The practice of intentional cranial deformation is perhaps best known from Mesoamerica. But deliberately reshaping the skulls of infants when their bones are soft and fontanelles open was a widespread practice. It has been recorded on nearly every continent in many different cultures over tens of thousands of years. The malleable heads of neonates were bound with leather or textile bandages, flattened with boards or pads. Sometimes infants were restrained in custom cradleboards so that over months—sometimes years—their heads grew into the preferred shape: flat on top, flat on the back, flat on the sides, conical, elongated, or rounded.

As far-reaching a practice as it has been for all of human history and much of prehistory, intentionally deformed skulls still engender regular “Alien!” “Bizarre!” “Weird!” headlines whenever they are found because of their striking appearance. Here is a quick world tour of cranial deformation throughout the ages.

1. AUSTRALIA, 13,000–9000 YEARS AGO

The skulls of Pleistocene-epoch Australians with flattened occipital bones have been found at Kow Swamp (northern Victoria), Nacurrie (northwest Victoria/southwest New South Wales), and Coobool Creek (southwest New South Wales). Anthropologist and professor of human anatomy Alan Thorne believed the size and shape of the skulls were evidence that pre-sapiens Homo erectus was still alive and kicking in Australia “as recently as 10,000 years ago.” Later analysis disproved Thorne’s theory. The people with flat skulls were Homo sapiens, all right; they’d just had constant pressure applied to their foreheads from infancy.

2. PERU, 7000–100 BCE

 
The earliest examples of intentionally deformed skulls in the Americas were found in Peru and date to between 7000 and 6000 BCE. The practice put down deep roots in Peru, spreading throughout Andean communities and the rest of the continent from there. Excavations of ancient Peruvian remains have found that a vast majority of them—as many as 90 percent on some digs—have deformed skulls.

A group of skulls about 2500 years old, discovered in the 1920s in the Paracas peninsula of Peru by archaeologist Julio C. Tello, were so extremely elongated they’ve been featured in the fever dreams of the “I’m not saying it’s aliens, but it’s aliens” crowd ever since. There was even a claimed DNA study of the Paracas skulls that made headlines all over the world in 2014 for its ostensible confirmation that the skulls could not possibly be human. While the Paracas peoples did have extraordinary abilities—see the unparalleled beauty and complexity of their textiles, for example—they were decidedly human, and Homo sapiens at that. They were just extremely adept at flattening the frontal bones of babies’ skulls.

3. UKRAINE, 2800–2200 BCE

The Bronze Age Catacomb culture in modern-day Ukraine is named after its burial chambers which were dug at the bottom of a vertical shaft. Skeletal remains found in those graves bear the telltale marks of intentional cranial deformation—the earliest identified instance of it in the Eurasian steppes. Researchers believe they may have picked up the practice from the earlier Afanasevo culture which inhabited what is now Siberia from 3300 to 2500 BCE, moving it westward. After the Catacomb culture died out, there is no evidence of cranial reshaping in the archaeological record of the steppes until the Iron Age (700–500 BCE).

4. FRANCE, 4TH CENTURY CE

In 2013, archaeologists unearthed a series of burial grounds in Obernai, in the northeastern French province of Alsace, dating from the Neolithic (4900–4750 BCE) through the Merovingian (5th–8th century CE) period. In one of 18 graves dating to the same time period were the skeletal remains of a woman with an ovoid skull (top image). Coupled with the style and richness of the grave goods, the shape of the skull identified her as an Alan, a people who originated in the North Caucasus but fled west during the Hunnish invasions of the 4th and 5th centuries. They too practiced intentional cranial deformation, tightly binding infants’ heads with bandages that applied equal pressure to the front and back of skulls. Archaeologists believe it was a process reserved for the Alan societal elite, as the ovoid crania have only been found in graves accompanied by elaborate grave goods.

5. HUNGARY, 5TH–6TH CENTURY CE

 
The Alans that were chased west by the Huns (their onetime allies against the Romans) probably gave the Huns the idea to start altering their babies’ skull shapes, perhaps as early as the 2nd or 3rd century CE when they were neighbors in the Carpathian Basin. More than 200 artificially deformed skulls dating to the 5th to 6th century CE have been found in what is now Hungary. The extent and type of deformations vary significantly, from extreme reshaping of the entire skull to minor alterations.

6. KOREA, 4th CENTURY CE

The archaeological site of Yean-ri, in southeastern South Korea, is an ancient burial ground of the Gaya Confederacy from the 4th century CE. Out of the 300 graves unearthed there, only a third of them had surviving skeletal remains. This is actually a relative bonanza for Korea, where the acidic soil and cycles of hot and wet, cold and dry weather wreak havoc on organic materials. Out of the 100 surviving skeletons, 20 percent of them were found to have intentionally deformed skulls. The main emphasis was on the flattening of the frontal bones of the Yean-ri skulls, with some small counterforce applied to the back of the skulls.

