The weather couldn’t have been better for travel. As Charlie made his way home by train, neither he nor his fellow passengers had any clue that they were headed toward an unspeakable […]
The Disaster That Haunted An Unlikely Hero
Does Your Name Define You? Aptronyms Provide Prophetic Nomenclature
Parents generally give a lot of consideration to the names they bestow upon their children. The choice of the right name is important in terms of carrying on family tradition or honoring […]
The Horrifying Hanging of Mary, the Circus Elephant Who Was Executed for Murder
When the sentence of death is carried out, it is always noteworthy. Mary’s execution was no exception. This particular use of capital punishment attracted even more attention than usual. People gathered from […]
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 […]
Why Do Thousands of Mysterious Arrows Cover the USA?
You can be driving through what appears to be the middle of nowhere when you see it. With no explanation as to its presence in that place, you will find a massive […]
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 […]
Sir Nevill Mott: The Absent-Minded Nobel Laureate
Sir Nevill Francis Mott (1905-1996) won the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1977. He was a professor at the University of Manchester, Cambridge, and the University of Bristol. His students remember him […]
France Says Sacré Bleu! When it Orders the Wrong Size of Trains
If you accidentally purchase the wrong size of pants, it’s no big deal; as long as you have the receipt, you can exchange them for something that will fit. If only it […]
How a Missed Train Saved a Life and Changed a Nation
John was running late, and the timing could not be worse for him. He was preparing for the biggest meeting of his life. It was a meeting with one of the most […]
Some Timely Facts About Time Zones
Time zones are relatively new phenomena in world history. Prior to the late 19th century, the authoritative source for the official time of day was the town clock. At noon each day, […]
History Tries to Tip the Scales
Robert Todd Lincoln, son of President Abraham Lincoln, was once saved from possible serious injury or death by Edwin Booth, famous actor, and brother of John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of his […]
Commonplace Fun Facts 