movement, spanned the globe, becoming way more than just a sound and a mohawk.
A Pirate Quiz for Ye Trivia-Lubbers!
Everyone loves a good pirate yarn, but some well-worn stories about them don't align with genuine history. Today, we be quizzin' ye about real pirates, buccaneer fiction, and the scurviest of all holidays. Yarr!
Gibtown: Where Circus Folk Went to Retire
Lobster Boy, Monkey Girl, Emmitt the Alligator-Skinned Man – they all called Gibtown home.
Jim Roberts and the Cult of the Garbage Eaters
Who is Jim Roberts and the people who fervently follow his doomsday prophecies?
On One Pacific Island, a U.S. Soldier and Prince Philip Are Gods
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?
Alone in the Amazon: The Last of His Tribe
A solitary man with a mysterious, but certainly horrific, past goes about his business in the Amazonian jungle. He's the last of his kind.
Is Technology Driving a New Era of Cults?
Bentinho Massaro, aka the Tech Bro Guru, has more than 300,000 followers. But is he preaching the truth or are his believers just being duped?
What Is Black Twitter?
How has this Twitter subculture brought about social change?
How the Sovereign Citizen Movement Works
From claims of secret bank accounts created by the government to exemptions from federal law, sovereign citizen beliefs seem outlandish. But is there any truth to them?
State Laws Still Allow Child Marriage in America
Children as young as 10 are being married (or forced into marriage) in the United States. And it's perfectly legal.
Research Center Seeks to Separate Ninja Fact From Fiction
The myth of the ninja has intrigued the world for centuries. A new Japanese research center is out to solve it.
Heavy Metal Berserkers Install Beer Pipeline to Supply Music Festival
How do you keep 75,000 metalheads sufficiently beered? A pipeline, naturally.
There's More to Cannibalism Than Just People Eating People
Cannibalism? Anthropophagy, if you prefer? There's more nuance when it comes to consumption of human flesh than you might imagine.
How Feral Children Work
The life of a feral child isn't all swashbuckling Tarzan-and-Jane, but for some children, it's a better alternative than the lives they left behind.
Metalheads Survived the '80s, and They’re Doing Fine
Heavy metal music of the 1980s promoted sex, drugs, devils and doom — yet surviving middle-aged fans are actually happy and well-adjusted, with few regrets.
Exploring the World of Mail-order Marriages
While the headlines usually focus on tales of abuse and scams, the reality is more humdrum — and heartbreaking.
Geekdom Is on the Rise
FanBolt founder Emma Loggins and Farrago Comics co-founder Martin Fleischmann talk about what it means to be a geek.
Still Riding the Rails: Life as a Modern Hobo
Maybe you thought hobos disappeared along with the Great Depression. But some folks are still living the life — albeit only part-time and without a bindle on a stick.
Is Negativity Fashionable in Fandom?
You’ve likely heard plenty of “Star Wars” fans say they hate the prequels, but those films were huge box office successes. It it simply vogue to hate the thing you love?
How Deprogramming Works
Did the controversial practice of cult deprogramming do more harm than good? Find out.
How Star Wars Works: Star Wars Celebration 2015
Star Wars Celebration is a fan convention unlike any other, because it's all Star Wars, all the time. Grab your lightsaber and come along for the ride as we look at the HowStuffWorks team's time in Anaheim, California for the 2015 show.
How Star Wars Works: Bringing Fans Together
A convention doesn't just magically happen - a dedicated team has to organize and arrange all of the vendors, panels and logistics. Matt, Rich and Brian from ReedPop talk about the work they put in to create the ultimate fan experience.
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