Of particular interest is that the burial ground, which includes an unusual variety of grave types (stone sarcophagi, jar burials, and wooden chambers) was used to inter commoners—the regular Joes of the Gaya period. This practice is attested by their modest grave goods. While many examples of intentional cranial deformation in other cultures were used to denote high status, wealth, or belonging to an elite subset of society, that does not appear to be the case at Yean-ri. It also confirms an account of the Gaya recorded in the 3rd century CE Chinese chronology the Records of the Three Kingdoms by Jin dynasty court historian Chen Shou.

7. MEXICO, 900–1200 CE

 
Almost 4000 miles northwest of Paracas, Peru, and 1100 years later, in the town of the Onavas, in what is today the Mexican state of Sonora, 25 people were laid to rest in a cemetery during the Late Classic Mesoamerican period. Other burials in Sonora were found under or around dwellings. This burial ground, excavated by archaeologists in 2012, is the earliest dedicated graveyard found in the state. The unique opportunity to examine a group of skeletons at one site revealed that more than 50 percent of them, 13 of the 25, had intentionally deformed skulls. They’re the first of their kind discovered in either Sonora or, across the modern border, in the American southwest.

The skull shapes were remarkably extreme, considering the practice had never been found before in the region. They were subject to fronto-occipital deformation, meaning flat planks, or possibly cradleboards, were bound to the front and back of the skull to flatten and elongate the head. Added to that, the bones on the side of the skull were flattened at an angle, giving the cranium a V shape (and breathless reporters everywhere the opportunity to talk aliens again).

8. ENGLAND, 17TH CENTURY CE

 
Technically, this skull was found in Paris, but that’s just because the young man in question was studying there. Thomas Craven was English from a wealthy noble family. His father Sir William was Lord Mayor of London in 1610. His two brothers were barons. He was 17 or 18 years old when he died in Paris of the plague in 1636. Thomas Craven’s body was embalmed, placed in a lead coffin and buried in a Protestant cemetery in the Paris suburb Saint-Maurice.

It was found during an archaeological dig in 1986 and identified by a loving Latin inscription on a copper plaque welded to the coffin describing young Thomas as “a model of good behaviour.” Not mentioned on the plaque but discovered during osteological examination was that Thomas Craven had an artificially elongated cranium. The long skull was considered to give the face an elegant slimness that was still fashionable in early 17th-century London society, a thousand years after the trend petered out among the Germanic peoples of the continent.

In 2015, a 3D facial reconstruction was made from a scan of Thomas Craven’s skull, as you can see in the video above. The extended skull can still be perceived even after the dashing long hair is added.

9. DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 18TH CENTURY CE

 
The Mangbetu people in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo in central Africa elongated the skulls of their infants by wrapping them with bands of giraffe hide, rope or cloth. As the child grew, the binding would be changed to fit the larger dimensions while still ensuring the skull achieved the desired elongated shape. The practice was considered an art form. The distinctive shape of the head was a mark of intelligence, status, and beauty, and was emphasized by the styling of hair—braids coiled around the head—and accessories, like basketry-frame headdresses. It was also a frequent motif in Mangbetu decorative arts, such as their anthropomorphic pottery, knife handles, and arched harps called donnu. 

The practice continued well into the 20th century, dying out in the 1950s under the influence of European culture and legal pressure from the colonial Belgian government.

10. PACIFIC NORTHWEST, UNTIL THE 20th CENTURY CE

 
It’s not certain when the Chinookan people of the Columbia River in what are now the U.S. states of Washington and Oregon began to flatten the skulls of their infants, but by the time Lewis and Clark trundled along in 1805, the practice was deeply ingrained in the culture. Chinookan society was highly stratified and slaveholding. Binding a baby to a cradleboard ensured it would be marked for life as coming from a “good family,” and would not be enslaved as an adult.

It was not just a status symbol, but a clear dividing line of caste. Orphans, children from “bad families,” and slaves were excluded from the practice, and were treated with contempt because of it. When the Europeans arrived and Chinook women had babies with white men, rates of infanticide spiked when fathers refused to submit their children to cranial deformation—mothers would rather kill their children than allow them to be seen as slaves.

Barack Obama passed several digital milestones during his presidency. The official White House Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter pages were all created while he was in office. Now, for the first time in history, the transfer of presidential power that takes place this January will also come with a transfer of social media accounts.

As CNET reports, the official @POTUS Twitter handle will be handed over to whoever wins the election on November 8. This includes the roughly 11 million followers Obama has amassed since the page launched in May 2015 (still small potatoes compared to the 78.5 million people who follow Obama’s personal account, putting him behind only Katy Perry, Justin Bieber, and Taylor Swift in popularity).

