Turkeys were once worshiped as Gods
Indeed, turkeys held a significant role in the religious...
Turkeys were once worshiped as Gods
Indeed, turkeys held a significant role in the religious...
Queen Elizabeth II was never supposed to be queen
Queen Elizabeth II's journey to the throne was anything but conventional. Born as Princess Elizabeth, she was the daughter of the Duke and Duchess of York, living a relatively normal life far removed from the pressures of royal duty. With two older brothers ahead of...
Rats killed over 75 million Europeans in the Middle Ages
In the mid-1300s, humanity faced one of its darkest chapters: the Black Death. This devastating outbreak of bubonic plague ravaged vast regions, claiming the lives of an estimated 75 to 200 million people. The toll was particularly severe in Europe, where 30 to 60% of...
Since the end of WWI, over 1,000 people have died from leftover unexploded bombs
A recent study conducted by Yale University has revealed alarming findings about the stability of unexploded bombs from World War I and World War II. Over time, these dormant explosives have become increasingly volatile, raising the risk of accidental detonations....
100 Million Years Ago, the Sahara Desert was Inhabited by Galloping Crocodiles
Fossil hunters have made an incredible discovery in the Sahara desert: the remains of ancient crocodiles that once roamed the land and dominated the rivers of North Africa millions of years ago. Led by renowned paleontologist Paul Sereno, excavations in the 1990s...
The American Soldiers Who Guarded Saddam Hussein in His Last Weeks Genuinely Grieved for Him
In a surprising turn of events, during Saddam Hussein's final days in 2006, an unexpected camaraderie seemed to develop between him and his American guards. Despite the intense animosity surrounding his regime, one soldier's reaction to a crowd's taunting demonstrated...
Before the 19th Century, Dentures were Made from Dead Soldiers’ Teeth
Before the 19th century, dentures had a rather grim origin story. Picture this: after the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, dentists started making dentures from fallen soldiers' teeth. These dentures, aptly dubbed "Waterloo teeth," were crafted from the pearly whites of...
President Ronald Reagan was Also a Prolific Lifeguard Who Saved 77 People from Drowning
Before Ronald Reagan became known as "The Great Communicator" in his political career, he gained recognition for another remarkable skill: lifeguarding. Reagan served as a lifeguard at the Rock River during his younger years, where he demonstrated his athleticism and...
Heroin was Once a Perfectly Acceptable Medicine. Doctors Prescribed it for Everything from Coughs to Headaches
Once upon a time, heroin wasn't seen as a dangerous drug lurking on the streets; it was actually considered a legit medicine. Yep, you heard that right. Back in the day, doctors would hand out prescriptions for heroin like candy, using it to treat all sorts of...
An 11-year-old Accidentally Invented Ice Pops
Back in 1905, a young 11-year-old boy named Frank Epperson stumbled upon a sweet surprise right here in the Bay Area. It all started innocently enough while Frank was playing around his Oakland neighborhood. One hot day, he mixed some soda powder with water in a cup...
The Statue of Liberty was Once a Lighthouse
Once envisioned as a towering beacon to guide ships safely through treacherous waters, the Statue of Liberty embarked on a different journey than originally intended. Initially serving as a lighthouse from its inauguration in 1886 until 1906, the statue's torch was...
Hawaii Gets 3 Feet Closer to Alaska Every Year
Every year, Hawaii inches about 3 feet closer to Alaska, a curious phenomenon driven by the relentless movement of tectonic plates. Positioned atop the vast expanse of the Pacific Plate, Hawaii finds itself gradually drifting northwestward, propelled on a geological...
The Electric Chair was Invented by a Dentist
Alfred Porter Southwick, a multi-talented individual from Buffalo, New York, made a significant mark in history as an inventor. Despite his background as a steamboat engineer and dentist, his invention of the electric chair garnered widespread attention. The idea for...
In the 16th Century, it was Fashionable to have Black Teeth
During the 16th century in medieval Japan, wealthy married women embraced a unique trend known as ohaguro, which involved blackening their teeth. This practice wasn't just a passing fad but a symbol of status and beauty. The method was quite straightforward: iron...
