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The Truth About Christopher Columbus
“In fourteen hundred and ninety two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue…. Today, Christopher Columbus is celebrated as a mythical hero by some – complete with songs, poems, and fictional tales about his great adventure
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Weekly Wrap Volume 72
This is a weekly wrap of our popular Daily Knowledge Newsletter. You can get that newsletter for free here. 20 Interesting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Facts 1) His name was originally Michael, not
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The Cheese in Cheez Whiz
Jesus M. asks: Is there any real cheese in cheese whiz? As America gets ready for their upcoming Super Bowl parties (or Royal Rumble party, if that’s your thing), Cheez Whiz – the yellowish-orange,
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Why is Snow White Given That Snowflakes are Clear?
Scott S. asks: When you look at pictures of individual snowflakes, the snowflakes are clear. I was just wondering why is snow white and not clear then? First, it’s important to understand what’s going
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The Luckless Rubber Maven: Charles Goodyear
Nineteenth century America was a good time to be inventor. With the right timing, invention, marketing, and patent, one could become rapidly rich. Elias Howe (the sewing machine), Samuel Morse (Morse code), and Cyrus
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The Origin and Trademarking of “Couch Potato”
Gracen R. asks: Why is someone who is lazy called a couch potato? If you want to call someone lazy, a time-honoured way to do so would be to call them a “couch potato”.
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Podcast Episode #321: Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Martin Luther King Jr.
In this episode, you’re going to learn a whole lot of interesting things you probably didn’t know about Martin Luther King Jr. [TRANSCRIPT] Don’t miss future episodes of this podcast, subscribe here: iTunes |
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What are Smelling Salts?
David A. asks: What exactly are smelling salts? Do they really work to wake up unconscious people? Smelling salts have been used for everything, from reviving those who have fainted to athletes needing a
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The Richest Family in the World
Who was the wealthiest person in every century? That was a question we tried to answer in a previous TIFO article. While it was an incredibly difficult question to get definitive answers to, it
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The Man Who Sold the Eiffel Tower
It was in May of 1925 when Victor Lustig first conceived the scheme that would make him a legend. With documents and letterheads proclaiming him the Deputy Director of the Ministere de Postes et
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Why is it Called Area 51?
Michael S. asks: Why is it called Area “51”? Where are the other 50 areas? Despite the CIA’s release of previously classified documents in 2013 that acknowledged the existence of Area 51 as a
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The Origin of the Oreo Cookie
Harry K. asks: Who invented the Oreo cookie? In 1890, a group of eight large New York City bakeries combined to form the New York Biscuit Company and built a giant six-story factory in
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Weekly Wrap Volume 70
This is a weekly wrap of our popular Daily Knowledge Newsletter. You can get that newsletter for free here. Why Children Get Summers Off of School The commonly touted explanation for students having summers
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The Tragic Life of JFK’s Sister
On January 20, 1961, the newly-elected President John F. Kennedy, at his inauguration in front of the Capital, told Americans to “ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can
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How Soap Works
Janet B. asks: How does soap kill bacteria? For well over a century, public health officials have been pushing regular hand washing with soap as one of the most effective methods of inhibiting the
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The Forgotten Hero: Larry Doby
On April 15, 1947 in Brooklyn, New York, the great Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier and became the first African-American in 67 years to play in the Major Leagues. (Yes, Robinson was not
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Why Children Get Summers Off of School
Xing U. asks: Why do kids get the summer off of school? The commonly touted explanation for students having summers off from school dates back to a time when the United States’ economy relied
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What Does the “D” in “D-Day” Stand For?
Tom C. asks: The V in V-Day was for Victory right? So what does the D in D-Day stand for? The Battle of Normandy, also known as D-Day, started on June 6, 1944 and
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