From the genesis of Slender Man on a forum to the moral panic of the Momo Challenge, discover how the internet, creepypasta, and collaborative storytelling have created a terrifyingly new breed of urban legend.
Sewer Alligators and Bodies in the Bed: The Shocking Urban Legends That Are Actually True
Think all urban legends are fake? Think again. We investigate the chilling cases, from sewer gators to hotel horrors, where unbelievable folklore has a basis in fact.
Urban Legends 2 | The Global Ghost: How One Urban Legend Changes Across the World
Travel the globe with the “Vanishing Hitchhiker” legend. Discover how this single story transforms into a Hawaiian goddess, a Latin American demon, and a Japanese ghost, reflecting each culture’s unique beliefs and fears.
The Babysitter is Calling from Inside the Patriarchy: A Feminist Guide to Urban Legends
Ever wonder why classic urban legends always star women in peril? We explore how tales like “The Hook” reflect deep societal anxieties about female independence.
Urban Legends 1 | The Lure of the Legend: Why Our Brains Believe Urban Legends
Explore the psychology behind urban legends. Learn how cognitive biases like confirmation bias and emotional narratives make us believe and share stories that aren’t true.
Anatomy of a Hoax: The Science of Why We Fall for Disinformation
Ever wonder why you fall for online hoaxes? Discover the cognitive biases and emotional triggers manipulators exploit and learn how to build your mental toolkit.
Understanding Cognitive Biases 5 | The Biases of Memory & Recall
What is your most vivid childhood memory? The story of your first love? The moment you achieved a great success? What if I told you that memory might be wrong? This week, in our series finale, we tackle the most personal biases of all—the ones that live inside our own heads. We’ll discover how easily false memories can be planted, why we only remember the best and worst moments of a vacation, and how you might be accidentally stealing ideas. Prepare to question everything you think you know about your past.
Beyond Logic: Why Understanding Your Biases Makes You a More Empathetic Person
The true goal of learning about cognitive biases isn’t to become a perfect robot. It’s to become a “Rational Empath.” This capstone article explores how understanding our own flawed thinking leads to greater compassion, forgiveness, and wisdom.
The Cognitive Cascade: How a Chain Reaction of Biases Leads to Disaster
Cognitive biases rarely act alone. Discover how biases interact and compound each other in a “cognitive cascade.” Using the legendary “New Coke” failure as a case study, we deconstruct how a chain reaction of flawed thinking leads to disastrous outcomes.
What’s Your Social IQ? A Quiz to Master Workplace and Social Biases
Can you avoid common social pitfalls like Groupthink or the Bystander Effect? Take this scenario-based quiz to learn actionable strategies for smarter social interaction.
Recent Posts
When the Bells Stop Ringing 1 | The Pâtisserie Window
Paris in winter is often painted as a romantic wonderland, but for ten-year-old Chloé, the City of Lights offers no warmth—only the biting wind and the rules of the street: don’t loiter, don’t touch, don’t look like a problem.
Beyond the Scramble: Overcoming Artificial Borders Through 21st-Century Cooperation
The “Scramble for Africa” & Sykes-Picot created borders that sparked conflict. This article pivots to the solutions: cross-border economic zones, the AU, and cultural festivals that are making those lines irrelevant.
Is Your English Really English? A Quiz on the Global Gift of Words
Does your vocabulary come from Hindi, Swahili, or Chinese? This fun quiz teaches you the global origins of ‘shampoo,’ ‘safari,’ ‘ketchup,’ and more!
Can We Fix This? A Quiz on the Real Language of Climate Solutions
Go beyond the scary headlines. This interactive quiz teaches you the constructive, forward-looking vocabulary for the path forward, like ‘climate justice,’ ‘sustainable development,’ and ‘indigenous-led conservation.’
Where Did Your Shirt Come From? A Quiz on the Global Origins of Fashion
This fun fashion quiz helps you trace the global origins of textiles. Match patterns like Paisley, Kente cloth, and Batik to their home countries and celebrate our shared textile heritage.
Why Are Africa’s Borders So Straight? A Quiz on the “Scramble for Africa”
Compare the maps of Africa from 1880 to 1914. This quiz explains the “Scramble for Africa,” the Berlin Conference, and the lasting legacy of the borders that shape the continent today.