That package will not include, however, the current feed’s more than 300 tweets. Those will be archived at a new handle called @POTUS44 while the 45th president of the United States will have a clean digital slate to work with. The White House’s Snapchat and Instagram accounts will also be inherited by the next commander in chief.

This digital transition is a new experiment for the White House, and considering how many social channels have blown up and fizzled out in the past eight years alone, it will likely look different with each incoming president. The videos, images, and tweets that have been published to President Obama’s social pages so far will be available for the public to view through the National Archives and Records Administration. Anyone with creative ideas on how to archive presidential social media content in the future, whether through Twitter bots or physical books, can submit them here.

[h/t CNET]

The good people at Discover have just highlighted an important breakthrough in the field of cat science. According to a study published this year in Developmental Psychobiology, kittens can distinguish the vocalizations of their mother from those of any other feline.

The adorable research took 29 kittens at least four weeks of age with fully developed aural capabilities and presented them with recordings of meows and chirps from both their birth mother and from cats they were unfamiliar with. (We’d like to think they wore tiny headphones, but that probably didn’t happen.) The kittens had a substantially stronger response to playbacks of their mother’s “greeting chirps” and “meows,” being more attentive to the speaker emitting the noise and approaching it more quickly than when it was broadcasting the sounds of strangers. They also tended to lurk around the speaker longer.

The study authors argue that learning a mother’s voice is crucial to survival across a variety of species. Cats and other animals can chatter away when they can hear their parent is approaching, but it’s important to remain quiet in case a predator is looming.

And while cats will perk up at the sound of their mom’s cooing, they’re still likely to ignore you entirely.

[h/t Discover]
 
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A British art historian believes he has tracked down a famous piece of furniture: the curved wooden bed featured in Vincent van Gogh’s The Bedroom paintings, completed between 1888 and 1889. According to The Independent, the bed was reportedly donated to Dutch refugees in Boxmeer, Netherlands, after World War II—and today, experts hope it might still be tucked away inside someone’s home.

While conducting research for his new book, Studio of the South: Van Gogh in Provence, van Gogh expert Martin Bailey discovered a 1937 letter written by the artist’s cousin, Vincent Willem, that provided clues to the bed’s whereabouts.

Purchased in 1888, the bed furnished van Gogh’s bedroom in his Yellow House in Arles, France, which he briefly shared with fellow post-Impressionist artist Paul Gauguin. Van Gogh created three unique paintings of the space, all of which prominently featured the piece of furniture. After the artist’s 1890 suicide, the bed was given to his brother’s widow, Jo, who later moved to Holland and brought the bed with her.

Several decades later, art enthusiasts wanted to convert the Yellow House into a museum, and Jo’s nephew, Vincent Willem, received a request to borrow paintings. Vincent made an even better offer: He generously suggested that he give the museum the iconic bed.

This plan never came to fruition, as bombs destroyed the Yellow House during World War II. According to the AFP, Bailey tracked down Vincent’s son, Johan van Gogh, in 2015, and the 93-year-old told him that the bed had stood in his father’s home in Laren, Holland, until the war’s end. In 1945, it was donated to survivors in Boxmeer.

Bailey verified this tale by locating an old photo of the truck used to carry the bed from Laren to Boxmeer. Now, the art historian hopes to find the bed for himself—that is, if its later owners, unaware of their priceless possession, haven’t given or thrown it away.

[h/t The Independent]

Though cities like New York and Chicago are most renowned for their pizza, every state in the U.S. has their own standout favorite. Whether it is a slice for the road, a piping hot pie, or a creative concoction of rare ingredients, there’s a reason pizza is universally loved. Check out our list of must-try pizza in all 50 states.

1. ALABAMA // MATER’S PIZZA AND PASTA EMPORIUM

Location: Gadsden and Albertville, Alabama

Since 1978, Gadsden’s Mater’s Pizza has been serving their “world famous” pasta and pizza. Using fresh, homemade dough and a signature blend of cheeses, Mater’s is a family favorite in the town’s historic district. They expanded the original location to include the Oyster Bar, and have a game room and TVs throughout the restaurant. A second location in Albertville opened in 2013.

2. ALASKA // MOOSE’S TOOTH PUB AND PIZZERIA

Location: Anchorage, Alaska

If you find your stomach rumbling while you’re driving along Seward Highway in Anchorage, stop in Moose’s Tooth for breadsticks, oven-baked sandwiches, salad, and of course, gourmet pizza. Meat lovers will enjoy The Classic, which comes with heaping piles of pepperoni, Italian sausage, mushrooms, mozzarella, provolone and marinara sauce. Be sure to also try one of the 40 beers (or two sodas) crafted by their own Broken Tooth Brewing.

