A guy from Sweden rode his bicycle to Nepal, climbed Everest alone without Sherpas or bottled oxygen, then cycled back to Sweden again.
Residents in Mosinee, Wisconsin held a mock Communist…
Residents in Mosinee, Wisconsin held a mock Communist invasion which had concentration camps, a purged library, and inflated prices. The mayor, seemingly unaware of the plan, died due to the excitement.
An Ethiopian Olympic runner couldn’t find a comfortable pair of shoes…
An Ethiopian Olympic runner couldn’t find a comfortable pair of shoes, so he ran the 1960 Olympic Marathon in Rome barefoot, finished first, and set a new World Record.
Research from Moscow State University & the University of Iowa discovered…
Research from Moscow State University & the University of Iowa discovered that crows exhibit strong behavioral signs of analogical reasoning—the ability to solve puzzles like “bird is to air as fish is to what?” Analogical reasoning only develops in humans between the ages of three & four.
The United States Department of Agriculture says a sandwich…
The United States Department of Agriculture says a sandwich must contain at least 35 percent cooked meat and no more than 50 percent bread.
The Coast Guard trained pigeons to assist in finding…
The Coast Guard trained pigeons to assist in finding people lost at sea. They sat in a dome attached to a helicopter, pressing a lever after spotting life preservers or debris. They had a 90% success rate in initial trials.
During the first battle of the American Civil War, hundreds…
During the first battle of the American Civil War, hundreds of civilians from Washington DC brought picnic baskets and came to watch the battle, sure the Union would easily win. The Union lost, and the civilians were caught in the retreat of the Northern army.
The ‘Chinese Fire Drill’ was coined when a British officer…
The ‘Chinese Fire Drill’ was coined when a British officer miscommunicated instructions to his Chines crew, resulting in them pulling water from the starboard side and immediately dumping it on the port side, completely bypassing the ‘putting out the fire’ step.
Lighthouse keepers constantly went nuts due to mercury…
Lighthouse keepers constantly went nuts due to mercury poisoning from the fresnel lens lamps they used combined with isolation. It was a major issue for the USCG until a doctor took a look at the huge pool of mercury sitting under the lens.
Hat making in the past involved prolonged exposure to mercury…
Hat making in the past involved prolonged exposure to mercury vapors, causing poisoning which symptoms are sensory impairment (vision, hearing, speech), and a lack of coordination. this inspired terms like “Mad as a hatter” and of course, the mad hatter of Alice in wonderland.