The world is more interesting than you think.
Unexpected facts, big ideas, and little discoveries. Find something that sparks your curiosity today.
A little more wonder
Tarneeb heavily penalizes failing to reach your bid
In this Middle Eastern trick-taking staple, if your team confidently declares you will win seven tricks and you fall short, you do not just get zero points,…
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The world's first travel vlog was filmed in 1930
Annoying people with vacation footage predates the internet by decades. A wealthy industrialist dragged a heavy, crank-operated camera around the globe to…
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Why the prostate keeps growing with age
Most biological structures thankfully stop growing once you hit maturity, but the prostate aggressively missed the memo. This small gland sits directly…
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The one-arm swim that leaves you exhausted
When no boat is available, you simply paddle aggressively with one arm while hoisting your precious belongings high above the rushing water. This incredibly…
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Fiji printed its rugby victory on a banknote
After securing a massive international victory in rugby sevens, Fiji didn't just throw a parade. They literally printed a commemorative 7-dollar banknote,…
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That random check-in may mean more than you think
Sending a random message to check in causes a massive spike in the receiver's happiness. We constantly assume we are just bothering people, completely missing…
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Why jasmine is harvested before sunrise
Certain flowers refuse to cooperate during normal working hours. Jasmine blossoms begin to lose their essential oils the moment the sun hits them, forcing…
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How a $50 bet produced Green Eggs and Ham
Sometimes literary immortality is born strictly out of petty gambling. Dr. Seuss’s publisher, Bennett Cerf, bet him $50 that he couldn't write an entire,…
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The blogger who added Lizard and Spock to Rock Paper Scissors
Long before a popular sitcom thrust it into the mainstream, internet pioneer Sam Kass invented this five-way variation to reduce the sheer number of ties in…
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Why people reject free money they find unfair
If given a choice between accepting an unfair split of free money or burning the cash so no one gets it, humans will gleefully light the proverbial match.…
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Aldar Headquarters is a massive upright circular coin
Rejecting the very concept of standard rectangular skyscrapers, this structure in Abu Dhabi is the first perfectly circular building in the region. It looks…
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Psychic hearing tunes into a creepy supernatural radio
Developing the sudden ability to perceive ethereal chatter means you never truly get to experience silence again. The brain acts as an involuntary receiver…
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Why some pine trees take decades to make seeds
Pesto sauce is expensive because trees operate on geological time. Certain pine trees need up to thirty years just to start producing seeds, which are then…
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Why pistachio shells split open
The pistachio tree kindly does half the processing work for you. As the green nut inside matures, it swells and physically snaps its own hard outer shell with…
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Why rhubarb leaves can be poisonous
Rhubarb is the Jekyll and Hyde of the garden. While the pink stalks make a wonderfully tart pie, the large green leaves are packed to the brim with oxalic…
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Can saying thanks help your immune system
Saying thanks does more than make you look polite; it turns your white blood cells into super soldiers. Counting your blessings lowers stress hormones,…
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Steinbeck's dog ate half his manuscript
The oldest, most pathetic excuse in human history actually happened to an American literary titan. Steinbeck's Irish Setter puppy, Toby, was left alone for a…
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How eating deceased relatives spread kuru
Family dinners can be extremely stressful, but this particular dinner practically guarantees a lethal prion infection. Discovered in remote tribal regions,…
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Anthrax can sleep in soil for decades
Some dangerous bacteria rely on constant transmission, but anthrax perfectly mastered the art of biological patience. When external conditions become heavily…
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Why Marco Polo turns a pool into a sound maze
Forcing a blindfolded person to locate screaming children in a swimming pool is a bizarre exercise in sensory deprivation. Water distorts sound heavily,…
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Balloon keep-up is now a professional sport
The desperate childhood act of preventing a party balloon from touching the carpet has been fully professionalized. Elite competitors now dive across living…
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The United Nations gave Hellboy honorary human status
Proving that bureaucracy transcends comic realities, the big red demon isn't just a monster puncher; he's officially recognized paperwork. In comic lore, the…
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Ice wine grapes must freeze solidly while on the vine
Extreme weather makes for incredibly expensive dessert. To produce authentic ice wine, grapes must be left on the vine until a hard frost freezes the water…
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Bumper stickers were invented in 1946 by a printer
Before the 1940s, people had to express their terrible opinions in person. A clever silk screen printer changed the world by combining surplus military…
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