3. ARIZONA // PIZZERIA BIANCO

Location: Phoenix, Arizona

When you think of great pizza, Arizona may not immediately come to mind, but James Beard-awarded chef Chris Bianco changed that when Food & Wine called his first restaurant “arguably the best pizza in America” in 2009. A former New Yorker who headed west to work with farm-to-table champion Alice Waters, Bianco opened his own shop in 1988 and later expanded Pizzeria Bianco in downtown Phoenix. His simple and delicious pies, like the Biancoverde, use fresh, homegrown ingredients like fresh mozzarella, Parmigiano-Reggiano, ricotta, and arugula. For $3 more, add some wood roasted mushrooms for a slice of heaven in the desert.

4. ARKANSAS // VINO’S

Location: Little Rock, Arkansas

There may be no greater combination than a slice of pizza with an ice cold beer. At Vino’s pub and brewery, you can grab hand-tossed slices combined with a long list of toppings from ham and extra cheese to chopped garlic and fresh meatballs, all served on a hot and crispy New York-style thin crust. Enjoy your slice with a medium-bodied Firehouse Pale Ale, or a house-brewed Razor Bock.

5. CALIFORNIA // BARONE’S PIZZERIA

Location: Woodland Hills, California

For three generations, Barone’s has been serving piping hot, rectangular pizzas (tagline: “We don’t cut corners”) to Southern California. Started by a few siblings in 1945 and using their grandparents’ recipes from Sicily and Naples, Barone’s combines fresh dough, homemade Italian sauce, and a secret cheese blend into their delicious pizzas—which once brought legends like Frank Sinatra and John Wayne to eat regularly. Start off with some fried zucchini or meatball sliders and then dig in to their specialty House Marguerite pizza (available at their Westlake Hills location). They have a list of ingredients to make your own pie, and also offer pizzas that are gluten-free.

6. COLORADO // DOWNSTAIRS AT ERIC’S

Location: Breckenridge, Colorado

If you happen to find yourself in the beautiful mountain town of Breckenridge, follow the locals’ advice and grab some grub at a family-friendly sports bar (and arcade) that has been serving Coloradans since 1989. At Downstairs At Eric’s, start off with some sweet chili wings, potato skins, or fried jalapeños stuffed with cream cheese. Take a chance on the Garbage Pizza, the house favorite which has a little bit of everything.

7. CONNECTICUT // FRANK PEPE PIZZERIA NAPOLETANA

Location: Various locations, Connecticut

If you are craving the variety of crispy, thin crust pizza referred to as New Haven-style thanks to Frank Pepe’s original location, make sure to try the tomato pie at Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana. Since 1925, Pepe has been using coal-fired ovens to create a “crisp, charred, chewy crust” on pizza pies. The original tomato pie is made using simple ingredients—just tomatoes, grated Pecorino Romano, garlic, oregano, and olive oil—and is still available on the menu. (With or without anchovies.) Try the white clam pie, which over the years has become the most famous, with its flaky crust covered in olive oil, oregano, garlic, grated cheese and fresh littleneck clams.

8. DELAWARE // MARGHERITA’S PIZZA

Location: Newark, Delaware

On any given night, you’ll find college kids swarming this pizza joint, which is conveniently located on Main Street at the heart of the University of Delaware. It’s not just the location that makes this cheesy oasis so popular: The college staple churns out some of the best pizza in the state. You can find a wide variety of specialty slices behind the counter, but if you want something really special, order a pie of the White Buffy: a white pizza covered in buffalo chicken and slathered in blue cheese dressing.

9. FLORIDA // ANDIAMO! BRICK OVEN PIZZA

Location: Miami, Florida

Nestled in an enclosed glass building, a Historical Landmark building in Miami has been the home of award-winning brick oven pizza since it opened in 2001. Andiamo! offers many specialty pies using fresh and inventive ingredients. The Sunday pie includes meatballs, tomato sauce, mozzarella and ricotta cheeses, pepperoncini, parmesan, and basil. If you are feeling bold, choose Frankie Five’s Special, which is topped with chicken, broccoli rabe, roasted potatoes and garlic, caramelized onions, mozzarella, and red pepper flakes.

10. GEORGIA // ANTICO PIZZA NAPOLETANA

Location: Atlanta, Georgia

Just steps away from Georgia Tech’s campus on Atlanta’s Westside is Antico Pizza, home to some of the best food in Atlanta. The open kitchen and communal seating make for a vibrant atmosphere, but the pizza here is the main attraction. If you enjoy something rich and decadent, try the house specialty—creamy buffalo mozzarella, Cipollini onions, roasted mushrooms, and white truffle oil served well done with a charred crust.

11. HAWAII // KULA LODGE AND RESTAURANT

Location: Maui, Hawaii

Even those in paradise crave pizza for dinner sometimes. If you’re spending time on Maui visit Kula Lodge and Restaurant. Ask for seating in the Garden Terrace, where the wood-burning oven resides, and take in a sunset dinner with an open view of Maui’s Western side. Try the No Ka Oi, a crispy pizza with Portuguese sausage, Poblano peppers, sweet onion, and—of course—fresh pineapple.

