We are beginning to believe frogs may be the true superheroes of the natural world. We have previously documented their amazing powers of levitation, and times when it literally rained frogs on […]
Dip Your Frog to Keep Your Milk Fresh
How a U.S. President Enabled a Soviet General’s Coke Addiction
Georgy Zhukov was a hero of the Soviet Union, but he had an embarrassing secret. He was an addict. What made it worse was that his addiction, if known, would be especially […]
The Remarkable Accidental Creation of the Chocolate Chip Cookie
Necessity is the mother of invention. That adage certainly proved true for Ruth Graves Wakefield, the creator of one of the most popular treats ever.
How E.T. Made Reese’s Pieces One of the World’s Favorite Candies
When E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial hit the silver screens in 1982, the movie was a sensation. It quickly shot past Star Wars to take the lead as the highest-grossing film to date. Nearly […]
The Nose Knows an Astonishing 1 Trillion Smells
Just how sensitive is your nose? We know that animal noses tend to be much more nuanced to different aromas than their human counterparts. Even so, how many different scents do you […]
Luxury Potato Chips Priced at $11 Each
When it comes to luxury items, things related to potatoes are no small potatoes. When we reported the $1 million sale of a potato photograph, we thought it was a fluke. Now […]
How Sweden’s King Experimented on Prisoners With Coffee
Coffee seems to have had a love/hate relationship with royalty. For centuries, many people viewed the caffeinated beverage with suspicion. Around the year 1600, many in Roman Catholic circles viewed coffee as […]
Is the Risk Worth the Reward? Understanding Micromorts and Microlives
When considering whether to do something, do you ever consider the risks? If you knew that one activity would certainly bring an immediate end to your life, you probably would not be […]
Coffee, Crypts, Bones, and Friars — the Origin of the Cappuccino
What do coffee, crypts, bones, and friars have in common? No, they aren’t the ingredients for a misguided Halloween party theme. They are, instead, the basis for what may be one of […]
The Pastabilities Are Endless — The History and Varieties of Pasta
Nothing says “Italy” quite like pasta. The flavors, smells, shapes, and even the names of the many-varied noodles are as Italian as Italian can be.
Does Your Dog Have Frito Feet?
If you were to create a list of smells associated with dogs, it would likely range from the pleasant scent of a recently-bathed, freshly-groomed pet to the less-pleasing aromas that belong outside. […]
Mayor LaGuardia and Justice for a Stolen Loaf of Bread
The bleak, dreary years of the Great Depression brought an energetic, ambitious, and unconventional mayor to the city of New York. Fiorello H. LaGuardia (1882-1947) swept into office, following successive mayors who […]
The Freakish Fate of the Heart of Louis XIV
There is something about the heart of a king that wants to beat on after its owner’s death and earn its own place in history. This was true of Scotland’s Robert the […]
Some Cheesy Facts About Cheese
Who doesn’t like cheese? With all of the different kinds of the tasty food item and the infinite variety of uses in cuisine, cheese is an indispensable staple in the kitchens of […]
Niacin: The Cure for Insanity… and a Whole Lot More
Niacin is one of the most helpful nutritional supplements available. Beyond useful, in fact, it is vital for treating one of the most serious conditions affecting humanity: insanity.
Commonplace Fun Facts 