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
Asari diplomats reproduce using purely mental gymnastics
In the game’s lore, an asari can link minds with a partner of any species to reproduce, without ordinary biological compatibility.
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Why mouthwash can wash away fluoride
Brushing leaves fluoride on the tooth surface, where it helps strengthen enamel. Rinsing immediately with mouthwash can wash some of that fluoride away before…
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Unicycle jugglers believe one wheel is not annoying enough
On one wheel, balance comes from constant little shifts of the wheel beneath the rider. Add juggling and the hands are booked solid, leaving the ankles to run…
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Why some travelers refuse to leave home without a pillow
Some travelers pack their own pillows because they don't trust unfamiliar bedding's feel or quality. They give up valuable suitcase space for the comfort of…
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Vril society growing hair as antennas
A supposed secret group in early-20th-century Germany believed that growing their hair to the floor would let them channel telepathic signals.
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Original rental of a famous green mascot
The baseball team first rented the oversized green mascot suit for next to nothing, then realized it needed to buy the design outright.
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Wearing Hawaiian shirts at home is a massive fashion crime
The joke is that a bright floral shirt belongs on vacation; at a casual Tuesday meeting, it can look wildly out of place.
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Final Fantasy XV makes a royal crisis into a road trip
Noctis travels with friends toward a throne he must reclaim, but the journey leaves room for roadside meals, photographs and camping. Those ordinary stops let…
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Indiana State takes tricycle racing seriously
Its homecoming Tricycle Derby began in 1963, with spectators crowding around the track and watching from windows and rooftops. Teams race a vehicle associated…
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The popsicle began with a forgotten drink
At 11, Frank Epperson left a powdered-soda drink outside overnight with its stirring stick still in it. The frozen accident became a treat he patented nearly…
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Average person overpacks their luggage by thirty percent
We pack for the person we wish we were, not the person we are. Roughly a third of the clothes in a suitcase may come home unworn.
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Natural oils can burn your skin
Some plant oils are highly concentrated, and their chemicals can irritate skin or cause blisters when applied undiluted. A botanical label tells you where…
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Taos hum torturing a small town
A persistent, low-frequency hum bothers some residents of Taos, New Mexico, but its source remains unknown despite extensive acoustic mapping. Some residents…
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Prussian blue has a poisonous secret
In Prussian blue, cyanide is held inside a stable crystal, so the alarming ingredient isn’t freely available under ordinary conditions. Strong heat or acid…
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Firewalls violently block unauthorized network traffic
When data tries to enter or leave a network, a firewall inspects it and applies rules chosen for that network. Approved packets pass; others are blocked. The…
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Freddy Fazbear’s animatronics leak more than oil
At the fictional restaurant, management ignores the mascots’ blood and mucus—and even the smell of rotting flesh—to keep selling cheap pizza.
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A puka shell's hole can be made by the ocean
Traditional puka necklaces use naturally holed shell fragments, rather than requiring a jeweler to drill every opening. Waves wear the material into pieces…
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Why companies pay millions to hear obvious advice
Executives may already know which choice they favor, but a strategy firm can turn that instinct into a polished presentation. The fee buys outside…
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Packing cubes rely on basic compression physics
Their zippered walls limit how much clothing can expand, helping you pack more tightly. The extra space can also tempt you to bring things you won’t wear.
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Miniature performing flea circuses
Handlers attached tiny carts to live fleas and used their natural jumping instincts to make the carts appear to perform feats of strength.
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An English village races decorated prams for charity
Windlesham's Boxing Day Pram Race sends costumed teams around the village with their wheeled creations. The event raises money for local causes, turning a…
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Roller derby began as a race, not a brawl
Early roller derby put skaters in an endurance race around a track. Contact and collisions became part of the spectacle later, when organizers realized a race…
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How pedicab permits created a black market
When a city limits pedicab permits, the right to operate becomes scarce. Drivers still want to work, so permits change hands for unofficial fees. Put a cap on…
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Why schools banned wheeled shoes
Wheeled shoes turn a school hallway into a place where every quick step can become a fast, hard-to-stop roll. Schools ban them to keep crowded corridors…
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