12. IDAHO // ENOTECA

Location: Ketchum, Idaho

Enoteca Restaurant and Wine Bar in Ketchum has starters like house-cured meats and artisanal cheeses, but the wood-fired pizza is what you come for. They have various specialty pizzas for you to choose from, like the Wine Auction, which features gorgonzola and grapes, or the Strega, with homemade pesto and prosciutto.

13. ILLINOIS // VITO AND NICK’S

Location: Chicago, Illinois

When you think Chicago pizza, a deep dish pan pizza may be what comes to mind. The best pizza in the Windy City, though, is the cheese pizza at Vito & Nick’s. The cash-only South Side pizza spot was established in 1932, and serves the best thin crust, cut in square slices, and was featured on Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.

14. INDIANA // MOTHER BEAR’S PIZZA

Location: Bloomington, Illinois

Mother Bear’s has been serving Bloomington’s best pizzas since 1973. At Mother Bear’s choice is the key. Dine in or takeout, choose from 6-, 10-, or 14-inch pies made with a selection of cheeses and sauces, and even select from three types of pie: traditional pan, deep dish, or thin crust. If that is too many decisions to make on an empty stomach, just go for the “Paulie Pine Nuts” Pesto Pie with fresh pesto, tomatoes, mozzarella, and spinach.

15. IOWA // PAGLIAI’S PIZZA

Location: Iowa City, Iowa

Iowa City has been enjoying the family-run Pagliai’s Pizza since they first opened in 1957. The pizzeria serves beer as well as soft drinks, and a number of toppings are available on their pies. For the works, order the Palace Special (a cheese pizza with sausage, beef, pepperoni, mushroom, and onion), or select your own toppings like black olives, peppers, and Canadian bacon—or the less traditional sauerkraut or broccoli.

16. KANSAS // TOPP’D PIZZA

Location: Kansas City, Kansas

Topp’d Pizza is a Kansas newcomer that aims to serve pizza fresh and fast. This fast casual pizza joint serves 9-inch personal pizzas in less than five minutes, without skimping on ingredients. All their meats are grilled on location, and everything from dough to sauce to dressings are house-made. Enjoy a personal or large 13-inch pie with your choice of original, garlic and herb, honey wheat or gluten-free crust and choose from a wide variety of toppings (including vegan options), or try one of many signature pies offering unique flavors like peanut sauce or slow-roasted pulled pork. 

17. KENTUCKY // BOOMBOZZ CRAFT PIZZA

Location: Louisville, Kentucky

BoomBozz now has several locations, but was welcomed with excitement in Louisville in 1998. Since then, they’ve been named one of the best of Louisville. Of the many gourmet pizzas to choose from, the Tony’s Supremo, Fire Roasted Fajita, and Smokehouse Brisket are standouts. Or opt for a classic like their 17-inch New York-style cheese pie.

18. LOUISIANA // CASCIO’S MARKET BISTRO

Location: Bossier City, Louisiana

The best pizza in Louisiana might also be the best culinary invention in the state, too. Cascio’s started out as a father-daughter run grocery and produce stand in 1945. Known for homemade sausages, they make thin crust pizzas three ways: Pies come in either 10- or 16-inch with your choice of classic Margherita, or sausage or pepperoni. But try the Pizzaletta, their own creation inspired by the state’s famous muffuletta sandwich. They fill the pizza crust with salami, ham, olive salad, sliced provolone, and top it with another pizza crust that is covered in mozzarella cheese!

19. MAINE // OTTO PIZZA

Location: Portland, Maine

Portland’s Otto Pizza has been using high-quality local ingredients and an out-of-the-box approach for their pizzas since 2009. One of their most popular pies, The Masher, is a pizza with mashed potatoes, scallions, and bacon. If you are vegetarian, try their mushroom and roasted cauliflower pizza, or opt for the four cheese concoction that combines ricotta, fontina, asiago, and mozzarella.

20. MARYLAND // MATTHEW’S PIZZA

Location: Baltimore, Maryland

Matthew’s is proud of their distinction as being “Baltimore’s first pizzeria,” and has been a local institution since opening in 1943. They’ve racked up 76 awards for their amazing pizza pies in the past 30 or so years, and were included in Business Insider’s Best Pizza in Every State. They use traditional and regional ingredients like Maryland crab to enhance their pizzas and appetizers. Give the 4 Seasons Pie a try—it uses hand-grated mozzarella, artichoke hearts, black olives, anchovies, mushrooms, and prosciuttini.

21. MASSACHUSETTS // EMMA’S PIZZA

Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts

Cambridge’s Emma’s Pizza specializes in cracker-thin-crust pizza and has been doing so since the ’60s. They offer two dozen different pizza combinations, or you can choose to create your own using one of their 30 toppings and three sauces. Start with the Kendall, named for their Kendall Square location: it combines roasted red peppers, caramelized onions, rosemary sauce, and mozzarella.

