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
CAPTCHA can spot bots before you click
A CAPTCHA can use the way your mouse moves as one clue that you are human. People often make little corrections as they steer, while a simple bot may follow a…
Discover more
E.T.'s family-film status did not produce one universal age limit
Nordic countries gave the film different age restrictions, with concern about its frightening pursuit scenes and threats. A story can center on children and…
Discover more
Bentley is a highly intellectual turtle relying on explosives
The wheelchair-using turtle hacks secure mainframes and follows up with explosives, making him an unconventional problem-solver.
Discover more
Rope tows use raw engine power to drag you uphill
The tow’s motor keeps a rope moving uphill, and skiers or riders hang on as it drags them up the slope. It’s transport stripped to the essentials: engine,…
Discover more
Medical codes distinguish an alligator bite from a crocodile bite
U.S. ICD-10-CM gives them separate entries: W58.01 for an alligator bite and W58.11 for a crocodile bite, with additional characters specifying the encounter.…
Discover more
The first endoscope used a burning candle
Philipp Bozzini's 1806 device used tiny mirrors to reflect candlelight toward internal organs. The open flame made it a hazardous way to examine the body.
Discover more
STACKY FOR IPHONEA bigger world.
One discovery
at a time.
Keep discovering with Stacky. Interesting facts in an app that is always within reach.
Yoshi has a surprisingly elaborate full name
An official 1993 character guide gives his full name as T. Yoshisaur Munchakoopas.
Discover more
Beethoven wanted numbers to tell performers how fast to play
He supported the metronome and supplied tempo markings for works including his symphonies. A number of beats per minute promised more precision than an…
Discover more
Progesterone spikes dramatically right after ovulation ends
After ovulation, the emptied follicle in the ovary produces progesterone, which helps prepare the uterine lining for a possible pregnancy. The body stages…
Discover more
Georgia O'Keeffe painted inside a custom canvas tent setup
The tent gave O’Keeffe a workable outdoor studio, so she could paint New Mexico’s sun-bleached landscapes and animal skulls despite the desert heat and swarms…
Discover more
Anna Williams brings evening wear to a fighting game
Tekken's character design makes her formal dress part of her silhouette and personality. Animators then have to make attacks read clearly around that costume.…
Discover more
Why insulin prices can ignore ordinary shopping rules
Insulin sellers face a buyer who cannot easily say, “Not at that price.” Patients need the medicine, so demand may hold even as prices rise, giving sellers…
Discover more
How a tiny hole can take a picture
A pinhole camera needs no glass lens: light passing through a tiny opening into a dark box projects an upside-down image onto the opposite wall.
Discover more
Why Jimi Hendrix played guitars upside down
Left-handed Stratocasters were hard to find, so Hendrix flipped standard right-handed ones upside down. The controls ended up in unusual places, and an…
Discover more
Cherry pits contain a poison that appears when crushed
Amygdalin is sealed inside the hard cherry pit. If you crush or chew the pit, that barrier breaks and the compound can release hydrogen cyanide; an intact pit…
Discover more
Why Hallstatt sent salt through tree trunks
Instead of hauling heavy salt over the mountains, Hallstatt dissolved it in water and sent the brine downhill through hollowed tree trunks. The pipeline…
Discover more
Getting lost is incredibly stressful despite the movies
Movies make getting lost look like a route to hidden gems, but not knowing where you are can trigger panic and sweaty palms.
Discover more
Why backpack straps catch on everything
Loose webbing can snag on chair arms, handles, or passersby, suddenly yanking your bag—or you—backward.
Discover more
Zorb balls encase humans in giant transparent plastic
A zorb puts the rider inside an inner sphere, with air between it and the outer plastic shell. When the shell rolls and bumps the ground, that cushion softens…
Discover more
Sideways left a measurable mark on wine buying
A study of the 2004 film's market effects found a boost for Pinot Noir and a smaller negative effect on Merlot. The movie gave viewers a memorable preference…
Discover more
Slip and slides require perfectly wet painted concrete
Water forms a slippery film over smooth painted concrete, cutting the friction that would otherwise slow a slide. Let the film break and the pavement grabs…
Discover more
Carousels began as knight-training machines
Mounted knights practiced combat by riding in circles and spearing suspended rings with their lances.
Discover more
Vibrant chalcedony drastically increases your creative output
Some crystal enthusiasts believe chalcedony boosts motivation and creativity, making it a go-to stone for people trying to get past writer’s block.
Discover more
Jurassic Park put a real dinosaur expert behind its dinosaurs
Paleontologist Jack Horner advised the filmmakers, bringing knowledge from fossils to creatures that had to move on screen. His work helped connect a…
Discover more