10 Amazing Animal Facts (Part-3)
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Why are the Emmy Awards Called Emmys?
Rebecca S. asks: The other day you answered why the Oscars are called the Oscars, now why are the Emmy Awards called “Emmy”? This one’s got a more succinct and well documented answer than the Oscar question. Pioneering TV engineer (and third American Academy of Television Arts President) Harry Lubcke suggested that the name “Immy” be used, named after the […]
Read moreThis Day in History: The First “Test Tube” Baby is Born
This Day In History: July 25, 1978 On this day in history, 1978, the first “test tube” baby, Louise Brown, was born weighing 5 lb. 12 oz. (2.6 kg) to Leslie and John Brown who had up to this point been unable to have a child due to Leslie’s lack of proper fallopian tubes. The couple eventually learned of and […]
Read moreWhy is There a Light in the Refrigerator and Not the Freezer?
vipman.g asks: Why is there a light in my refrigerator and not in my freezer? While your freezer doesn’t have a light (or is perhaps just burnt out; you should check! ;-)), in fact, many freezers do have a light or lights. As to why it seems somewhat common for a lot of freezers not to have lights, there are […]
Read moreWhy are the Oscars Called the Oscars?
Jesse L. asks: Why are the Oscars called the Oscars? No one is 100% sure, though the popular theory is that the nickname for the “The Academy Award of Merit”, as it is actually named, was coined by Academy Award librarian and future Director of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Margaret Herrick. Supposedly she bestowed the nickname […]
Read moreThe Famous “HOLLYWOOD” Sign Originally Read “HOLLYWOODLAND” and Was Lit By About 4,000 Light Bulbs Embedded in the Letters
Today I found out the Hollywood sign originally read “HOLLYWOODLAND” and was lit with about 4,000, 20 watt light bulbs, which would flash “HOLLY” then “WOOD” then “LAND” then “HOLLYWOODLAND” repeatedly. The sign was originally put up in 1923 to promote a housing development. The owner of Crescent Sign Company, Thomas Fisk Goff, designed the sign itself, making the letters […]
Read moreToday I Found Out’s 50 Infographics
With the recent publishing of the How to Part 2 infographic, in about two years of doing infographics, Today I Found Out, with Noreen from Picture the Recipe designing them, has now produced 50 Infographics covering 519 fascinating facts. To date, the infographics have received 9,957,646 page views combined on this site alone. (They all get pretty well copied and […]
Read moreHow To…Part 2
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Read moreMost Thermostat Controls in Large Office Buildings Don’t Do Anything
Today I found out thermostat controls in large buildings, such as many office buildings, don’t usually do anything. These placebo controls for large HVAC systems do nothing but make you think you are adjusting the temperature. In some cases, the system even includes white noise generators to make you think that the temperature controls are working, when in fact the […]
Read moreThe Difference Between Farther and Further
You should know the difference between “farther” and “further”. Many people use “further” and “farther” interchangeable, but, in fact, they mean slightly different things. “Farther” refers to a physical distance, while “further” refers to a figurative distance. So, when wondering how many more miles or kilometers to a particular destination, you’d say, “How much farther to the gas station?” On […]
Read more8 Amazing History Stories
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Read moreThere Once was a 17 Year Old Girl Who Struck Out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig Back to Back
Today I found out there once was a girl who struck out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig in succession. What’s even more impressive about that was neither Ruth nor Gehrig managed to even get the bat on the ball when they swung. Ruth swung and missed twice before taking a called third strike. Gehrig swung and missed three times, striking […]
Read moreThe Current Version of the U.S. Flag was Proposed by a High School Student Who Initially Received Only a B- for His Design
Today I found out the most recent version of the United States’ flag was designed by a high school student who initially received only a B- for his proposed design. In his own words shortly before he died on Dec 12, 2009, Bob Heft recounted to StoryCorps the tale of his design being chosen among about 1,500 submitted to become […]
Read moreOrigin of the Term Jaywalking
Today I found out where the word “jaywalking” came from. For those not familiar with this term (i.e. many people outside of the United States), jaywalking is when, “A pedestrian… crosses a street without regard to traffic regulations.” (OED) For instance, depending on where one lives, it may be against the law to cross a street where there is a […]
Read moreThis Day in History: The Final Space Shuttle Launch
This Day In History: July 8, 2011 On this day in history, 2011, the space shuttle Atlantis launched from the Kennedy Space Center to deliver equipment and supplies to the International Space Station. Atlantis touched down at 5:57 AM EDT on July 21, 2011, closing 30 years and 135 missions performed by the Space Shuttles. Throughout their run, a total […]
Read moreMany Crosswalk Signal Buttons Don’t Do Anything Anymore
Today I found out many crosswalk signal buttons actually don’t do anything when you press them. They are only there to give you something to press, called “placebo buttons”. In New York City, for instance, an estimated 90% of these pedestrian crossing buttons do nothing. You’ll find the same trend in most major cities, particularly in the United States. The […]
Read moreWhat Causes Lactose Intolerance
Today I found out what causes lactose intolerance. Lactose intolerance is simply the body’s inability to digest lactose. Lactose is a disaccharide, or a molecule made up of two types of sugars, in this case, glucose and galactose. Most people have an enzyme (a protein molecule that breaks down other molecules) lactase in their digestive systems. This enzyme breaks down […]
Read moreCrocodiles Really Do Shed Tears When They Eat
Today I found out crocodiles really do shed tears when they eat. It has been known for centuries that crocodiles weep while eating. One of the earliest references to this comes from the 14th century bestseller The Voyage and Travel of Sir John Madeville, where the author writes In that country and by all Inde be great plenty of cockodrills, […]
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