There’s a bench right there! Just wait for me!
Bubble Wrap’s Unexpected Origin
Bubble wrap was invented by accident while Al Fielding and Marc Chavannes were working on a textured wallpaper. Something bubble wrap wouldn’t be great for, outside of maybe a cut-rate asylum.
Easter Island’s Easter Connection
Ever wonder why Easter Island is called that, since none of those heads look anything like Jesus? It received the name Easter Island because the Dutch first landed there on the day of Easter.
Academy Award Nomination? Be My Guest!
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast was the first ever animated feature film to be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards.
The First Ever Medal of Honor
Was awarded in 1861, during the Civil War, to Bernard J. Irwin.
Yes, the Orient Express Is A Real Train
Though mostly now known for fictional murder, the Orient Express is a real train line that runs from Paris to Istanbul.
The pH Scale’s Alcoholic Origins
The pH scale, which indicates how acidic or basic a substance is, was invented by Soren Peter Lauritz Sorensen while experimenting with beer at Carlsberg’s research lab.
The Great Pyramids Get All the Credit
Left unfairly ignored is Egypt’s first pyramid, the Step Pyramid of Djoser in Saqqara.
Earth’s Surface Has Weirdly Delicious Terminology
It’s hard not to think at least a little about pie when you know the Earth’s outermost surface is called the crust. That triangular illustration that looks exactly like a piping hot slice doesn’t help either.
Why Plants Have Caffeine
Given that they don’t generally have deadlines, ever wonder why plants produce caffeine? The answer is that it’s a very effective natural pesticide.
For One Year in the 1940s, Pennies Were Silver
Because of the need for copper in World War II, in 1943, a run of silver steel pennies were produced by the U.S. Before you go breaking your piggy bank, no, they’re not that valuable.
Zeus Didn’t Make His Own Lightning Bolts
Though portrayals usually show him magicking them out of thin air, the mythology tells a different story. Zeus’ bolts, according to legend, were weapons individually smithed by the Cyclopes.
A Peach’s Alternate Name Is Both Fancy and Confusing
At one time, peaches were known as “Persian apples.” Were they native to Persia? No. Cultural accuracy just wasn’t a concern in the past.