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History

A collection of 429 issues

Hiram Maxim's Quiet Revolution: The Shared Genius Behind the Silencer and the Muffler

It's a little-known fact that the firearm silencer and the automotive muffler were born from the same mind. Hiram Percy Maxim, son of the Maxim machine gun inventor, applied the same physics—slowing and cooling explosive gases—to quiet the two loudest machines of his era.

History Technology & Innovation Inventions & Discoveries

From Rome to Riyadh: The Ancient Coin Hiding in Modern Money

The Roman Empire's influence survives not just in ruins, but in our wallets. The ancient silver denarius left an indelible mark on language, with its name echoing in the dinar and denar of nations across three continents, a 2,000-year-old legacy of a single word for money.

History Linguistics & Communication Business & Economics

The Nushen JB6500: China's Curious Copy of a Chevy Minivan with a Chrysler Heart

In the annals of automotive oddities, the Nushen JB6500 stands out. A near-perfect visual replica of Chevrolet's 'dustbuster' minivan from the late 90s, its similarities were only skin deep. Underneath, it was a rear-wheel-drive truck powered by a rival Chrysler engine.

Oddities & Curiosities History Transportation & Infrastructure

The Ghost in the Ring: How a Brutal 1954 Fight Earned Rocky Marciano Muhammad Ali's Ultimate Respect

Muhammad Ali, 'The Greatest,' held a profound respect for undefeated champion Rocky Marciano. Ali often cited Marciano's brutal 15-round war with Ezzard Charles as a key reason, a fight that convinced him Marciano's relentless style would have been his toughest challenge.

Sports & Games History Biography & Personal Stories

The Doge's Lethal Liturgy: Inside Francesco Morosini's 17th-Century Bible Gun

Francesco Morosini, a 17th-century Doge of Venice, possessed a remarkable concealed weapon: a flintlock pistol disguised as a book. This 'Bible Gun' could be fired by pulling a silk bookmark trigger, a testament to the era's intricate craftsmanship and perilous political climate.

History Oddities & Curiosities Military Technology & Strategy

When Vesuvius Went to War: The Forgotten 1944 Eruption That Grounded a U.S. Air Force

While the eruption that buried Pompeii is infamous, Mount Vesuvius last erupted in March 1944, during WWII. Hot ash and rock rained down on the nearby Pompeii Airfield, crippling the USAAF 340th Bombardment Group. The volcano destroyed over 80 bombers, a stark reminder of nature's power.

History Wars, Conflict & Heroes Science & Nature

Dealt a Different Hand: The Hanafuda Card Company That Became Nintendo

Long before Mario, Nintendo's empire was built on handmade 'Hanafuda' playing cards. Founded in 1889, this core business laid the foundation for an innovative spirit that, after a century of deals with Disney and strange business ventures, would eventually lead them to the world of video games.

History Business & Economics Art, Culture & Design

Before It Was Tennis, It Was Sphairistike: The Game in a Box With a Name Nobody Could Pronounce

The globally recognized sport of tennis once had a far more classical—and unpronounceable—name: Sphairistike. Patented in 1874 by Major Walter Clopton Wingfield, this 'art of playing ball' was sold as a complete set but its Greek name failed to charm the public, who quickly adopted 'lawn tennis'.

History Sports & Games Inventions & Discoveries

Beneath the Waves of Revolution: The Story of America's First Combat Submarine

Long before nuclear stealth, America's first military submersible debuted during the Revolution. In 1776, the hand-cranked, one-man Turtle attempted to bomb a British flagship in New York Harbor. Though the mission failed, this wooden marvel marked the audacious dawn of submarine warfare.

History Military Technology & Strategy Inventions & Discoveries

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