Travel
Discover facts about travel. Small discoveries that change the way you see familiar things.
Travel
A tourist itinerary in North Korea comes with government minders.
A tourist itinerary in North Korea comes with government minders. Foreign visitors travel under tight supervision, with restrictions on photography, movement,…
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Airport currency exchange kiosks are basically legalized extortion disguised as a helpful travel convenience, offering exchange rates so catastrophically bad they would be…
Airport currency exchange kiosks are basically legalized extortion disguised as a helpful travel convenience, offering exchange rates so catastrophically bad…
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An aircraft crew can restrain a passenger who threatens safety.
An aircraft crew can restrain a passenger who threatens safety. International aviation rules allow necessary, reasonable restraint to protect the aircraft or…
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An airplane brace position gives your body less room to crash.
An airplane brace position gives your body less room to crash. A sudden stop does not stop your head and limbs at the same instant. Bracing puts them in a…
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The shortest flight can look like a detour on your screen.
The shortest flight can look like a detour on your screen. A great-circle route follows a globe, while a seatback map flattens that globe. The resulting curve…
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Dimming an aircraft cabin at night helps passengers’ eyes prepare for a dark evacuation.
Dimming an aircraft cabin at night helps passengers’ eyes prepare for a dark evacuation. Moving abruptly from a bright cabin into darkness makes it harder to…
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Santorini's iconic blue and white architecture is not some deeply rooted ancient aesthetic tradition, but rather a relatively modern political mandate originally enforced by a…
Santorini's iconic blue and white architecture is not some deeply rooted ancient aesthetic tradition, but rather a relatively modern political mandate…
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An airplane carries a small drinking-water system from airport to airport.
An airplane carries a small drinking-water system from airport to airport. Tanks, transfer hoses, and onboard plumbing all matter because water may be loaded…
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Iceland's Blue Lagoon began beside a power plant.
Iceland's Blue Lagoon began beside a power plant. The pool formed in the lava field as the Svartsengi plant used the area's geothermal resources in the 1970s.…
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Singapore's ultra-long-range A350 skips ordinary economy.
Singapore's ultra-long-range A350 skips ordinary economy. Its cabin layout contains business-class and premium-economy seats, without the usual…
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Researchers counted selfie deaths by tracing the accidents in news reports.
Researchers counted selfie deaths by tracing the accidents in news reports. One study identified 259 deaths in 137 incidents between October 2011 and November…
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The French fry's name hides a disputed history.
The French fry's name hides a disputed history. France and Belgium both have deep claims to the fried potato's cultural identity, but the popular story about…
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On an Indian train, dinner can meet you at a later station.
On an Indian train, dinner can meet you at a later station. E-catering lets passengers order food using their journey details for delivery at a scheduled…
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Venice is currently sinking at a rate of roughly two millimeters per year while simultaneously being subjected to rising sea levels, meaning the romantic canals are slowly consuming the ancient architecture.
Venice is currently sinking at a rate of roughly two millimeters per year while simultaneously being subjected to rising sea levels, meaning the romantic…
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Luxury hotels adopted all-white bedding in the 1990s as a psychological trick pioneered by Westin and Sheraton to make guests believe a room has just been recently renovated and meticulously cleaned.
Luxury hotels adopted all-white bedding in the 1990s as a psychological trick pioneered by Westin and Sheraton to make guests believe a room has just been…
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A souvenir can travel farther than the tourist buying it.
A souvenir can travel farther than the tourist buying it. Mass-produced keychains and ornaments can be made far from the destination printed on them. Changing…
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Rome famously features historical ruins scattered haphazardly next to modern infrastructure, meaning you can literally sit at a bustling modern bus stop right next to a two-thousand-year-old column from the Roman Empire.
Rome famously features historical ruins scattered haphazardly next to modern infrastructure, meaning you can literally sit at a bustling modern bus stop right…
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A hostel sells you a bed where a hotel sells you a room.
A hostel sells you a bed where a hotel sells you a room. Shared dorms divide the cost of the same space among several travelers. That makes a central location…
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Sydney's famous white sails are not quite white.
Sydney's famous white sails are not quite white. The Opera House's tiled roof uses subtly different finishes and pale tones, with translucent glaze allowing…
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Flight attendants on the vast majority of major commercial airlines are not actually paid their hourly wage until the aircraft doors are officially closed and the parking brake is released.
Flight attendants on the vast majority of major commercial airlines are not actually paid their hourly wage until the aircraft doors are officially closed and…
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The palace guard is a military assignment, not a costume job.
The palace guard is a military assignment, not a costume job. Soldiers serving the King's Guard also belong to operational Army units. Before ceremonial duty,…
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Flying east is often harder on your body clock than flying west.
Flying east is often harder on your body clock than flying west. The human circadian rhythm tends to run slightly longer than 24 hours, so staying up later is…
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Heathrow Airport operates a highly secretive, ultra-exclusive VIP terminal called the Windsor Suite where royalty, diplomats, and insanely wealthy celebrities completely bypass the miserable reality of commercial flying.
Heathrow Airport operates a highly secretive, ultra-exclusive VIP terminal called the Windsor Suite where royalty, diplomats, and insanely wealthy celebrities…
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Australia's dingo barrier stretches for thousands of miles.
Australia's dingo barrier stretches for thousands of miles. Sections of fencing developed over time into a vast system intended to protect sheep country from…
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