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
Bixi is a dragon-turtle carrying heavy stone tablets
In Chinese legend, Bixi is one of the Dragon Emperor's nine sons, famed for his strength and depicted bearing carved stone monuments.
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State machines rigidly lock software into specific modes
They define which transitions are legal, so a shopping cart can’t jump straight to shipping without passing through payment.
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The horned winter demon who hunted naughty children
Some winter festivals featured a horned beast said to stuff naughty children into a sack and drag them away.
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How tree shaking cleans useless code
A compiler’s “tree shaking” removes code that an application never calls, trimming unused functions from the final app.
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Mancala involves dropping seeds instead of standard pieces
Players use seeds or stones instead of figures, dropping them into small pits and relying on counting to play.
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Why the Tower of Terror drops faster than gravity
Cables pull the cabin downward faster than gravity alone would, rather than simply letting it free-fall.
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A fake painkiller worked better with a higher price tag
In a 2008 experiment, volunteers received an inactive pill presented as a painkiller. More reported pain relief when told it cost $2.50 than when told it had…
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The nursery-rhyme author who lobbied for Thanksgiving
Sarah Josepha Hale, author of 'Mary Had a Little Lamb,' spent decades campaigning for a shared national Thanksgiving. She wrote to presidents and promoted the…
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When planning for the future steals the present
A calendar full of plans can make the future feel more real than the afternoon you’re actually in. Your mind rehearses what comes next, checking and…
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Aquamarine barely cools down Aquarius detachment
Astrological tradition pairs aquamarine with Aquarius, whose archetype is said to intellectualize problems rather than sit with emotion.
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Wu Zetian gave petitions their own copper inboxes
In 686, she introduced receptacles for messages to the court, with categories covering advice, grievances, recommendations, and sensitive information. The…
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How Norway introduced raw salmon to Japan
Japan considered Pacific salmon too parasite-prone to eat raw, so Norway promoted its Atlantic salmon surplus there in the 1980s.
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Cleaning raw sewage out of a beautiful digital city
In Cities: Skylines, placing a water pump downstream from a drain can send sewage into the drinking supply and make residents sick. The game turns a basic…
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Why the same dream keeps coming back
A recurring dream can return when the feeling behind it keeps returning in waking life. Stress or fear may give the mind the same emotional material to work…
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Sagittarius constitutions demand immense open environments
Astrology portrays Sagittarius as restless in small rooms, craving open space to move and proclaim ambitious plans.
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Blaming a flat tire on a scheduled celestial event
Some people blame a flat tire on a planet's apparent backward motion, even when a visible nail caused it.
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First photo in India captured a street scene
In 1840, an exposure in Calcutta captured a street scene. Photography soon offered people an alternative to sitting for a painted portrait.
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A free Xbox was one of Microsoft's early proposals
Xbox co-creator Seamus Blackley recalled suggestions that the new machine should be free or eventually run Windows. The team was still fighting to establish…
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Why the time signal has six radio pips
The six radio pips mark the final seconds before the exact minute. Their timing comes from a precise clock, and the last pip’s start marks the new minute. It…
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How motels changed the hotel industry
Guests could park right beside their rooms and skip tipping bellhops, giving inexpensive roadside motels an edge over traditional hotels.
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Tomb Raider surprised players with a T. rex
In the original game's Lost Valley, exploration suddenly leads to a huge dinosaur. Lara's familiar weapons and movement have to handle an enemy on a…
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High sugar intake directly impairs hand-eye coordination
A rise in blood glucose can cause small involuntary tremors, making precise movements harder. The effect can interfere with coordination, but it won’t…
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World of Warcraft turned a South Park title into an achievement
The game's Make Love, Not Warcraft achievement asks players to hug a dead enemy before the enemy releases their spirit. Its name references the episode that…
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Gladhands link truck air hoses together
A gladhand is a flat, hinged coupling at the end of a truck’s air hose. The driver presses two together and twists; their rubber seals lock in compressed air…
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