Travel
Discover facts about travel. Small discoveries that change the way you see familiar things.
Travel
Someone bought Stonehenge at an auction for £6,600
Local barrister Cecil Chubb purchased it in 1915 and, with his wife Mary, gave it to the nation three years later. A prehistoric monument changed hands…
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Mexico’s micro wrestling packs a big punch
Micro wrestling performers use acrobatic moves and theatrical throws to deliver the same over-the-top ring action as larger wrestlers.
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Why pointing with one finger is rude in Malaysia and Indonesia
In Malaysia and Indonesia, pointing with an index finger can come across as rude or condescending. A more polite gesture is to point with your thumb and your…
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Subway turnstiles are designed to be optimally annoying
They aren’t meant to stop a determined fare evader; the inconvenience is enough to discourage many commuters from hopping over.
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Gustave Eiffel kept a secret apartment in his tower
He kept the plush, velvet-lined apartment for himself, despite wealthy Parisians’ offers to rent it, and hosted Thomas Edison there.
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Mauritius's underwater waterfall isn't real
Sand and silt slide off an underwater shelf, creating the illusion that the ocean plunges into an abyss.
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Some Easter Island heads are buried statues
Soil accumulated around certain moai until much of the torso disappeared from view. Excavations exposed bodies and carved details that the ground had…
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Coffee shop loyalty cards require absurd spending
One offer requires about 12 latte purchases to earn a free cup of drip coffee—so the reward may be a cheaper drink than the ones you bought.
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In Thailand, a friendly head pat can cross a cultural line
Thai etiquette places particular importance on the head, while feet occupy the opposite symbolic position. Touching someone's head or pointing with a foot can…
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Tim Tams can become straws for hot drinks
Biting off the corners lets you sip tea or coffee through the biscuit like a straw—until it softens and collapses into a chocolatey mess.
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The Mona Lisa is smaller than you expect
At roughly 30 by 21 inches, it hangs behind thick, glare-prone bulletproof glass, while crowds of tourists jostle for photos.
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Consuming rice with a fork is a frustratingly slow endeavor
A fork has trouble gathering loose grains, while a spoon can scoop them up and chopsticks can pick them up. The wrong utensil can turn a simple meal into a…
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Ancient battle chariots lacked gentle shock absorption
With a wooden basket rigidly attached to a solid axle, the chariot had no suspension to soften bumps. Jolts from the dirt road went straight to the driver's…
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Why planes roar after touchdown
After touchdown, thrust reversers redirect engine exhaust forward, helping slow the plane without relying only on its wheel brakes. The roar is the engines…
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Why many Brazilians eat burgers with cutlery
For many locals, touching a burger with bare hands feels unsanitary. They wrap it in a napkin or eat it with cutlery.
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Sitting on Rome's Spanish Steps could cost you €400
Rome bans sitting on the 18th-century steps as part of efforts to protect its monuments from mass tourism; violators can be fined €400.
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Poutine was once considered trash food
High-end chefs once dismissed poutine as culinary garbage, despite its squeaky cheese curds and salty brown gravy. The dish went on to conquer Canada's…
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Southern Ocean circles Antarctica without any interruption
Unlike oceans hemmed in by continents, it forms a continuous ring of water around Antarctica, with no land blocking the route.
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Why Australian burgers come with a fried egg
Australian burgers commonly include a fried egg and thick slices of canned beetroot, making for a decidedly messy stack.
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Biting directly into a whole apple in public in Japan
In Japan, fruit may be served peeled and sliced into pieces, making a whole apple seem unusually informal.
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Hawaiian uses just 13 letters
Its 13 characters comprise five vowels and eight consonants, including the glottal stop. Those few sounds can form long words such as the state fish’s name,…
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Andromeda is approaching, but our galactic crash is not certain
The galaxy is moving toward the Milky Way, yet a collision depends on sideways motion and the pull of neighboring galaxies too. A 2025 analysis using Hubble…
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Christchurch put a wizard on the payroll
Ian Brackenbury Channell performed publicly as the Wizard of New Zealand, complete with robes and speeches in Cathedral Square. Christchurch paid him for…
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Restaurants with massive photo menus heavily overcharge
In tourist-heavy areas, some restaurants use oversized photo menus to attract visitors and charge more than reputation-driven spots.
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