The British royal family is banned from playing Monopoly
Queen Elizabeth imposes strict rules on the royal family, including bans on certain activities like taking selfies and flying together. Surprisingly, one of the lesser-known restrictions involves the popular board game, Monopoly. Although you might assume that the...
Mary Anning’s unearthed the first complete Ichthyosaurus fossil at the age of 12
Mary Anning, a remarkable figure in paleontology, made a groundbreaking discovery at a remarkably young age. Born in 1799 in Lyme Regis, England, Mary's fascination with fossils was ignited by her father, Richard Anning, a cabinet maker and amateur fossil collector....
Harriet Tubman created an Underground Railroad of safehouses
After Harriet Tubman escaped slavery, she became one of the most courageous figures in American history, dedicating her life to liberating others from bondage. Tubman's legacy is deeply intertwined with her creation of the Underground Railroad, a clandestine network...
You Can Photograph the Energy of the Body Through Kirlian Photography
Kirlian photography, named after Semyon Kirlian, the Soviet inventor who pioneered the technique in the 1930s, offers a fascinating glimpse into the subtle energies surrounding living organisms. By capturing images of corona discharges—glowing auras of...
Habsburgs of Austria were required to do a pre-dinner weigh-in on Christmas
The Habsburgs of Austria, known for their rich Christmas traditions, have a peculiar custom that has intrigued many over the years. Featured in films like "Spencer," this unique tradition involves royal family members participating in a pre-dinner weigh-in before...
Julius the Cat is the Oldest Animated Character Created by Walt Disney
Before Mickey Mouse and Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, Julius the Cat was one of Walt Disney's earliest animated characters. Julius debuted in 1922 in the Alice Comedies, Disney's first animated series. However, his roots trace back even further to the Laugh-O-Gram shorts,...
Man Landed on the Moon the First Time in 1969, and the Last Time in 1972
The first moon landing occurred in 1969 when NASA's Apollo 11 mission successfully touched down on the lunar surface. This historic event marked a significant milestone in human exploration and space travel. However, it wasn't the only time humans set foot on the...
Nintendo Existed Far Before Even WW1 as a Card Company
Nintendo, the iconic name synonymous with video games and entertainment, has a history that stretches back further than many might realize. While we often associate Nintendo with cutting-edge technology and digital innovation, its origins trace back to a much earlier...
Egyptians Once Lost a Battle Because Their Enemies had Cats on Their Shields
The Battle of Pelusium marked a significant turning point in Egyptian history, leading to the transfer of power to Cambyses II of Persia. The Persians employed a unique strategy that capitalized on the Egyptians' deep reverence for all forms of life, particularly...
The Last “Official” Civil War Widow Died in 2020
Helen Viola Jackson, the last known widow of a Civil War veteran, passed away on December 16, 2020, marking the end of an era in American history. Born in 1919, just after the conclusion of World War I, Helen grew up in the small town of Niangua, Missouri, surrounded...
Did You Know that London had a Bedtime of Around 8-9 pm?
Yes, it's fascinating to consider how different daily routines and lifestyles were in the past compared to today. In historical London, the concept of bedtime differed from what we're accustomed to now. In the past, particularly before the widespread availability of...
Archeologists Discover Pizza Painting Dating Back Over 2,000 Years
Who invented Pizza afterall?
Historians Discovered A New Chapter In The Bible Hidden For 1750 Years
So old and well know yet so much we still do not know
18,000-Year-Old Frozen Puppy Confirmed As The Oldest Dog
Could this be one of the first domesticated dogs in history?
Archeologists Discover Pizza Painting Dating Back Over 2,000 Years
Who invented Pizza afterall?
Historians Discovered A New Chapter In The Bible Hidden For 1750 Years
So old and well know yet so much we still do not know
18,000-Year-Old Frozen Puppy Confirmed As The Oldest Dog
Could this be one of the first domesticated dogs in history?