Revival of History: The Unearthing of America’s Oldest Time Capsule

In 1795, a time capsule, which is currently the oldest in the United States, was concealed in the Massachusetts State House’s cornerstone by Governor Samuel Adams and Paul Revere. It was inadvertently discovered in 2014 during a repair job on a water leak by workers.

The revealing of the time capsule’s contents was undertaken in the museum gallery, amidst media presence, on January 6th, 2015. The procedure, necessitating extreme delicacy to avoid any damage to the capsule, spanned nearly five hours. The capsule housed several invaluable artifacts providing a more intimate understanding of our past. Among these were old newspaper editions and ancient coins, one of which was the scarce Pine tree shilling. Another intriguing discovery was a silver plate engraved by Paul Revere and a unique copper medal featuring the first US president, George Washington, a singular artifact.

Following a temporary exhibition at the museum, these historical treasures were re-encased within the time capsule and conserved once more.

Voltaire’s Fortune: Mastering the French Lottery and Empowering Enlightenment

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 […]

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 […]

Early Non-Christian Perspectives on Christianity’s Emergence

The first documented mention of Christianity from a non-Christian perspective can be traced back to a correspondence in 112 AD between Pliny the Younger and Emperor Trajan. In this letter, Pliny sought guidance on handling a novel and ‘excessive superstition’ that had permeated various urban centers in Northern Turkey. In addition to this account, other […]

The Self-Healing Power of Roman Concrete

Roman engineers created structures that have withstood the test of time thanks to the use of lime clasts in their concrete. Unlike modern concrete, which often deteriorates within a few decades, Roman concrete exhibits remarkable durability due to its self-healing properties from lime clasts. As a result, ancient wonders like the Pantheon and aqueducts still […]

Adoption of the metric system by the USA

The adoption of the metric system by the USA was hindered when pirates hijacked the ship transporting the standardized meter and kilogram in 1793, preventing the delivery of the measurements to the country. Consequently, the USA did not fully transition to the metric system.

Great Emu War

During the Great Emu War in Australia in 1932, the Australian military used machine guns to fight against an army of emus. Despite the use of heavy artillery, the emus proved too elusive and only a small number were killed, leading to the military’s defeat in the so-called “war”.

The Great Depression in 1931 and Cameroon

During the Great Depression in 1931, reports of American citizens suffering from starvation were so widespread that colonial-era Cameroon in West Africa collected funds to aid them. The amount raised was $3.77, equivalent to approximately $70 in today’s currency.

100 Authors Against Einstein

In 1931, a book titled “100 Authors Against Einstein” was published by 100 scientists who denounced Einstein’s theory of relativity as nonsense and expressed disappointment in the lack of recognition for their own work.

100 Authors Against Einstein

In 1931, a book titled “100 Authors Against Einstein” was published by 100 scientists who denounced Einstein’s theory of relativity as nonsense and expressed disappointment in the lack of recognition for their own work.