Voltaire, the famed French philosopher and writer, amassed considerable wealth by exploiting a flaw in the French lottery system of the early 18th century. Alongside mathematician Charles Marie de La Condamine and a group of collaborators, they seized a lucrative opportunity presented by the French national lottery, which was designed to promote bond purchases. In […]
Meta-Fiction and Timeless Themes: The Innovation of Don Quixote
Don Quixote, a groundbreaking work regarded as one of the earliest modern novels, ingeniously employs meta-fictional techniques, with the author feigning that his narrative is sourced from historical documents, requiring him to scour for lost manuscripts and translations to complete the tale. This literary masterpiece, penned by Miguel de Cervantes in the early 17th century, […]
Celtic Druids: Esteemed Arbiters and Spiritual Leaders
The revered Celtic druids enjoyed numerous privileges, including exemption from taxation and military conscription, and were held in such lofty regard that they possessed the authority to halt conflicts between clashing armies. In addition to their roles as spiritual leaders, these Druids were also responsible for preserving cultural knowledge, maintaining the oral tradition, and serving […]
Sneeze Marathon: A Young Girl’s 978-Day Uncontrollable Sneezing Journey
In 1981, a young girl named Donna, who was only 12 years old at the time, embarked on an unusual journey when she started sneezing uncontrollably. Her sneezing persisted nonstop for a staggering 978 days in a row. At first, she sneezed twice per minute, but over time, her sneezing frequency decreased to once every […]
90-Minute CPR Relay: A Community’s Lifesaving Effort in Rural Minnesota
In a rural Minnesota grocery store, a man experienced a heart attack, prompting 20 bystanders to leap into action. They formed an orderly queue and took turns performing CPR on the stricken individual for an incredible 90 minutes until emergency medical services reached the scene. Miraculously, the man survived this harrowing ordeal. Interestingly, this extraordinary […]
Oracle Co-founder’s Eco-Investment Journey on Hawaii’s Lanai Island
Lanai, the sixth-largest island in Hawaii, is predominantly owned by Oracle’s co-founder, who acquired 98% of the island (equivalent to 88,000 acres) for $300 million in 2012. He pledged to invest an additional $500 million over five years to transition the island to renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, benefiting its 3,000 […]
Enigmatic Llareta: The Dense, Ancient Andean Shrub
This unique formation is not a massive green blob of goo, but rather a 3,000-year-old shrub known as llareta. Composed of tens of thousands of tightly packed flowering buds, the density is so remarkable that one can even stand on them. This particular llareta specimen has been around since long before the time of Jesus’ […]
Miracle Fruit: Transforming Sour Flavors into Sweet Sensations
Consuming the “miracle fruit,” scientifically known as Synsepalum dulcificum, can temporarily transform sour flavors into sweet ones for a duration of 15 to 30 minutes. This unique fruit contains a glycoprotein called miraculin, which binds to the taste buds and alters their perception of sour tastes. During this brief period, even the tangiest of foods, […]
Zero Freitas: The Man Behind the World’s Largest Vinyl Record Collection
Brazilian businessman José Roberto “Zero” Alves Freitas, born around 1955, owns the largest record collection in existence, boasting over 8 million vinyl records. His passion for music began during his childhood when his father purchased a hi-fi stereo with 200 albums. Freitas’s mother, who owned a collection of 400-500 records, further influenced his love for […]
Churchill’s Vision: Science, Ethics, and the Future Unfolding
In a visionary 1931 essay discussing the future of science, Winston Churchill not only championed the concept of lab-grown meat but also foresaw the advent of an internet-like system for long-distance communication. Furthermore, he speculated that humanity might possess the capability to artificially cultivate humans based on specific needs; however, he believed that ethical debates […]