When it comes to dams, there are plenty to consider. There is China’s Three Gorges Dam that is so big that it slows the earth’s rotation. There is another Chinese dam whose […]
Interesting, Curious, and Freaky Facts about the Mighty Hoover Dam
Learn About the Aviation Legend Who Became the First Person to Die in a Plane Crash
One of the most promising names in the new field of aviation was Thomas E. Selfridge. The fearless young man seemed to have a natural affinity for the amazing machines that could […]
How a Boy With a Kite Helped Bridge Two Nations
On March 8, 1855, history was made when a 23-ton railroad engine crossed over the Niagara River on the world’s first working railway suspension bridge. The bridge was an engineering marvel, spanning […]
Using a Nuke to Put Out a Fire
Since the dawn of the nuclear age, much of the diplomatic and military strategies of nations have centered around preventing the world from going up in flames in a nuclear holocaust. Some […]
How Many Licks Does it Take To Get to the Tootsie Roll Center of a Tootsie Pop?
In 1970, the world was asked the question, “How many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop?” The question was posed in an animated […]
Meet Archytas, the Father of Robotics
Archytas (428 BC–347 BC) was a mathematician and scientist of Ancient Greece. He was a member of the Pythagoreans. (Click here to learn how Pythagoras was killed by his phobia of beans.) […]
The Worst Structural Failure in History Was Kept a Secret for 30 Years
When the Hindenburg exploded in 1937, killing 36 people, it made headlines around the world and earned a lasting place in history. Titanic’s sinking, causing the death of more than 1,500 people […]
The Confounding Case of the Lost Recipe for Concrete
Take a stroll through the ancient ruins of the Romans, Egyptians, Persians, and the Assyrians, you may notice something odd about their concrete structures. Despite being thousands of years old, they seem […]
They Always Said His Inventions Would be the Death of Him
Thomas Midgley, Jr. held over one hundred patents for his mechanical engineering and chemistry advancements. Certainly not winning any prizes from environmentalists, it was Midgley who developed the lead-based additive for gasoline, […]
The Boston Molasses Disaster of 1919
On January 15, 1919, the city of Boston suffered a tragedy when a large tank of molasses burst, triggering a major flood of syrup through the city streets. The incident, known as […]
Commonplace Fun Facts 