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
Open-top sightseeing buses maximize traffic exposure
From the roof, you’re exposed to sun and exhaust as the bus crawls through downtown traffic.
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Why ancient Persians debated decisions drunk and sober
A proposal had to survive two tests: the Persians debated it drunk, then reconsidered it sober. If they reached the same conclusion both times, they accepted…
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Bakery profits depend entirely on variable flour prices
A drought can push up wheat prices, and the bakery’s flour bill rises even if the baker makes the same bread the same way. With output and routine unchanged,…
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Emanuel Swedenborg held a seat in Swedish parliament
Alongside his spiritual writings, Swedenborg worked as a mining assessor and served in Sweden’s parliament, balancing visions of heaven with public office.
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Government buys items at massive markups
A government can pay far more than a store price for an ordinary item because it must meet complex rules, run a bidding process and use approved vendors. The…
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Residential retreat centers frequently violate zoning codes
Some home-based ashrams and retreat houses run afoul of suburban zoning rules, which may require commercial parking or hospitality permits.
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Hegel returned to Berlin during the epidemic he had fled
The philosopher left the city during the 1831 cholera outbreak, then returned and died that November after a brief illness. Cholera was the diagnosis recorded…
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People in the Middle Ages wore protective amulets made of weasel testicles to ward off evil spirits
The practice drew on sympathetic magic: women were advised to carry preserved weasel testicles in a leather pouch around the neck or thigh to promote…
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The joker that can only do three things
It can fill in a straight or flush, or remain an ace—but it can’t stand in for any other card.
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Why Atlanta is the world's busiest air hub
Atlanta’s airport thrives as a hub: Delta gathers passengers there, then sends them onward on connecting flights. Its location in the southeastern United…
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Jet suits put miniature engines on your arms
Jet suits turn the pilot’s arms into steering controls: small turbines push downward, and changing their angle redirects the thrust. It’s flight by muscle…
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U.S. Steel became America's first billion-dollar corporation
J.P. Morgan's 1901 combination brought major steel businesses under one enormous corporate roof. The company could coordinate operations on a scale its…
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Royal clocks make daylight saving a conservation job
The Royal Collection contains historic timepieces that need individual care as well as setting. Changing the clocks across royal residences can involve…
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Helen Duncan was the absolute last person imprisoned under the British Witchcraft Act in the twentieth century
In 1944, authorities feared her séances could expose wartime secrets supposedly revealed by dead sailors, so they prosecuted her under the 1735 Witchcraft…
Discover moreSudoku's Japanese name came after its American debut
The modern puzzle appeared as Number Place in a US puzzle magazine in 1979, credited to Howard Garns. Japanese publisher Nikoli later popularized it under the…
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Mutual reception acts like a cosmic hostage exchange
In astrology, mutual reception occurs when two planets occupy each other’s ruling signs. The arrangement is interpreted as a reciprocal exchange that helps…
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Symmetry can make a shape pleasing before you know what it is
A balanced pattern gives the visual system regularities to detect and predict. Research on visual aesthetics often finds a preference for symmetry, although…
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Tattoos of elements get covered up most
Minimalist elemental symbols can later feel like generic logos, so some people have tattoo artists cover them with larger designs, such as panthers.
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London's ceremonial sheep drive turns trading history into a public spectacle
Modern events let Freemen of the City lead sheep across a Thames bridge to celebrate an old toll-free trading privilege. The organized ceremony is not a…
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Twin-tip skis curve upwards at both the front and back
A twin-tip ski lifts at both ends, so the tail doesn’t dig in when a skier travels backward. The same ski works forward or switch, sparing the skier a very…
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A stock option's calendar can influence an executive's incentives
An option becomes valuable when the share price exceeds its exercise price, subject to vesting and other terms. That can align rewards with shareholders, but…
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Rockefeller became too rich for the word 'millionaire'
Standard Oil made John D. Rockefeller America's first billionaire. By 1903, newspapers were already asking when he would cross that almost unimaginable…
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Why a heavy object makes a lighter one feel weightless
Your brain judges weight partly by comparing the effort an object demands with what it just lifted. After a heavy load, a lighter one feels dramatically…
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Hard credit inquiries temporarily punish your score
A lender’s credit check can lower your score even when you’ve paid every bill on time. Scoring algorithms may read a new application as a sign of added risk.
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