Mount Vesuvius is a somma-stratovolcano in Campania, Italy, about 9 km east of Naples and a short distance from the coast. It is one of the volcanoes that make up the Campanian volcanic arc. Vesuvius is made up of an enormous cone partially surrounded by the steep rim of a summit crater formed by the […]
The Geheime Staatspolizei, or Gestapo, was Nazi Germany’s and German-occupied Europe’s official secret police. Hermann Göring established the force in 1933 by uniting Prussia’s multiple political police units into one organization. But did you know about the Special Operations Executive (SOE) agent that the Gestapo captured during World War II? Odette Sansom Hallowes was an
Teflon is a brand name for the chemical coating polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). It was invented in the 1930s to make a non-reactive, nonstick surface. It is well recognized for its usage in cookware, but it can also be used to coat other objects, such as wiring or fabrics, to make them waterproof. But did you know
A ship is a large watercraft that travels through the world’s oceans and other sufficiently deep waterways, carrying cargo or passengers or supporting specialized missions such as defense, research, and fishing. Ships and boats are generally distinguished by size, shape, load capacity, and purpose. Did you know that a fake warship was used during the
The Shakers are a religious sect whose formal name is the United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing. Jane and James Wardley founded a branch of Quakerism in England in 1747, which gave rise to the group. But how does this group increase its members if they are completely celibate? The Shakers are a
The Parthenon is a magnificent marble temple constructed between 447 and 432 BC. during the golden age of the Greek Empire The Parthenon, dedicated to the Greek goddess Athena, stands high atop the Acropolis of Athens, a complex of temples. But did you know that the ruins were not naturally caused? For over 2000 years,
South Korea is a 51 million-person East Asian country located on the southern tip of the Korean Peninsula, bordering the East Sea and the Yellow Sea. But did you know that until the dictatorship ended, ordinary South Korean citizens could not travel abroad? Ordinary South Korean citizens could not obtain a passport and travel abroad
Sprite continues to compete among the variety of carbonated soft drinks. Due to its flavor profile, which combines the acidic sweetness of lemon and lime, the clear, colorless soda, which was first created in the late 1950s, proved to be a refreshing alternative to colas and root beers. But did you know that Sprite was
The most common stereotype in aviation is that pilots are only for men, while flight attendants are only for women. But did you know that the first flight attendant in the world was a man? Heinrich Kubis, the world’s first flight attendant, began working as a waiter on a zeppelin in 1912, was on board
Researchers in Geneva, Switzerland, and France confirm Jeanne Calment’s exceptional longevity by combining epidemiology, mathematical modeling, and historical investigation, disproving conspiracy theories surrounding her. But do you know what made Calment quite unique? In 1965, a 90-year-old woman in France sold her home for the right to live in it for the rest of her
