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Look around your house or car at all the amazing inventions that have come along in the past few years: iPods and iPads, GPS devices, satellite TV, those weird little robots that can vacuum a room by themselves. All these technological toys are like Stone-Age tools compared to the amazing wonders of the human brain. Although humans have been studying the brain for thousands of years, in the past 15 years or so, scientists have debunked some longstanding myths about our most vital organ. Here are some surprising facts about the human brain.

For every new technology that makes it onto the battlefield, thousands of others have been tested or are in the process of development. Many of these strange but true projects originated with the federal agency known as DARPA, or the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. Although most Americans have never heard of the agency, DARPA was established in 1958 as a response to the Soviet launch of Sputnik. One of DARPA’s earliest creations, a computer network known as ARPANET, set the foundation for the Internet in use today and demonstrated once again that technology developed for the military can find civilian uses. No one can say just what future consumer marvels will originate through DARPA, but here are 10 unique technologies currently being developed by this special agency.

Remember how your parents told you to never talk politics or religion in polite company? Well, many of the following TV shows didn’t take that advice, with a few adding taboo topics such as sex and race. Some shows are so controversial, they last only a few episodes before network executives bow to public pressure and cancel the series. Take The Secret Diary of Desmond Pfeiffer, which aired on UPN in 1998. Really, someone thought it would be a good idea to air a comedy about slavery, complete with jokes about hangings, cotton picking and so-called black dialect. That show aired only four times, the same number as the 2006 NBC show The Book of Daniel, which featured a pill-popping priest.

The following shows all attracted controversy, but for the most part, managed to survive longer than a few episodes. Some shows are now legendary for their jaw-dropping moments (South Park). Others, once seen as quite controversial, now seem almost tame given the passage of time (we’re talking about you, Married … with Children).

Many people are drawn to home-based job opportunities because of the flexibility and freedom. Being your own boss, spending more time with family, avoiding long commutes, dressing how you please — what could be better? It’s ideal for moms and retirees, and in this tough economy, full-time employees are also finding ways to supplement their income. In good times or bad, there are always those who shun the 9-5 routine, and explore different ways to earn a living. And work-at-home offers abound. There are many scams, promising get-rich-quick schemes, yet others are legitimate. Some pay a pittance, while others pay a living wage. But in rare instances, a “work-from-home” job could make you millions. Here are 10 real ways to earn money at home.

In this age of Google, YouTube, Facebook and Silicon Valley startups churning out 20-something billionaires, even tech companies like Apple and Microsoft can seem ancient by comparison. And companies that started the tech revolution, giants such as IBM, seem older still. All of these relative business newcomers have a long way to go before they can match the longevity of these 10 iconic American brand names.

The stunning tale of New York Knicks guard Jeremy Lin’s overnight transformation from NBA benchwarmer into superstar has become an international phenomenon, with each day bringing new revelations about the Taiwanese-American player. The latest news to emerge: Lin is a devout Christian, and he’s now being dubbed the “Taiwanese Tebow” by some, in reference to Denver Broncos quarterback — and fellow Christian — Tim Tebow. Two such high-profile and devout Christian athletes sparking media frenzies in a matter of a few months probably has some evangelical Christians and non-believers alike wondering if the end times are at hand. But Tebow and Lin certainly aren’t the first athletes to make news for their evangelical beliefs. Here, in no particular order, are 10 notable sports figures from recent years who have openly expressed their Christian faith.

Determining the success of a TV series is hardly an exact science. Even a well-written, star-powered show doesn’t guarantee ratings gold. Actors fortunate to find steady work in a long-running hit series rarely replicate the scenario. But there are a few actors who have managed to buck the trend by headlining two or even three successful series during their careers. This list is not all-inclusive, but here are some of the most notable performers who hit it big more than once.

A society willing to mount explorations reaps the benefits of discovery. Throughout history, while many such expeditions had conquest or riches in mind, a different sort of voyage emerged around the time of the Renaissance — travel with the stated objective of geographic or scientific discovery. Our ventures into space aside, here are 10 famous terrestrial expeditions that provided insight into the physical and natural world.

While there are plenty of “travel” movies focusing on vacations gone bad, self-discovery and roughing it when you’d rather not, a rare few feature stunning vistas, exotic locales or strange cultures that exemplify the best of what travel is all about. Here are 10 of my favorite travel films that may just inspire you to ditch that annual trip to the beach next summer and instead book a trip to someplace more exciting.

Adele caught many American music fans by surprise in 2011, as her Grammy-Award-winning single Rolling in the Deep and album 21 launched her to fame in the U.S. But Adele has been no secret in her native Great Britain, where her 2008 debut album, 19, hit No. 1 in the UK and made her a sensation in that country. Yet as many previous UK musicians have shown, success on that side of the Atlantic doesn’t automatically translate into fame in the U.S. For every Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton or other British import that finds stardom in America, there are many other British stars that fizzle in the U.S. Even some of the UK’s biggest stars found mediocre results across the Big Pond. Take Sir Cliff Richard. Touted as Britain’s answer to Elvis Presley in the late 1950s, he influenced The Beatles, Elton John and other music legends, has sold 18 million albums in the UK, yet he barely made a dent in the U.S. market.

Here are the top 10 British performers in terms of album sales in the United States, based on statistics from the Recording Industry Association of America.