Discover the bizarre story of Mithridates VI, the king who built immunity to poison—only to find it failed him when he tried to take his own life. History’s most ironic survival strategy explained.
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Chris and Denny might as well have been brothers. They had so much in common — particularly their conflict with their fathers — that it almost looks as if they had the same father. Lots of people blame their parents when things go wrong, but for Chris and Denny, they probably had some legitimate concerns…
For any inventor, receiving his or her first patent is a momentous occasion. It is proof from the highest levels of government that someone recognizes the value of the distinct innovation born out of that creator’s mind. U.S. Patent 90,646 was the first patent granted to a young inventor by the name of Thomas Alva…
One of the challenges faced by Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658) during his tenure as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland was a severe shortage of silver. Without the precious metal, the nation ran into the prospect of being unable to make coins. Cromwell ordered his advisors to scour the country, looking for any source of…
Neil Armstrong may have been the first man to go to the moon, but it was Buzz Aldrin who has the honor of being the first man to go on the moon. Yes, history may hold a special place for Armstrong’s heroism in being the first person to set foot on the lunar surface, but no one…
Discover the strange story of the USS William D Porter — the unluckiest ship in the US Navy.
Learn about Radithor — the radium-based medicine that worked just fine — until the patient’s jaw fell off.
Erma Bombeck (February 21, 1927 – April 22, 1996) started writing weekly newspaper columns in 1964 for $3 apiece. By the 1980s, she was one of the most popular columnists in the United States, with articles appearing in over 900 newspapers and with annual earnings of nearly $1 million. Her observations about daily life as…
It’s called the Mpemba Effect, and it is a mystery that has intrigued the greatest minds in history for over 2,000 years. As counter-intuitive as it may seem, hot water seems to freeze faster than cold water. Is this true, and if so, how can it be?
When it comes to having a proud corporate history, no company can outdo Japan’s Kongō Gumi Co., Ltd. Established in 578 AD, it is the oldest, continually operating company in the world.
If you have ever wanted a top-level job in the federal government but feel that you don’t have the necessary education or experience, look no further than a spot on the Supreme Court of the United States. The Constitution of the United States places no requirements on any federal judge in terms of age, education,…
T.E. Lawrence, known around the world as “Lawrence of Arabia,” died on May 19, 1935. His death, 6 days after a tragic motorcycle accident, seemed an inglorious end to the life of a man who had achieved near-mythical status in his brief 46 years on this earth. It probably would have pleased him to know…
Try as hard as you might, you cannot hum while holding your nose. Read about a substance that will want you to hold your nose to keep from smelling it. Find out the 20 most-recognizable smells.
President Calvin Coolidge was known for his strong work ethic and his disdain of expectations of privilege. His son, Calvin, Jr., clearly understood his father’s philosophy. On the morning after his father took the oath of office as president, Calvin, Jr. went to his job where he bundled tobacco. One of his co-workers said, “If my…
How do we warn people way in the future about the dangers of radioactive waste? Welcome to the fascinating world of Nuclear Semiotics!
The history of how the unit of length known as the foot ended up being 12 inches is long and varied. When it came time to develop a metric unit of length, those in charge were determined to come up with something a lot more precise.
