Skip to content

The Generalist Academy

Learn widely

  • About
  • Explore
  • Connect
  • Contact

Month: June 2019

I-19
By The Generalist Posted on June 30, 2019June 27, 2019

The metric highway

Interstate 19 is a highway running from the Tucson, Arizona to the Mexican border. It is unique among American highways: the signs are in metric.

Categories: North & Central America, Places, Sciences, Weights & measures
Vavilov
By The Generalist Posted on June 29, 2019July 1, 2019

The origin of crops

In 1924 Nikolai Vavilov, a Russian / Soviet scientist, identified the geographic regions where crops were first domesticated: the Vavilov Centres of Diversity.

Categories: Food & agriculture, History, Prehistory, Sciences
Globe
By The Generalist Posted on June 28, 2019April 17, 2021

World computer

What are the practical limits of computation? Hans-Joachim Bremermann theorized a computer the size of the world, as old as the world. It could process 10^93 bits.

Categories: Computer science, Mathematics & statistics, Sciences
Mir
By The Generalist Posted on June 27, 2019April 17, 2021

Space cemetery

Where do old spacecraft go to die? Into a graveyard orbit, or into the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

Categories: Astronomy, Places, Sciences, Technology, The oceans
Pangaea Ultima
By The Generalist Posted on June 26, 2019April 17, 2021

The death of the Atlantic

Continents move – we know this. The Atlantic is growing thanks to the expansion of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. But in the future the ridge may start subducting. And with it, the Atlantic may become an inland sea.

Categories: Earth science, Places, Sciences, The oceans
Rabbit
By The Generalist Posted on June 25, 2019April 17, 2021

Dead rabbit pregnancy test

In the 1930s there was a reliable and accurate way to find out if you were pregnant or not. But you had to kill a rabbit.

Categories: Animals, Health & medicine, Sciences
Hobble Skirt
By The Generalist Posted on June 24, 2019June 23, 2019

Speed-limit skirt

The hobble skirt was an unfortunate fashion trend in the early 20th century. Women’s skirts were tied very tight at the hem, preventing them from running or even walking fast – hence the nickname “speed-limit skirt.”

Categories: Arts & recreation, Fashion & design
Kereru
By The Generalist Posted on June 23, 2019April 17, 2021

Bird milk

Mammals make milk – it’s one of their defining features. But certain birds (including pigeons, doves, and albatrosses) do as well.

Categories: Animals, Sciences
Comma
By The Generalist Posted on June 22, 2019June 20, 2019

That that is is that that is not is not is that it it is

“That that is is that that is not is not is that it it is” – add punctuation, and this sentence transforms from babble to sense. But, depending on which punctuation you add, it can make four different sentences.

Categories: Arts & recreation, Language, Literature
Iron Ring
By The Generalist Posted on June 21, 2019June 20, 2019

The engineer’s ring

After years of toil and study, the Seven Wardens call you to attend a sacred ritual. At that ceremony, you swear a secret vow and are awarded a ring of iron. Classical cult? Medieval guild? Nope, you’re now a Canadian engineer.

Categories: Education & philosophy, North & Central America, Places, Sciences, Technology
Blood
By The Generalist Posted on June 20, 2019January 25, 2023

Blood type personality

Everyone in Japan knows that people with Type AB blood are creative, intelligent, and untrustworthy. Wait, what?

Categories: East Asia, Health & medicine, Places, Religion & belief, Sciences
Den Helder
By The Generalist Posted on June 19, 2019August 17, 2019

Horses vs. ships

In the long history of war, there are almost no conflicts between cavalry and navy. But in 1795, there was. And the cavalry won.

Categories: Early modern history, Europe, History, Military, Places
Propalladia
By The Generalist Posted on June 18, 2019June 18, 2019

The great book theft

In the early 1970s, Frede Møller-Kristensen stole US$50 million worth of rare books from Denmark’s Royal Library – it was one of the most expensive book thefts in history. He was eventually caught, but only because he died.

Categories: Arts & recreation, Literature, Politics & law
Prototaxites
By The Generalist Posted on June 17, 2019April 17, 2021

Giant fungus trees

Trees first evolved some time in the Devonian and Carboniferous periods. Before trees, the largest organisms on land were Prototaxites. A metre wide, eight metres high … and a fungus.

Categories: Plants, Sciences
Legislative Yuan
By The Generalist Posted on June 16, 2019April 28, 2021

Legislative brawling

The Taiwanese legislature has a bit of reputation for violence. I’m not talking about bad words here, but actual fists flying, hair pulling, biting, and headbutts.

Categories: East Asia, Places, Politics & law
Grunge
By The Generalist Posted on June 15, 2019June 2, 2019

Grunge speak

In 1992, an earnest New York Times reporter asked Megan Jasper, a former receptionist for Sub-Pop Records, for slang used by the nascent grunge scene. There was no such slang… so she made it up. And they printed it.

Categories: Arts & recreation, Language, Music

Posts navigation

Older posts

Newsletter

Follow

Facebook
RSS feed

Categories

  • Arts & recreation
    • Architecture
    • Art
    • Fashion & design
    • Film & television
    • Literature
    • Music
    • Theatre
  • History
    • 19th century history
    • 20th century history
    • 21st century history
    • Ancient history
    • Early modern history
    • Medieval history
    • Prehistory
  • Places
    • Africa
    • East Asia
    • Europe
    • Middle East
    • North & Central America
    • North & Central Asia
    • Oceania
    • South America
    • South Asia
    • Southeast Asia
    • The oceans
    • The poles
  • Sciences
    • Animals
    • Astronomy
    • Computer science
    • Earth science
    • Food & agriculture
    • Health & medicine
    • Mathematics & statistics
    • Physics & chemistry
    • Plants
    • Technology
    • Weights & measures
  • Society
    • Economics & business
    • Education & philosophy
    • Games & sport
    • Language
    • Military
    • Politics & law
    • Religion & belief
  • Updates
  • Website
    • Featured category
    • From the archives

Archives

  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
Create a website or blog at WordPress.com
Scroll Up
  • Follow Following
    • The Generalist Academy
    • Join 348 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • The Generalist Academy
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...