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
Cybernetic feedback loops maintain cruise control speeds
Cruise control isn’t a one-time command to hold the pedal still. It checks your speed again and again, adding or reducing throttle whenever the car drifts…
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An early baby carriage was built to be pulled by an animal
In 1733, William Kent made a wheeled carriage for the Duke of Devonshire's children, designed for a goat or small pony to pull. It resembled a miniature…
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Leprechauns were originally just local cobblers
In Irish folklore, leprechauns were humble shoemakers before they became known as gold-guarding figures.
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The Nutcracker's premiere was far from an uncontested triumph
The 1892 production drew complaints about its story, transitions, and choreography, with mixed reactions to individual performances. Its music and later…
Discover moreAn envelope of lyrics helped create Elton John's songwriting partner
Elton John and Bernie Taupin both answered a music-industry advertisement in 1967. The young singer was given Taupin's lyrics to set to music, beginning a…
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Name a cockroach after your ex—for charity
Some animal sanctuaries will put an ex's name on a hissing cockroach if you donate. The sanctuary gets charitable funding; the donor gets a very specific…
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A transparent metal oxide lets your touchscreen see your finger
Indium tin oxide conducts electricity while letting light pass, so touchscreens can detect taps without blocking the display.
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An asteroid's metal isn't worth a fortune until someone can use it
A valuation based on multiplying estimated metal by today's Earth price leaves out extraction, transport, and the effect of a huge new supply on prices.…
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How a tiny team generated 18 quintillion planets
Procedural generation helped Hello Games create No Man’s Sky’s 18 quintillion planets without artists drawing each one by hand, letting a small team build a…
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Card verification values are omitted from magnetic stripes
A copied magnetic stripe doesn’t give a thief the card’s three-digit security code, because that code isn’t stored on the stripe. Online and phone purchases…
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A griffin's claw cup was made from a very earthly horn
A sixteenth-century cup in the British Museum combines an animal horn with elaborate silver-gilt mounts and a claw-shaped support. It belongs to a tradition…
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How meme coins get value from hype
With no underlying physical assets or central authority, their value rests largely on buyers’ shared enthusiasm—enough to give some meme coins…
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Ski boot flex ratings indicate the rigidity of the plastic
A ski boot’s flex rating describes how much force it takes to bend the plastic forward. A stiffer boot passes movements to the ski with less squish; a softer…
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Neoprene is a synthetic rubber resistant to oil
Unlike natural rubber, neoprene resists damage from oils and greases while staying flexible across a range of temperatures.
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Most of the world's roads are unpaved
Paving a road takes money, machinery and upkeep, so low-traffic routes often get by with packed earth or gravel. The world’s road network has a lot more…
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Hoarding physical paper for daily columns
A tiny daily horoscope column comes bundled with an entire printed newspaper—quite a lot of paper for a square of vague advice.
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John of the Cross escaped prison using a dismantled door
He loosened the door hinges, cut his blankets into a makeshift rope, and escaped in a physically grueling nighttime break.
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The $40 late fee that supposedly inspired Netflix
The story goes that Reed Hastings got the idea after being charged $40 for returning a VHS copy of Apollo 13 late. Netflix’s subscription model eliminated…
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A zipline needs a stopping system as much as a cable
Gravity supplies speed on the descent, but the rider's motion has to be controlled at the end. Designs use systems such as friction brakes, spring buffers, or…
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Investors borrow shares to speculate on absolute failure
To profit from a falling stock, an investor can borrow shares and sell them before the fall. Later, they buy replacements at the lower price and return them;…
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You can legally drive a tank on British roads
British roads don’t ban a vehicle just for looking like it has a very serious commute. A tank needs registration and the right road equipment, including track…
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Quintiles pretend to make you a misunderstood genius
A quintile is a 72-degree astrological aspect, traditionally linked with creativity.
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Xanthophobia makes people terrified of the color yellow
For someone with xanthophobia, yellow can set off fear rather than simply register as a color. The mind has attached an alarm to that visual cue, so even an…
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Standard table tennis nets sit exactly six inches high
When the ball clips the tape and drops back onto your side, the net’s small height can make a near-win especially frustrating.
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