22. MICHIGAN // BUDDY’S PIZZA

Location: Detroit, Michigan

Buddy’s Pizza introduced their square pizzas to Detroit in 1946, and now have 11 locations in the metro area, serving some of the Motor City’s best pies. They’ve grown a lot in the last 70 years, and now offer gluten-free and multi-grain crust. For a classic though, order their award-winning Sicilian-style pepperoni pizza, where the meat is layered beneath Wisconsin cheese.

23. MINNESOTA // BLACK SHEEP PIZZA

Location: Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota

A full dining experience can be had at Black Sheep Pizza—they serve up wine, beer, draft root beer, and fresh squeezed lemonade, salads, and of course, plenty of pizza. Their pies come in 12- and 16-inch sizes, or order the Sicilian, which is essentially a Grandma: a square pizza with mozzarella, sauce, and extra virgin olive oil.

24. MISSISSIPPI // PIZZA SHACK

Location: Jackson, Mississippi

Pizza Shack has collected dozens of awards since opening in 2005, when three lifelong friends opened the pizza parlor of their dreams. Start off with an antipasta salad or Buffalo wings, and since you’re in Mississippi, opt for the Cajun Joe for the main event: spicy marinara and andouille sausage, chicken, peppers, and onions.

25. MISSOURI // PI PIZZERIA

Location: Various locations, Missouri

Pi Pizzeria has multiple restaurants across St. Louis (as well as in Cincinnati and D.C.), and it specializes in craft beer, deep dish, and cornmeal crust pizzas. Next time you’re in the Lou, start with a Bada Bing salad (which includes walnuts, gorgonzola, and the namesake dried bing cherries), and take a bite out of a slice of Bucktown, which is covered in mozzarella, roasted chicken, artichokes, peppers, green olives, red onion, feta, and sundried tomatoes.

26. MONTANA // EUGENE’S PIZZA

Location: Glasgow, Montana

The pride of Glasgow, Montana may be Eugene’s Pizza a family business that has been feeding locals for over 40 years. Purchased in 1967, the pizzeria was passed to the owner’s children in 1992. Choose one of their popular suggestions like pepperoni, tomato, and garlic or mushroom and black olives, or select your own. If you’re in the mood for something on the sweeter side try the BBQ Chicken pizza. It’s made with spicy chicken, a blend of mozzarella and cheddar cheese, and then topped with a swirl of homemade BBQ sauce. Yum.

27. NEBRASKA // LA CASA PIZZARIA

Location: Omaha, Nebraska

La Casa Pizzaria has been proudly advertising their “legendary pizza and pasta” dishes for over 60 years. Enjoy beer and wine tastings in the lounge, order some fried ravioli or eggplant parmesan, but don’t forget to try some thin crust Neapolitan pizza. For a taste of an Omaha classic, get the hamburger pizza. With ground beef, onions, seasoning and mozzarella and Romano cheese, this pie is a must.

28. NEVADA // SOUTH CREEK PIZZA COMPANY

Location: Reno, Nevada

Start off with fire roasted mortadella, garlic shrimp, and a wedge salad and move on to the aptly named Afterburner pizza at South Creek Pizza Company. This pizza special has Mama’s meatballs, tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, red onions, basil, and is topped with sea salt and SarVecchio parmesan cheese. Hot chopped cherry peppers come on the side.

29. NEW HAMPSHIRE // PIGTALE

Location: Nashua, New Hampshire

Farm to table is the draw at Nashua, New Hampshire’s PigTale. They use ingredients sourced locally whenever possible to create the small plates, salads, pizza, and delicious craft cocktails they serve. Their namesake pizza is a creative crispy pie loaded up with bacon, smoked pork, sausage, pickled onion and fontina cheese. For pescetarians, try the shrimp scampi pie which has Gulf shrimp, garlic, baby heirloom tomatoes, and fresh basil.

30. NEW JERSEY // RAZZA

Location: Jersey City, New Jersey

Razza is an upscale pizza joint in the heart of Jersey City, intent on serving you food with the utmost care. The bread—and the butter even—is homemade and all the ingredients they use are hand selected. Try the Project Hazelnut that combines fresh mozzarella, locally grown hazelnuts (care of Rutgers University), ricotta and local honey.

31. NEW MEXICO // BACK ROAD PIZZA

Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico

Back Road has remained a local favorite in Santa Fe since it opened in 1997. Everything you eat—from the pizza dough, roasted meats, and sauces to dressings—are freshly made in house each day. You can order a basic cheese pizza, one with your favorite topping, or choose from 11 Primo toppings they offer like Kalamata olives or Chevre. They also offer piping hot calzones, classic subs, and appetizers, depending on how hungry you feel.

