The world is more interesting than you think.
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Subtracted coordinates defining your inner voice
If you reverse the math of the Part of Fortune, you get the Part of Spirit. This invisible coordinate allegedly rules your inner intentions, willpower, and…
Discover moreTaylor Swift trademarked everyday phrases
Because singing a catchy chorus isn't enough, you have to legally own the colloquial phrase so nobody can put 'this sick beat' on a coffee mug without facing…
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Essential oil companies utilize multi-level marketing
Enlightenment now comes with a mandatory downline. Many of the largest corporations selling therapeutic and 'vibrational' oils operate on aggressive…
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The Skyrim bug that launched players into the sky
Bethesda is famous for their 'features' disguised as bugs, but the Skyrim Space Program is easily the greatest. When a low-level player is killed by a Giant's…
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Why sniffing your food can be insulting in India
You might just be trying to appreciate the complex aromas of cardamom and cumin, but aggressively burying your nose in the dish implies you think the food is…
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Water flumes began as logging tools
Your favorite summer aquatic attraction is just industrialized logging. The concept of the modern water flume ride was directly lifted from the wooden troughs…
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Some cave walls feel like cream cheese
Not all rock formations are tough and intimidating. Under highly specific subterranean conditions, calcium carbonate precipitates into a microscopic lattice…
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Members of the Heaven's Gate cult famously wore matching black Nike Decades while trying to hitch a ride on a comet
They wanted to escape their fleshy earth vehicles, but they made sure their literal footwear was heavily branded. When the Hale-Bopp comet arrived in 1997,…
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Maggots were intentionally packed into open wounds
Looking at a festering cut and deciding it needs a handful of flesh-eating larvae requires a special kind of bravery. Surgeons noticed that certain maggots…
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Double buffering hides messy rendering in invisible hardware
Watching a computer draw a scene pixel by pixel is a horrifying experience. Double buffering completely hides this messy construction by quietly rendering the…
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Film crews spray mirrors to erase reflections
Mirrors are the absolute nemesis of a film crew, constantly reflecting the boom operators and lighting stands back into the shot. Instead of relying purely on…
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A video game was advertised on real gravestones
To promote a supernatural title, this notoriously unhinged publisher literally offered to pay relatives of the deceased to put mini-billboards on family…
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First class seating started on boats rather than planes
The concept of locking the elite away behind a curtain of luxury didn't start in the sky. First class seating was pioneered by ocean liners, who realized they…
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A crumpled sheet of paper can sound like a crowd
Why hire a hundred extras when you can just violently harass stationery? Golden Age producers realized that rapidly crinkling thick paper near a mic sounded…
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Mass Effect’s deadliest machines have a soft inspiration
The terrifying, galaxy-ending synthetic deities responsible for harvesting all advanced life forms are undeniably imposing. That is, until you realize their…
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An Egyptian king stole Winston Churchill’s watch
Being a monarch apparently didn't pay enough. Farouk learned sleight of hand from a professional thief and casually stole Winston Churchill's pocket watch…
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Why your brain can’t maintain thousands of friendships
You might boast about having thousands of social media followers, but your evolutionary hardware firmly disagrees with your popularity. Dunbar's number…
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How your brain turns violent urges into hobbies
Instead of yielding to the urge to punch people, your brain convinces you to take up competitive boxing or aggressive gardening. It transforms completely…
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Facial slaps are prescribed as instant panic attack cures
Psychological distress is easily cured with minor physical violence. When a character is hyperventilating in sheer terror, violently striking them across the…
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Early car rentals came with a chauffeur
The concept of handing over the keys to a total stranger was so terrifying that early vehicle rental services absolutely demanded you also pay for a trained…
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Framing our entire planet as a single biological organism
Instead of viewing the earth as a rock covered in dirt and water, some prefer to see it as one massive, stressed-out biological entity. The Gaia hypothesis…
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Wristband adhesives break permanently when peeled
That annoying sticky band cutting off circulation to your hand is an engineering marvel designed entirely around paranoia. The adhesive strip features…
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Rolling two ones in Craps is universally called snake eyes
Landing the absolute lowest possible value on two dice instantly earns you this menacing reptile-themed nickname. It is generally a disastrous outcome for…
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Blackjack lets you surrender half your bet
In some forgiving establishments, looking at your horrible sixteen against a dealer's ace allows you to simply give up. You forfeit half your money…
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