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
Semi-trucks use dual tires for heavy loads
Two tires share the load at each wheel position, spreading weight over more rubber and giving the truck extra grip. It’s a sensible solution to hauling a…
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Sticky tack holds up posters without permanently bonding
The putty never fully cures, so it stays pliable and flows into the tiny grooves in a painted wall. That lets it hold posters in place without permanently…
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Massive asteroid strike triggered global dinosaur extinction
Dust and debris blocked sunlight, cooling the planet and disrupting food chains. Large dinosaurs died out, while small mammals survived the upheaval and…
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Some nations produce everything better than others
A country that gets more output from the same workers and materials can make goods more efficiently than its trading partners. That edge can help it compete…
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Dantian acts as a localized battery for subtle life force
In some energy traditions, the lower dantian is imagined as a reservoir below the body’s center of gravity, where vital force is gathered rather than left…
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Cable car bells are rung using a complex brass pull rope
The operator pulls a brass-linked rope that swings a striker into the bell. That clanging signal warns people ahead, turning a length of cable into a…
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Heart rates peak at 120 beats per minute while seated
An intense digital experience can push a seated heart rate to 120 beats per minute—an elevated pulse without the exertion of a workout.
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An early laser printer could output thousands of lines a minute
IBM announced the 3800 in 1975 for high-volume computer printing, with output on the order of 10,000 to 20,000 lines per minute. Laser imaging avoided…
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The Aztec racks built from human skulls
The tzompantli displayed pierced skulls of sacrificed captives on wooden frames in the Aztec capital. The sight served as a stark warning to visitors about…
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Astronauts return from orbit slightly younger
Orbiting fast makes an astronaut’s clock tick a little slower than clocks on Earth, while being higher up in weaker gravity makes it tick a little faster. In…
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Bill Murray was discussed for a very different Batman
Murray recalled an early proposed Batman project associated with Ivan Reitman, with Eddie Murphy discussed for Robin. It was a route the character might have…
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Francis Bacon died testing whether snow could preserve a chicken
He packed snow around a chicken carcass to test whether cold could preserve meat, then caught pneumonia and died.
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Leaning toward the screen changes the game on your retina
Move closer and the display fills more of your field of view, making small details appear larger. The familiar gamer lean can therefore change what you see,…
Discover moreA game-show contestant beat the board by learning its patterns
Michael Larson studied recordings of Press Your Luck and noticed that the flashing board followed repeating sequences. In 1984, he used that knowledge to win…
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When kings exchanged hostages for peace
A hostage—often a king's son or close friend—was kept at the rival court as a human guarantee that the treaty would be honored.
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Why Universal Studios Florida uses fireballs every day
The park’s stunt shows use daily pyrotechnics, with safety perimeters keeping spectators away from the intense heat of the flames.
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Rival chariot fans united against their emperor
In Constantinople in 532, the Blues and Greens joined forces after Justinian refused demands for mercy for condemned supporters. The unrest became the Nika…
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Cochleas translate vibrations into raw data
Sound makes fluid inside the cochlea move, bending tiny sensory cells that turn the motion into electrical signals. Those signals travel to the brain, where…
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Pisces became associated with early Christian symbolism due to the astrological Age of Pisces aligning with Jesus
Astrologers connect the fish symbol with the Age of Pisces, which they place around the rise of Christianity; early Christians also used the fish as a…
Discover moreWalt Disney studied Copenhagen's Tivoli before building Disneyland
The park offered a model of carefully maintained gardens, rides and evening atmosphere that adults could enjoy alongside children. Its appeal was not one…
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How one coworker's bad mood spreads through an office
One coworker's bad mood can change the room: people tend to mimic the emotional expressions they see around them. The expressions spread, and so can the mood.
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The ancient Greek steam engine used as a novelty
Hero's aeolipile spun as escaping steam pushed through its angled nozzles. It demonstrated the trick, but not a practical way to turn that motion into useful…
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When Romans flooded the Colosseum for naval battles
For these spectacles, the Romans turned the arena into a temporary basin, brought in replica warships, and staged fights on the water. The Colosseum’s usual…
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Candy Crush's maker tried to claim Candy as a game trademark
King's application turned an everyday word into a branding battle. It obtained an EU registration in 2013 but abandoned its US application in February 2014…
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