32. NEW YORK // JOE’S PIZZA

Location: New York, New York

New York is a pizza town, so choosing the best is hard. New Yorkers are diehard about who makes the best pie and can argue the merits of Totonno’s, Di Fara’s, or Patsy’s with passion. But, if you want a classic New York slice you should have it with a classic New York experience, so grab a cheese or pepperoni from Joe’s Pizza in Greenwich village. Fold it and eat it while walking down the street. You might drip a little grease down your chin, and you’ll definitely burn your tongue, but the combination of perfectly melted cheese and crispy bottom crust is the very best.

33. NORTH CAROLINA // PURE PIZZA

Location: Charlotte, North Carolina

Pure Pizza’s philosophy is to provide healthier pizza by using fresh high-quality ingredients, to stay committed to the environment, and to provide fair wages to their employees. All in all, a positive atmosphere and mission. Stop in and have a She-Rex which is mozzarella, mushroom, onion, pepper, and topped with greens tossed in lemon vinaigrette.

34. NORTH DAKOTA // BLACKBIRD WOODFIRE

Location: Fargo, North Dakota

Truck Pizza was a mobile wood-fired oven that served pizza every summer at events and festivals and, finally, opened a brick and mortar restaurant, Blackbird Woodfire, in 2014. They serve tapas, salads, and a bunch of specialty pies like the Sausage Apple that is made with house-made sausage, Granny Smith apple, Béchamel cream sauce, fresh sage, parmesan cheese, and micro greens.

35. OHIO // BAR CENTO

Location: Cleveland, Ohio

Bar Cento is full-fledged Italian eatery with house made pasta dishes and house specials and sides, but their pizza was rated the best in Ohio by both Zagat and Food Network. The Sunnyside has pancetta (made in house) and provolone, and is topped with a fried egg and black pepper so it works for brunch or dinner.

36. OKLAHOMA // ANDOLINI’S PIZZERIA

Location: Multiple Locations, Oklahoma

Tulsa’s Andolini’s Pizza was established in 2005, and has since expanded to another two locations across Oklahoma, as well as in the form of a food truck doling out slices around Tulsa. If you feel like keeping it simple, go for the Marzano pesto pie. Pistachio pesto, mozzarella, and San Marzano tomatoes are cooked together to gooey perfection.

37. OREGON // APIZZA SCHOLLS

Location: Portland, Oregon

At Apizza Scholls picking up pies can take over an hour on busy nights. Luckily, they have an arcade with DigDug, Ms. Pac-Man, and Donkey Kong to play while you wait. Once you are seated there are tons of pizzas to choose from, and all of them are 18 inches of amazing. The Diablo Blanca has tomato pesto, mozzarella, ricotta, herbs, black pepper, extra virgin olive oil, and fresh jalapeño.

38. PENNSYLVANIA // PIZZERIA BEDDIA

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

At 4:00pm most afternoons, lines start forming in anticipation of Philadelphia’s Pizzeria Beddia’s 5:30 p.m. opening. This place is cash only, has no seating, and rotates pies seasonally, but once 40 pies have gone out—they’re out. You can try the chewy, crispy cheese pie, or go with a special like a recent pie with asparagus, fresh cream, oyster mushroom, and ramps.

39. RHODE ISLAND // FRANK AND JOHN FROM ITALY

Location: East Greenwich, Rhode Island

Independently owned and operated by the same family for over 40 years, Frank and John’s is where you go for authentic Italian pie in East Greenwich. This is a no frills pizza joint that offers casual dining and top notch Italian food.

40. SOUTH CAROLINA // REBEL PIE

Location: Florence, South Carolina

Though they have many great items to choose from on their menu, Rebel Pie is all about pizza. They have white pies, pesto pies, build your own pies, and even dessert pies. You can’t go wrong here, no matter what you order, but take a chance on their rotating Rebel Pie of the month for a unique creation!

41. SOUTH DAKOTA // FIERO PIZZA

Location: Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Fiero Pizza has a number of specialty pies for you to choose from if you don’t feel like building your own pizza. I’d go with the Fresh Farmer. It has a spicy tomato sauce base and mozzarella, hot sausage, spinach, egg, parmesan cheese, and roasted pepper chili oil. Sounds like you’ll need to wash it down with a cold drink.

42. TENNESSEE // PIZZA PERFECT

Location: Nashville, Tennessee

With a name like Pizza Perfect, you better nail a plain cheese pizza. Though they have many creative pies (like the Dante’s Chicken Pie) you may be just as happy with a pitcher and a large thick Sicilian cheese pie, thick and gooey and baked fresh to order.

43. TEXAS // ANTONIO’S FLYING PIZZA

Location: Houston, Texas

For over 40 years the Rosa family has been making hand-tossed pizzas, pasta dishes, and desserts for Houston’s residents. Whether you’re in the mood for a traditional or deep dish Sicilian pie, you won’t leave hungry after visiting Antonio’s Flying Pizza.

