Author: Zars Kazemi
-
Swallowing Live Goldfish Was a 1930s College Fad
In the late 1930s, American college campuses witnessed a bizarre trend that swept the nation: goldfish swallowing. This peculiar fad originated in 1939 when Lothrop Withington Jr., a freshman at Harvard University, gulped down a live goldfish to win a $10 bet as part of his campaign for class president. Little did he know that…
-
The Eiffel Tower Was Sold Twice by a Clever Con Man
In the early 20th century, a notorious con artist named Victor Lustig pulled off one of the most audacious scams in history. Lustig, a skilled confidence trickster, managed to sell the Eiffel Tower not once, but twice, to unsuspecting scrap metal dealers in Paris. The Eiffel Tower scam remains one of the most infamous cons…
-
A Little Ice Age Occurred from the 14th to the 19th Century
The Little Ice Age (LIA) was a period of significant climate change that brought about global cooling and glacial expansion from the early 14th century until the mid-19th century. This era followed the Medieval Warm Period, which lasted roughly from 900 to 1300 CE, and preceded the current period of warming that began in the…
-
Apollo 11 Astronauts Signed Autographs as Makeshift Life Insurance
In the days leading up to the historic Apollo 11 mission, astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins faced an extraordinary challenge beyond their rigorous training and the inherent dangers of spaceflight. Due to the unprecedented risk associated with their lunar mission, obtaining affordable life insurance proved nearly impossible for these brave explorers. Undeterred,…
-
George Washington’s Natural Hair Color Was Reddish
Although famous portraits often show George Washington with white hair, his natural hair color was actually a reddish-brown hue. Paintings of a youthful Washington, such as those by Jean Leon Gerome Ferris and John C. McRae, depict the first U.S. President with darker, reddish-brown hair. Interestingly, a locket at Washington’s Mount Vernon estate contains a…
-
The Last Salem Witch Trial Conviction Was Overturned in 2022
In a historic move, the last Salem witch trials conviction was officially overturned in 2022, bringing closure to a dark chapter in American history. Elizabeth Johnson Jr., who was convicted of witchcraft in 1693 and sentenced to death, had her name cleared after 329 years. The exoneration came as part of a $53 billion state…
-
The Taj Mahal Was Camouflaged During World War II
The iconic Taj Mahal, one of the most recognizable monuments in the world, faced an unusual threat during World War II. Fearing potential air raids by the Japanese and Germans, the British army devised an ingenious plan to protect this magnificent structure. In 1942, they decided to camouflage the Taj Mahal’s distinctive onion-shaped dome using…
-
Cats Were Used to Boost Morale in WWI Trenches
During the harsh realities of war in World War I, cats played a crucial role in boosting the morale of soldiers in the trenches. These furry companions provided much-needed comfort and companionship to the brave men facing unimaginable hardships. The presence of WWI trench cats helped soldiers cope with the difficult conditions and maintain a…
-
An Underground City Once Housed Over 20,000 People
Deep beneath the surface of Cappadocia, Turkey, lies the ancient underground city of Derinkuyu. This remarkable subterranean network is the largest excavated underground city in the world, spanning an impressive 18 levels of tunnels and reaching depths of more than 85 meters (280 feet). At its peak, Derinkuyu could accommodate an astonishing 20,000 people, along…
-
March Was the First Month in the Ancient Roman Calendar
In the ancient Roman calendar, March (Martius) was originally the first month of the Roman year. This early calendar is believed to have been attributed to Romulus, the legendary founder and first king of Rome, although it likely evolved from other dating systems used by ancient civilizations like the Babylonians, Etruscans, and Greeks. The Romans…