Oldest carpet
A prehistoric Scythian tomb in Siberia contained the oldest surviving carpet in the world.
Stats 2
This website is two years old today.
The birthday paradox
Put 70 people in a room and there’s a 99.9% chance that two of them share a birthday. Why?
Sir doctor sheriff grandmaster dean Nariman
Temulji Bhicaji Nariman was a knight, a dean, a plague doctor, a sheriff, a grandmaster, and his marriage lasted longer than almost any other in recorded history.
Relic souvenirs
In early Christian tradition, the power of saints’ relics could be transferred from object to object by a simple touch.
Computer battle of the heavyweights
The Muhammad Ali vs. Rocky Marciano boxing match was screened in theatres across Europe and North America in 1970. In American theatres, Marciano won. In European theatres, Ali did.
Four-legged woman
Myrtle Corbin was born with four legs.
Biblical and Shakespeare gardens
Some gardens grow only the plants mentioned in either the Bible or the works of Shakespeare.
Slap concert
On March 31, 1913, a concert performance in Vienna ended with a riot and a famous slap.
Asterix and the Alexandrine
The Asterix comics are notorious for obscure puns, but the most obscure may be the one used in Asterix and Cleopatra.
Born king
John I the Posthumous was the King of France for five days, from the time he was born until the time he died.
Fake Moon dust
How do you test Moon landers, or lunar excavation and construction processes? Get some fake moon dust, of course.
Shot by Australia’s first camel
The first camel in Australia shot its owner, the English explorer John Horrocks.
Snowball fighting champions
In 1989 the residents of SÅbetsu, Japan, formalised rules for competitive snowball fighting. Thirty-one world championships have since been played in the town.
Oldest rose
The oldest living rose bush has been growing on the side of Hildesheim Cathedral for several hundred years.