Topic

Biography & Personal Stories

A collection of 193 issues

The Curious Case of Princess Caraboo: The Servant Girl Who Fooled a Kingdom

In 1817, Mary Baker, a cobbler's daughter, convinced a British town she was Princess Caraboo from a fictional island. For months, she lived as royalty, speaking a made-up language and enchanting the gentry before a former employer exposed her elaborate and ingenious hoax.

From Anarchy to the TARDIS: The Punk Rock Past of Peter Capaldi and Craig Ferguson

Before he was Doctor Who and he was a late-night TV host, Peter Capaldi and Craig Ferguson were bandmates in a Glasgow punk rock group called The Dreamboys. This unlikely friendship, forged in art school and acid trips, is a fascinating footnote in the history of two entertainment icons.

The Immortal Record: How Michael Phelps Finally Surpassed an Ancient Greek God of the Stadium

For 2,168 years, Leonidas of Rhodes held the record for most individual Olympic titles with 12 victories. Hailed as a god, his versatile dominance in ancient running events seemed untouchable until 2016, when swimmer Michael Phelps finally surpassed the legendary feat.

The Impossible Case of Phineas Gage: The Man Who Survived a Hole in His Head

In 1848, railroad foreman Phineas Gage miraculously survived a 13-pound iron rod blasting through his skull. While he physically recovered, his personality changed drastically, providing the first major evidence linking the brain's frontal lobes to personality and social behavior.

The Cosmic Fender Bender: How a 1980 Chevy Malibu Became the Most Famous Car Hit by a Meteorite

On October 9, 1992, a 12.57 kg meteorite blazed across the Eastern US, ending its 4.4-billion-year journey by smashing into the trunk of 17-year-old Michelle Knapp's 1980 Chevy Malibu in Peekskill, NY. The cosmic collision turned her $300 car into a priceless astronomical artifact.

More Than a Sketch: The Man Who Gave Mickey Mouse His Voice

Walt Disney was the original voice of Mickey Mouse, shaping his iconic falsetto from 1928's 'Steamboat Willie' until 1947. A heavy smoking habit damaged his voice, forcing him to pass the role to sound effects artist Jimmy MacDonald, whom he personally trained for the part.

The Four Extra Teeth That Powered a Legend: Freddie Mercury's Vocal Secret

Freddie Mercury had four extra teeth, causing a severe overbite he was self-conscious of. He refused to have them fixed, believing the unique space they created in his mouth was the secret to his incredible four-octave vocal range and fearing any change would destroy his gift.