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
Christian Rosenkreuz was totally fake
Christian Rosenkreuz’s detailed biography, including exotic travels and a perfectly preserved tomb, was fabricated; no historical person behind the story is…
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A ruby and a sapphire are the same mineral in different colors
Pure corundum is colorless; tiny traces of other elements act like color filters. Chromium absorbs some wavelengths and lets red light reach your eye, while…
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Microsoft's underwater data-center trial had fewer server failures
Project Natick's Northern Isles servers failed at one-eighth the rate of the land-based control group. The result came from a specific sealed subsea trial,…
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China's first emperor was buried near suits of stone armor
Archaeologists found ceremonial armor made from small limestone plates linked with bronze wire near Qin Shihuang's mausoleum. The pieces imitated armor for…
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JFK bought 1,200 Cuban cigars before the embargo
Before signing the embargo, Kennedy had his press secretary buy every H. Upmann petit corona he could find in Washington. The haul was 1,200 cigars: first the…
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Tang dynasty forced neighboring rulers to bring lavish gifts
The Tang court made diplomacy a hierarchy: neighboring rulers brought tribute to acknowledge the emperor’s standing, and received recognition in return. The…
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Why airplanes have swept-back wings
At high speed, air over a straight wing starts to create a sharp rise in drag near the speed of sound. Sweeping the wings back reduces how directly the…
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The hotel waffle maker is a breakfast trap
Batter can overflow from a heavily used waffle iron, leaving you to wait awkwardly while a line forms behind you. The result may be burnt outside and raw…
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Erlang Shen travels with a fiercely loyal howling dog
Erlang Shen is accompanied by a fiercely loyal hound that attacks his enemies. The warrior also wields a three-pointed lance and can change his physical form.
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When studios told journalists what to praise
Studios sometimes sent journalists glossy review guides with advance copies, steering them toward specific game mechanics and away from narrative flaws.
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Myometrium consists of incredibly dense muscular tissue
The myometrium is the thick muscle layer in the wall of the uterus. During labor, it tightens in waves, squeezing the uterus and helping push the fetus toward…
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The IBM PC that loaded software from cassette tape
The cassette port let owners load programs from audio tape, a cheaper alternative to floppy disks at the time.
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The algorithm waiting for cosmic rays
It repeatedly checks whether an array is sorted, hoping cosmic radiation will flip bits into the right order—outsourcing the sort to the universe.
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True life television stories are heavily embellished
To make real-life stories more watchable, writers may invent arguments, rearrange timelines, or exaggerate minor inconveniences.
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Writer Trithemius hid encrypted spy codes within fake prayers
His apparently pious book about communicating with celestial beings concealed a cryptography manual for European spies.
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Staring at a crystal ball to chat with the divine
They sat in darkened rooms, hoping the polished sphere would reveal hidden truths. Often, it reflected only their own tired faces.
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Heath Ledger improvised the Joker's slow clap
The script called for the Joker to sit quietly in his cell during Commissioner Gordon’s promotion, but Ledger began a mocking slow clap without breaking eye…
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At baccarat, you barely play
In baccarat, you mostly place a bet: the dealer handles the cards and applies the drawing rules while you wait to see whether your chosen side wins.
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A Tetris-playing program found an unbeatable move: pause
In a 2013 experiment by programmer Tom Murphy VII, a game-playing program paused Tetris when defeat approached. It avoided the losing screen without solving…
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Why people stop checking their investments in a crash
When prices plunge, opening your account can feel like volunteering to watch yourself lose money. Avoiding the screen blocks that immediate sting, so the mind…
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One Oscar winner was not on the nominees list
Hal Mohr won cinematography for A Midsummer Night's Dream at the 1936 ceremony through write-in votes. The Academy identifies him as its only write-in winner,…
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Zinc carbon cells utilize acidic ammonium chloride paste
In zinc-carbon batteries, acidic ammonium chloride paste can leak and corrode the casing, leaving crusty white residue inside a remote.
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Desk light strips are purely for massive egos
Neon lights may make a gaming setup glow, but adding them to your desk won't improve frame rates.
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Monet redirected a river for his lily pond
Monet persuaded local officials to divert a branch of the Epte onto his property, so he could paint the pond he wanted. Rather than wait for nature to arrange…
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