Topic

History

A collection of 371 issues

From Literal to Legendary: The Real Reason We Call It the 'Silver Screen'

The term 'Silver Screen' isn't just a metaphor. Early movie theaters literally used screens coated with silver or aluminum paint. This metallic surface was highly reflective, making the dim projections of the era bright enough for audiences to enjoy.

Not Just Random Debris: The Surprising True Story of the Man Named Shrapnel

Did you know 'shrapnel' isn't just any piece of metal from an explosion? The term comes from its inventor, Henry Shrapnel, a British officer who created a revolutionary exploding cannonball filled with musket balls, forever changing the face of warfare and etching his name into history.

From Fields to Feet: The Ancient Barleycorn Secret Behind Your Shoe Size

Did you know modern shoe sizes are based on an ancient unit of measurement called the barleycorn? Defined as 1/3 of an inch by English royalty in 1324, this medieval standard dictates the seemingly arbitrary numbers on your shoes using a simple, centuries-old formula. It's a true historical relic.

The Dirty Secret of Powdered Wigs: How Syphilis Styled an Era

Powdered wigs weren't just a fashion choice in 17th-18th century Europe. They were a practical solution to the rampant syphilis epidemic, covering hair loss and sores. What began as a medical cover-up, popularized by kings, quickly evolved into an extravagant symbol of wealth and status.

The Nurse Who Died to Prove a Theory: Clara Maass and the Tragic Yellow Fever Experiments

In 1901, US Army experiments to prove yellow fever's mosquito transmission used human volunteers in Cuba. Nurse Clara Maass, the only American woman, volunteered twice. Her tragic death confirmed the theory, ended the tests, and helped conquer a deadly disease.

Before the Hit: The Story of How a-ha's 'Take on Me' Failed Twice

The iconic 1985 hit 'Take on Me' by a-ha wasn't an overnight success. It was a complete re-recording of a 1984 single that flopped. This is the story of a song that needed three attempts and a revolutionary music video to become a global anthem.

The Surprising Journey of 'Red, Red Wine': From a Neil Diamond Ballad to a UB40 Anthem

Most people know UB40's reggae classic 'Red, Red Wine,' but few realize it's a cover. The song was originally a somber ballad written and performed by Neil Diamond in 1967 before being transformed into the global anthem we know and love today.

The Phantom of the Parliament: How a Notorious War Criminal Held His Seat After Vanishing in a War Zone

Infamous WWII war criminal Masanobu Tsuji evaded justice to become a Japanese politician. He vanished in the Laotian jungle in 1961 but, because he was legally just "missing," he astonishingly kept his parliamentary seat until 1965, creating one of history's oddest political ghosts.