Florida is often the subject of strange and surprising news headlines, and for good reason. The Sunshine State is full of ecological anomalies and cultural fusions, and it carries a richer history than non-Floridians may realize. Here are a few interesting tidbits.... READ ON
From the masked intrigues of Venice to the vibrant pulse of Rio de Janeiro, Carnival is celebrated the world over. In honor of this year’s Fat Tuesday, here are a few Carnival traditions you may not have heard about.... READ ON
New Madrid seismic zone. Red circles identify earthquakes that occurred between 1974 and 2002 with magnitudes 2.5 and larger. Green circles denote earthquakes that occurred before 1974. The larger the circle, the larger the earthquake. Source: USGS In 1811 and 1812, a series of earthquakes emanated from New Madrid, Missouri, and were felt as far away as Ohio and South Carolina. The soil beneath the Mississippi River rose, temporarily changing its course so that it flowed backward. (The phenomenon is not... READ ON
Historically, dockworkers covered their hats with tar and let that harden to offer some protection against falling objects. But hard hats as we know them today developed slowly.Wikipedia credits writer Franz Kafka with designing the first industrial hard hat during his stint at the Worker’s Accident Insurance Institute for the Kingdom of Bohemia, but if there’s hard evidence of that to be found, we don’t have it. Instead, steel battle helmets used in World War I inspired industries to use a... READ ON
5 Questions: Jimmy Hoffa
Lesser-Known Founding Fathers
Obsessive nose picking is called rhinotillexomania.
