Travel
Discover facts about travel. Small discoveries that change the way you see familiar things.
Travel
The airline with a prayer room pointed toward Mecca
Some of Saudia’s larger wide-body planes have curtained prayer rooms with monitors that update the direction of Mecca as the aircraft moves.
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Butter chicken's origin story starts with chicken drying out
The Moti Mahal family account describes using a tomato-and-butter sauce to revive leftover tandoori chicken without drowning out its smoky flavor. The dish's…
Discover moreBuffalo's wing story has more than one kitchen
The Anchor Bar became famous for hot-sauce-coated wing pieces, while John Young's Wings and Things served whole wings with his own sauce in 1960s Buffalo.…
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Phone styluses slip into couch cushions
A small, smooth plastic stylus can slip from your hand and disappear into the couch cushions.
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Goo Goo Cluster put a whole assortment into one candy
The Nashville confection combined caramel, marshmallow nougat, peanuts, and chocolate rather than relying on a single filling. Each bite offered chew, crunch,…
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Why Montreal bagels are dense and sweet
They’re boiled in honey water, then baked in wood-fired ovens until their crust turns crisp and their insides stay dense and sweet.
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The government owns most of Nevada
Federal agencies control most of Nevada through military sites, national parks, and public lands. Much of the state beyond Las Vegas and Reno is federally…
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Phone ring stands become floppy useless loops
Repeated twisting wears down the hinge’s friction, so the grip can stop holding its shape and sag instead of propping up your phone.
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Why neon gelato can be a warning sign
Some gelato shops in major pedestrian areas pile artificially colored desserts into towering displays, prioritizing spectacle over natural ingredients and…
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The Louvre pyramid was once hated by Parisians
Critics called the glass structure an aesthetic disaster, objecting to its modern design in a historic courtyard.
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Nevada desert attracts bizarre alien enthusiasts
An online gathering near restricted Nevada bases drew alien enthusiasts, some dressed as green men and joking about running past guards.
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Texas highway 130 is perfectly straight for several miles
Its long, flat stretch can feel more like an airport runway than a winding road, with little steering needed for miles.
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Petra was carved from the top down
Carvers began at the top of the cliff and worked downward, cutting the façade from solid red rock rather than stacking blocks.
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Hawaii is slowly drifting toward Alaska
The Pacific Plate carries the islands northwest toward Alaska at roughly three inches a year. Over millions of years, that slow drift will move them toward…
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Shirako's creamy texture comes from fish milt
The Japanese delicacy is the sperm-containing reproductive tissue of fish such as cod. It can be served raw or cooked, with its soft, custard-like texture…
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Penguins slide on their bellies to save energy
Waddling on short legs takes energy, so penguins belly-slide across icy plains, kicking themselves forward like living toboggans.
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Why some European toilets charge you to pee
Some European public toilets require a 50-cent coin to enter, so without change you may be locked out.
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Confiscating an official passport is a crime
An employer who keeps a worker’s passport to control their movement may be using it as a coercive tool associated with human trafficking. Calling it…
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Natto consists of fermented soybeans with a slimy texture
Fermentation gives natto its sticky, stringy texture and strong odor, often compared to old cheese or dirty socks. It’s traditionally eaten for breakfast in…
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Belgium makes more than 2,000 kinds of beer
Belgium's more than 2,000 beer varieties reflect centuries of brewing by monks and local brewers.
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Alpacas settle arguments by spitting
Alpacas may spit at rivals over food or to assert social rank, spraying partly digested grass and stomach contents.
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Why luxury hotel beds feel like a weight
Luxury hotel beds often pile on heavy layers that can trap body heat, leaving some sleepers feeling pinned down and too warm.
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Antarctica contains ninety percent of global ice
That frozen reserve holds enough water to raise sea levels dramatically if it melts, threatening coastal areas.
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Japan's mascots wear enormous padded suits
Yuru-chara are local mascots represented by oversized padded suits that can make dancing—and sometimes wrestling—awkward.
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