44. UTAH // NICOLITALIA

Location: Provo, Utah

They call it Boston Italian style pizza here, and it is crazy good. Their specialty pies include the Italian Stallion and Eye of the Tiger, but if you really want to try something special, order the Queen Margotte which is topped with alfredo sauce, fresh tomato, chopped spinach, dry basil, parmesan cheese and Nicolitalia’s secret spice.

45. VERMONT // FOLINO’S

Location: Shelburne, Vermont

Folino’s is BYOB, but luckily they are housed in the same building as Fiddlehead Brewing Company, so you can pop next door and grab a few beers before heading over for a Margherita pie, Folino’s specialty. The Green Mountain setting and delicious New Haven-style pie provides a beautiful evening.

46. VIRGINIA // PUPATELLA

Location: Arlington, Virginia

Pupatella’s website proudly announces itself “Best Pizza in Virginia.” The fried arancini (rice balls) and fresh mozzarella, as well as their pizzas, are authentic Neopolitan cuisine. They offer red (sausage and onion with smoked mozzarella) or white (creamy burrata with cherry tomato, pine nuts and basil) pizzas, and will make you feel like you’re in Naples.

47. WASHINGTON // SERIOUS PIE

Location: Seattle, Washington

Serious Pie bakes their pizza in a 600-degree, stone-encased, wood-fired oven, so we get why they’re so serious about their pizza. They have three locations across Seattle and also boast artisan cheeses from around the world.

48. WEST VIRGINIA // LOLA’S PIZZA

Location: Charleston, West Virginia

Lola’s offers brunch, lunch, and dinner and a wide array of sandwiches, salads, and, of course, pizzas. Their simple and tasty pies are available for dine-in or carryout and cooked to bubbly perfection in a stone hearth. Some intriguing options include bacon and white cheddar, spinach and feta, and spicy shrimp and sausage.

49. WISCONSIN // PIZZA BRUTTA

Location: Madison, Wisconsin

Pizza Brutta uses freshly made Fior di latte, tomato sauce, and dough for their Neopolitan style pizzas. They have over 20 combinations to choose from as well as salads and sandwiches (lunch only). Plus, they partner with organic suppliers, and you won’t find fresher Wisconsin cheese anywhere else.

50. WYOMING // ROXIE’S ON GRAND

Location: Laramie, Wyoming

This American bistro is a warm and inviting restaurant in Laramie. In addition to full dinners and appetizers, they make brick oven-fired pizzas in classic combinations like tomato and mozzarella, spicy meatball, or the decadent Lobster supreme.

This story was updated in November 2016.

November has barely begun, but some companies are already using the month’s arrival as an excuse to ring in the unofficial start of the holiday season. That includes Starbucks, the national drink chain that’s turned their seasonal drink offerings into an impressive customer draw. For the 2016 holidays, Starbucks is ditching their traditional red cup for a green one symbolizing unity, TIME reports.

The cups, which began appearing in stores on Tuesday, November 1, feature a “mosaic of more than a hundred people drawn in one continuous stroke,” according to a press release. It was designed by artist Shogo Ota, a Japan native who moved to the U.S. 14 years ago. The cup is meant to evoke feelings of community and togetherness, something Starbucks says our country needs to be reminded of now more than ever.

“During a divisive time in our country, Starbucks wanted to create a symbol of unity as a reminder of our shared values, and the need to be good to each other,” chairman and CEO Howard Schultz said in the statement.

Conflict around the holidays is something Starbucks is familiar with: Last holiday season the brand came under fire for their stripped-down red cups, an aesthetic choice some consumers characterized as an attack on Christmas. This year, the company is prepping for a different reaction, championing the new design as “a symbol for stitching people together as a united community.”

[h/t TIME]

Whether you’re thinking of taking the plunge by buying one of Amazon’s wildly popular E-readers for yourself or planning on giving a Kindle or two as holiday gifts, you’ll want to jump on today’s sale. Amazon is knocking $20 off the price of the all-new Kindle in black with a 6-inch glare-free touchscreen display, dropping the price to $59.99.

If you’re looking for a step up, you can also save $20 on the best-selling Kindle Paperwhite, complete with built-in light and a high-resolution display, which is now just $99.99. The Kindle Voyage is down to $179.99 from its usual $199.99 price point, which gets you an adaptive front light that reacts to light conditions around you and easier page turning.

Hard copies of our favorite books will never go out of style, but if you want a lighter, more convenient option for your travel or daily commute, take advantage of this bargain. 

Mental Floss has affiliate relationships with certain retailers, including Amazon, and may receive a small percentage of any sale. But we only get commission on items you buy and don’t return, so we’re only happy if you’re happy. Good luck deal hunting!