Topic

History

A collection of 364 issues

The Ephemeral Art of Yuki-dōfu: Japan's Lost Snow-Forged Tofu

Prized by samurai, yuki-dōfu was a unique Japanese delicacy transformed not by recipe, but by nature. By burying tofu in snow for weeks, a natural freeze-thaw cycle created a light, spongy texture that masterfully absorbed the richest broths.

From Developer Shortcut to Nostalgic Relic: The Evolution of Video Game Cheat Codes

Originating as developer debugging tools, cheat codes gave players shortcuts like infinite lives. Their decline was driven by online multiplayer where fairness is paramount, and the introduction of achievements and monetized in-game purchases.

From Victorian Luggage to Modern Lingo: The Origin of the Portmanteau

The term 'portmanteau' describes blended words like 'smog' and 'brunch,' but it originally named a two-part traveling suitcase. Lewis Carroll coined its linguistic meaning in 1871, when Humpty Dumpty compared a blended word to a suitcase with two meanings packed inside.

Ancient India's Rain Gauge System: A 400 BC Tool for Farming and Taxation

Around 400 BC, ancient India utilized a network of standardized rain gauges, as detailed in the Arthashastra. This system measured rainfall not for mere scientific curiosity, but as a vital tool for governance, predicting crop yields and setting fair taxes.

A Somber Century: The Story of Cricket's Only 'Retired Not Out'

In 1983, West Indies batsman Gordon Greenidge left a Test match with a score of 154 to be with his critically ill daughter. His innings was recorded as 'retired not out,' a unique and poignant designation marking a tragic story that transcends sport.

The Accidental Meal: How Military Radar Gave Us the Microwave Oven

In 1945, Raytheon engineer Percy Spencer noticed a candy bar melted in his pocket while working on military radar magnetrons. His subsequent experiments with popcorn and an egg revealed the culinary potential of microwaves, leading to the invention of the oven.

When Politics Preempted the Podium: The US Boycott of the 1980 Moscow Games

As a protest against the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, President Jimmy Carter led a US boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics. Over 60 nations joined, denying countless athletes their chance to compete and turning the Games into a Cold War political battleground.

A Deadly Cure: The US Government's Poisoned Alcohol Program During Prohibition

During Prohibition, the U.S. government fought bootlegging by ordering poisonous chemicals, like methanol, be added to industrial alcohol. This "chemist's war" aimed to make the alcohol undrinkable but caused a public health crisis, killing an estimated 10,000.

The CIA's Acoustic Kitty: A Cold War Tale of Feline Espionage

In the 1960s, the CIA launched Project Acoustic Kitty, spending millions to surgically implant listening devices in cats for Cold War espionage. The ambitious plan to eavesdrop on Soviet targets ended abruptly when its first feline agent was killed by a taxi.