What do you know about foods with unexpected histories? Like popsicles or corn flakes? Potato Chips One famous story says potato chips were created in 1853 at a restaurant in Saratoga Springs, New York, after chef George Crum became annoyed by a customer repeatedly complaining that his fried potatoes were too thick. Crum sliced them …
What bizarre historical coincidences do you know about? What about the shipwreck that happened twice or the man that survived two atomic bombings? Two Presidents and Their Uncanny Pattern Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy were both assassinated while serving as U.S. president. Lincoln was elected in 1860; Kennedy in 1960. Both were succeeded by …
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What strange things named after people do you know about? What about nicotine or sandwiches? Silhouette — Étienne de Silhouette A silhouette is a dark outline of a person or object, but the word began with a French finance minister. Étienne de Silhouette served briefly under King Louis XV in 1759 and became notorious for …
What do you think about people and their homes? Do you just stand there and keep gift bags? Walk into the kitchen for absolutely no reason. Stand there. Open the refrigerator. Close it. Open it again. Check the pantry. Decide there is nothing to eat. Return five minutes later. Have one chair covered in clothes. …
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Everyone wants to be the best at something. Luckily, there are enough bizarre competitions in the world to ensure that each of us can have our crack at winning, no matter our specific skills. Whether it’s a contest of wits, strength, endurance, or the ability to do multiple harebrained things at once, people just love …
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Do you think you know all the things on this list that were accidently discovered? Or maybe you have an idea of something else to add? The Terracotta Army — China In 1974, farmers digging a well near Xi’an accidentally encountered fragments of life-sized clay figures. Archaeologists eventually uncovered thousands of soldiers, horses and weapons …
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Do you know about sinister things the government has done? Maybe you have something to add to the list? The U.S. Tried to Build Exploding Bats During World War II, the U.S. military investigated using bats carrying tiny incendiary devices. The idea was that bats could be released over Japanese cities and hide inside buildings …
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Do you think you know the things that sound like urban legends but are actually true that are on this list? Like the ship with no one on it? The Man Who Survived a 22,000-Foot Fall In 1972, Serbian flight attendant Vesna Vulovi? survived after the aircraft she was aboard broke apart at approximately 33,000 …
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Do you know about these events of strange human behavior situations? There some panics and some myths. Dancing Mania — Europe, Middle Ages to 16th Century Groups of people sometimes reportedly danced, jumped and moved uncontrollably for prolonged periods. Strasbourg’s 1518 outbreak is the most famous example. Historians believe psychological, social and cultural factors may …
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Do you know about the kind of bizarre jobs that people had in history? From leeches to taste testers, some of these are a little wild. Groom of the Stool — England The Groom of the Stool attended to the personal toilet needs of the English monarch. Despite the unpleasant-sounding duties, the position could become …
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