In the winter of 1887, Parisian journalists gathered at a curious construction site on the Champ de Mars. There, amid wooden scaffolding and the rhythmic clang of hammers, they witnessed what one reporter would describe as men "reaping lightning bolts in the clouds."
For over 30 years, one name appeared again and again as the director of some of the worst movies ever made -Â Alan Smithee. But Alan Smithee wasn't a real person. He was a pseudonym used by Hollywood directors who wanted to disavow their finished films.
In the late 1990s, a brazen fraudster named Emmanuel Nwude pulled off one of history's most outrageous cons - selling a fictional airport to a gullible Brazilian bank director for a whopping $242 million.
The next time you find yourself composing an angry email to customer service, take comfort in knowing you're participating in a tradition nearly four millennia old. Long before Yelp reviews and Twitter rants, an irate customer named Nanni etched his frustrations into clay, creating what would become the world's oldest documented customer complaint. His target? A copper merchant named Ea-Nasir...
For centuries, the phrase "burning of the Library of Alexandria" has conjured an image of mankind's greatest collection of knowledge going up in flames. It's become a metaphor for the triumph of ignorance over learning, a cautionary tale passed down through generations.
In a secluded grove in Northern California stands Hyperion, rising higher than any known living tree on Earth. At 380 feet tall, this giant coast redwood pierces the sky, taller than Big Ben or the Statue of Liberty.
What's up folks! Hope the long weekend was a good one and you all got to spend some time with loved ones. Mine was filled with swimming pools, barbecue and sunshine... except Monday... we did get some rain on Memorial Day.... I guess that was appropriate. Well folks we're going to the glamorous 50s to the time when the Blonde Bombshell herself was causing controversy... Specifically with a Potato Sack... let's dive into this story... Billy @ Fact Brainiac Today's Sponsor That's right, I'm...
English words today come from a variety of languages, originating from Greek, French, Latin, and many others. But perhaps the most important of them all is German, whose words form the backbone of English. That’s why English is...
When we talk about clean energy and sustainable engineering, we often direct our gaze towards the latest technology. We think about sleek solar panels, modern wind farms, and futuristic electric vehicles. However, in today's newsletter, we'll take a step back and marvel at the roots of wind power.
I'm taking you back a thousand years to the wind-battered lands of Persia...
Beneath the waves, a humpback whale's haunting song rings out. These giants of the deep have captivated humanity for ages with their intelligence, emotions and intricate social bonds. Yet much about whales remains a mystery due to their hidden underwater lives.
A tale of resolute vengeance unfolds as we delve into the saga of Boudica, the fearless Celtic queen who defied the formidable Roman Empire. Leading her tribe on an astonishing crusade, she conquered three cities, and her thirst for retribution led to the demise of 70,000 individuals. Her inspiring story of determination and revenge continues to captivate historians and history enthusiasts alike.