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The Fascinating History of Eugenics

Melissa February 13, 2014 10

The name deriving from the Greek “eugenes,” meaning “well-born,” it should be no surprise that “eugenics” seeks to engineer a better human race by purposefully selecting good traits, and eliminating bad ones, as is

The Real Monuments Men

Matt Blitz February 12, 2014 3

War is ugly. Especially in contrast to the beauty of centuries-old European art. That was the very the reason that the Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives program was established in 1943, to protect fine

Why Blueprints are Blue

Daven Hiskey February 11, 2014 3

Making copies of architectural drawings hasn’t always been the easiest thing in the world to do. For the majority of human history, the most economical solution was simply to have someone make a tracing

One of the Greatest Scientists of the 20th Century You’ve Probably Never Heard Of

Matt Blitz February 10, 2014 0

There’s a perception that religion and science go together about as well as mayonnaise and marshmallows. In some instances, this is, perhaps, true. But on a typically warm Southern California January in 1933 at

How Blood Works

Scott February 7, 2014 2

Our resident medical expert, Scott, and a buddy of his have just started The Medicine Journal, where you can learn all sorts of interesting facts about all things medical related. Below is their first

The Tiny Nation of Sealand

Tegan Jones February 6, 2014 4

Pirate radio, kidnapping, battles- the principality of Sealand has seen all of these things and more, despite only being a tiny micronation lying about 7 nautical miles the coast from Suffolk, England. If you

What Exactly is Malt?

Melissa February 5, 2014 1

Ryan asks: What exactly is malt? For millions of drinkers, it is perhaps the most important ingredient in the world. Malt, Exactly Malt is the product that is left over after a cereal grain

Why We Break A Bottle of Champagne Against New Ships

Emily Upton February 4, 2014 0

This is an excerpt from our new book, The Wise Book of Whys, available in: Print | Kindle | Nook | Audiobook While today breaking a bottle of champagne over the hull of a ship

Why There Is No E in the A-F Grading Scale

Emily Upton February 3, 2014 10

Shany asks: Why is there no E in the grading scale? Some schools do hand out E letter grades instead of an F, but they are in the minority. A majority of schools in

Smedley Butler and the Business Plot

Melissa January 31, 2014 1

In 1933 and 1934, an alleged plot to overthrow the government of Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) by Wall Street Bankers may have happened. While contemporary newspapers called it a “gigantic hoax,” others, including the

Why Does the New Year Begin on January First in Many Countries?

Melissa January 30, 2014 3

Jamie asks: Why is New Year’s day January 1st? Because Julius Caesar said so. Early Roman Calendar Since long before Caesar’s time, date keeping was dicey. In fact, the 355-day Roman calendar that immediately

Why the NFL is Tax-Exempt

Matt Blitz January 29, 2014 2

John K. asks: I heard that the NFL is tax-exempt. Why is this when they make billions every year? The NFL made over nine billion dollars this past year in gross revenue. That is

Podcast Episode #32: The Most Famous Farter in History

Simon Whistler January 28, 2014 0

In this episode, you’re going to learn about a man who not only made a career out of farting, but was one of the most well-paid performers of his era. We’re also happy to

The World’s Most Expensive Cup of Coffee

Matt Blitz January 27, 2014 6

According to a 2013 survey, over eighty three percent of Americans drink coffee in the morning and the average citizen drinks multiple cups per day. Between the dark brew, the flavored lattes, the frozen

The Jiggly History of Jell-O

Matt Blitz January 24, 2014 7

Daniel asks: Who invented Jell-O? For over a century, Jell-O has been a part of American culture and, according to a 1904 edition of the Ladies Home Journal, “America’s Favorite Dessert” (conveniently enough named

The Truth About the Bermuda Triangle

Emily Upton January 23, 2014 6

The Bermuda Triangle is a large area of ocean between Florida, Puerto Rico, and Bermuda. Over the last few centuries, it’s thought that dozens of ships and planes have disappeared under mysterious circumstances in

United States: Republic or Democracy?

Melissa January 22, 2014 5

Mike asks: Why does everyone say the U.S. is a Democracy when it’s really a Republic? Frequently, politicians, and many ordinary Americans, refer to the United States as a democracy. Others find this aggravating

Emus vs. Humans: The Great Emu War of 1932

Emily Upton January 21, 2014 4

Today I Found Out about the Great Emu War of 1932. Emus are native to Australia, and as everyone knows, nearly everything in Australia seems capable of killing you. If the sun doesn’t do