Reboots, Remakes and Regrets
This 2010 live-action reboot of a beloved animated series was so panned that even the cabbage vendor was disappointed
The Last Airbender
They paved the way with roads and aqueducts so solid that we still use them today, but too bad their emperors didn’t have the same staying power
Roman Empire/Romans
A scientist’s attempt to synthesize a rubber alternative accidentally produced this soft, malleable material that’s now a childhood favorite
Silly Putty
Native to Central America, this fruit’s seeds are sometimes used as a natural pepper substitute thanks to their peppery taste
Papaya
This small but mighty group of universities punches way above its academic weight
Ivy
This sequel's magic is live and unscripted, bringing a brooding teenage wizard back to screens, and involves a few too many trips back and forth through time
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
They built Machu Picchu and a network of mountain highways — until the Spanish showed up with horses, guns, and smallpox
This widely used antibiotic was discovered when a scientist noticed mold accidentally growing on a bacterial culture, stopping the bacteria in their tracks, and is used as the go-to cure for syphilis
Known for its landscapes that include the Great Rift Valley, this country boasts some of the world’s most famous safari parks where you can spot the “Big Five.”
Kenya
This symbol of luck shows up in a deck of cards
Clover
This moody 2022 Tim Burton series turned a delightfully macabre teen into a viral dance icon
Wednesday
Golden riches and bustling trade built this African empire’s glory, but when its crown jewel city fell, the kingdom’s shine quickly dimmed
The Mali Empire
A melted candy bar and a burst of popcorn kernels in a lab gave rise to this appliance that now lives rent-free on your kitchen counter
Microwave
Known for their intricate calendar systems and towering stepped pyramids, this ancient Mesoamerican civilization mastered astronomy long before modern telescopes
Maya
A wide coastal inlet where Leonardo DiCaprio once lounged in paradise, and tourists now overrun the shores
Bay
In this 2015 movie, a group of alien invaders mistake classic 80s arcade games for a declaration of war
Pixels
This ancient Mesopotamian empire was famous for hanging gardens — and brutal conquests
Intended as a tidy way to transport delicate dried goods, these little sachets became permanent once people started boiling them — packaging and all
Tea bags
More than just sake and skewers, this dining spot is a second home for tired office workers with big appetites
Izakaya
In jewelry or jealousy, this word glows green
Jade
This 2009 reboot of a campy interstellar franchise removed the sparkle, brought enough lens flares to power the entire galaxy, and swapped their thoughtful captain for a reckless space cowboy who prefers fast cars over cosmic diplomacy
Star Trek
They invented bureaucracy, bronze casting, and dynastic drama — famously leaving behind the earliest known Chinese writing on oracle bones — until floods and rebellions hit the restart button
The Shang Dynasty
Tasked with creating the world’s strongest glue, this chemist accidentally invented a substance that adhered but dislodged easily, which inadvertently changed the history of the paper mill.
Post-it
Once a patchwork of tin-rich states and rubber plantations under British rule, this region later merged to form part of a Southeast Asian country known for its diverse culture and iconic twin towers
British Malaya
If you're “resting on these,” you’re coasting on old achievements
Laurel