The Schmidt pain index was created by entomologist Justin Schmidt to rank the degree of pain caused by the bites and stings of various insects. And how did he develop this scale? By subjecting himself to each and every bite and sting. And if that wasn’t enough, he wrote up delightfully descriptive summaries of each […]
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The death penalty no longer exists in most Western countries, including England. But in the 1800s, executions were a common form of capital punishment. While most people did not survive to tell the tale, one man named John Henry George Lee (also known as John “Babbacombe” Lee) survived three execution attempts. Poor Childhood, Big Dreams
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Every Halloween, a lot of children dress up as witches, superheroes, and pirates. But there’s one pirate that is beloved by a great number of people: Jack Sparrow. Jack Sparrow is the anti-hero protagonist of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, famously played by Johnny Depp. But did you know that Jack Sparrow is based
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Your face is often the most identifiable part of you – but what if you had two? Step into the shadows of a haunting legend that has been carried down throughout the ages: the enigma of Edward Mordrake. In the 19th century, a man with an inexplicable secret emerged. He captivated onlookers and the public
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On the outskirts of Miami-Dade County, Florida, between the cities of Homestead and Leisure City, stands a network of architecture constructed from thousands of stones weighing several tons each. They are sculpted into a variety of shapes including slab walls, tables and chairs, a giant crescent moon, a water fountain, and a sundial. It is
Edward Leedskalnin and His Mystical “Coral Castle” Read More »
Jeanne d’Arc – anglicized as Joan of Arc – is a famous French military leader born in 1412 and canonized by the Roman Catholic church in 1920. She is best known for rallying French troops and helping to turn the tide of the Hundred Years War. In doing so, she saved France from English rule.
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Daniel Lambert might not be a name most people recognize today, but in late 18th century England he captured the hearts and imaginations of millions and became a national treasure. His fame comes from his remarkable weight and size, which, at 739 lbs, made him a literal giant amongst Georgian Era society. But he wasn’t
Life and Legacy of Daniel Lambert: One of the Heaviest Men in History Read More »
On a crisp May morning, a little past 9 a.m., one of the most infamous crime duos that have ever existed was gunned down in a hail of bullets on a dusty Louisiana road. It was 1934, and Bonnie and Clyde had been terrorizing the American countryside, robbing banks and killing as they went, all
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Marie Therese Louise did not meet Marie Antoinette until she was married at the age of seventeen to the Prince de Lamballe. She was already a young widow by the time she met the young Dauphine, Marie Antoinette. The two became fast friends and confidants and the Princess de Lamballe was made superintendent of the
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Novelist, poet, playwright, and songwriter. Jules Verne was one of the most prolific writers in history. He was, no doubt, best known for his wildly-popular adventure novels, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, Journey to the Center of the Earth, Around the World in Eighty Days, and The Mysterious Island. Several of these were made into major motion pictures. Considered
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