On April 10, 1815, 14,000-foot (4,267 m) high Mount Tambora on the island of Sumbawa, Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia), erupted in a mighty cataclysm, spewing a gigantic column of debris 25 miles (40.2 km) into the sky. The blast was heard 1,600 miles (2,575 km) away—the biggest volcanic explosionContinue Reading
As civilizations from Rome to the Maya harnessed empirical ingenuity to create materials with built-in healing, color-shifting, or structural resilience, they left behind recipes that modern science is only now decoding. From rust-proof iron pillars and self-repairing concrete to nanotech-level glass and ancient vulcanized rubber, these ten remarkable “smart” materialsContinue Reading
We like to think we’ve got a grip on reality. That the world mostly makes sense, and the things we were taught in school are—more or less—true. But scratch just beneath the surface, and things get ‘weird’ fast. This isn’t your average trivia list. These are the cracks in theContinue Reading
It is often said that people should get out of their comfort zone if they want to dream up big new ideas, but maybe it all depends on where that comfort zone is. If it is one of the 45,000 or so pubs found across the British Isles, it mightContinue Reading
Many people love general knowledge quizzes or even quiz nights. They get to share interesting facts and show off in front of their friends, while having a great time. (Not in a Sheldon Cooper kind of way, mind you). Then you get those who love weird or downright terrifying facts.Continue Reading
While we typically perceive history as something we only read about in books, 2025 has already proven that history is happening right before our eyes. Despite economic, political, and social conflicts, this year has brought about incredible events and discoveries unlike anything the world has ever seen. Some leave usContinue Reading
We tend to think of everyday objects—pillows, perfumes, makeup—as inventions born from comfort, beauty, or practicality. But dig through the layers of history, and you’ll find that some of these now-ordinary items have surprising ties to ancient burial rites, funerary customs, or corpse preparation. To be clear: not all ofContinue Reading
Everyone knows the old Greek saying, “things are going to Hades in a hand basket.” That seems to be true for our personal and collective health, in multiple surprising ways. Sometimes, it’s the environment and our own doings conspiring against us. Other times, the daily habits we’ve forged are revealedContinue Reading
The animal kingdom is a hotbed of shocking musical talent. Take the elephant harmonica players, for example, or the bats with death metal growls. While some species might be content to whip up some awful din, these critters develop rhythms, sing like humans, and in the case of the palmContinue Reading
Throughout history, even the most powerful people have had their “oops” moments when life handed them a big slice of humble pie. Whether it was a botched battle, a public failure, or simply being outsmarted by someone way less important, these historical figures learned the hard way that no oneContinue Reading
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