The Black Death killed millions in Europe between 1347 and 1351. A 2018 study suggests that human parasites, such as body lice and human fleas, caused the outbreak, rather than rodents. The study analyzed data from outbreaks in Europe and found that the human parasite model better reflected death rates in seven of nine regions […]
Harry Houdini, the famous magician and escape artist, couldn’t be outsmarted, but he died in 1926 after a punch ruptured his appendix. His wife held annual séances to try to contact him from the afterlife, and magicians continue the tradition today. You could lock it in an iron chest and throw it in New York’s […]
Second death insurance covers two people, usually a married couple, and pays a death benefit only after both have passed away. It is commonly used for estate planning and to pay estate tax, but can also be used to build assets or provide for heirs with special needs. It is available from most life insurance […]
Tennessee Williams, famous for A Streetcar Named Desire, died at 71 after choking on a bottle cap from eye drops. He suffered from depression, alcoholism, and hypochondriasis. The cause of death is debated. Williams wrote over two dozen plays and was also a screenwriter, poet, and novelist. Tennessee Williams, a playwright best known for A […]
Death by a thousand cuts is an ancient Chinese torture that has different meanings, including slow change being perceived as less negative than big change, and the literal sense that a thousand small cuts will kill a person. It was abolished in 1905, but photographic records still exist. The phrase is also used in business […]
South Koreans believe that using an electric fan in a sealed room for many hours can cause “fan death”. Theories include suffocation, carbon dioxide poisoning, and hypothermia. However, there is little evidence to support these claims, and skeptics suggest other causes such as carbon monoxide poisoning or electrocution. The South Korean government issues warnings and […]
Marilyn Monroe’s cause of death is officially listed as a “probable suicide,” but theories of accidental overdose and homicide exist. Monroe had a troubled life, struggled with addiction, and had attempted suicide in the past. Some believe her death was accidental due to a lack of communication between her doctors, while others suggest she was […]
The Harry Potter novels explore the battle between good and evil, personified by Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort. Voldemort’s followers, the Death Eaters, are a hand-picked group of witches and wizards who commit acts of terror on his behalf. They wear black robes, masks, and a mark of the Dark Mark on their arm. It […]
Language death is the decline of a language until no native speakers remain, caused by factors such as colonialism or a nation switching languages. Glottophagia and linguicide can be involuntarily imposed on a population. Lack of instruction in schools is a significant feature of a declining language. Language death can lead to diminished ethnic identity […]
Accidental death benefits can pay additional money to survivors, up to twice the face value of insurance if death occurs in a sudden accident. These benefits may be combined with provisions for loss of limb or sight, but it’s important to read the fine print and exclusions before purchasing insurance. An accidental death benefit is […]
Death taxes are any taxes on assets of a decedent that are redistributed to beneficiaries. In the US, it refers to the inheritance tax, which varies by state. Opponents see it as a burden on beneficiaries, while defenders argue it benefits society. Death taxes are any type of taxation on the assets of a decedent […]
The phrase “kiss of death” can mean an event leading to ruin or a literal kiss indicating serious future troubles, often used in organized crime. It can also be used as an idiom, such as a politician receiving support from a group with a bad reputation. The phrase “kiss of death” can be used in […]
Death is often personified in human form, depicted as a skeleton wearing a black cloak and carrying a scythe. Other animals or objects associated with death can also be used. Personification of death allows people to come to terms with it. Different cultures view death differently, but the “false reaper” image is common in Western […]
“Cheat death” is an idiom used to describe avoiding death in situations where it seems inevitable. It can refer to recovering from a terminal illness, surviving a life-threatening injury, or narrowly avoiding a fatal accident. The origin of the phrase is speculated to be related to the Grim Reaper. It can also be used sarcastically […]
