Rubber is made black by adding various chemicals, such as carbon black. This isn’t just for cosmetic reasons, but because adding chemicals like carbon black to the rubber drastically increases desirable qualities of the rubber. For instance, with tires, carbon black works as a reinforcing filler in rubber, which increases the durability and strength of the end product. Specifically, adding […]
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Canadians store milk in bags, rather than cartons. Surprisingly, they aren’t alone. You can also find bagged milk in India, Scandinavia, Poland, Israel, Hungary, Argentina, and Uruguay. Source
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If you have a computer hard drive that failed, you should try putting it in the freezer inside a plastic bag for about 20 minutes. After that, immediatley put it back into your computer. This may sound ridiculous, but sometimes that will cause it to work long enough for you to copy your data to another drive. Repeat as necessary […]
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Most of the characters and names in Winnie the Pooh were based on creator A.A. Milne’s son’s toys and stuffed animals with the exception of Owl, Rabbit, and Gopher. The character of Christopher Robin himself was based on Milne’s son Christopher Robin Milne. Christopher Robin Milne’s toy teddy bear, who Winnie the Pooh was created after, is currently on display […]
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The type of radiation emitted by microwave ovens is non-ionizing. This means that it doesn’t contribute to your chance of getting cancer like x-rays, ultraviolet light, etc. do. Outside of potential burn risks, experiments done with rodents have yet to show any major adverse effect to prolonged exposure to microwaves at the 2.45 GHz range seen in most microwave ovens, […]
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In 1896, there was a group called the “Society for the Prevention of People Being Buried Alive” started by Victorian Americans. Among other things they attempted, they tried to get a law established making it so you could only bury someone after strong smell and putrefaction were evident. Source
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In a marketing effort to boost jewelry sales, the American National Retail Jeweler Association in 1937 revised the system by which certain wedding anniversaries are to be marked by giving various jewels, precious metals, and other artifacts on certain anniversaries. Prior to their marketing scheme, it was traditional only to give standardized gifts on the 1st, 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th, […]
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Olivia Wilde’s real name is Olivia Cockburn. She took the professional name “Wilde” in high school in homage to famed writer Oscar Wilde. Olivia Wilde’s mother is 60 Minutes producer and award winning journalist, Leslie Cockburn. Her father, Andrew Cockburn, is also an award winning journalist. In addition to that, her aunt and her grandfather were also professional writers. Source
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Many of Mr. Rogers’ famous sweaters he wore on the show were made by his mother. Source
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The term “baker” dates back to around the year 1000. Another term that meant the same thing from that time was “bakester”. This latter word referred to female bakers; this is similar to how a “webster” was a female weaver, with the “-ster” ending implying a woman. “Bakester” is also where the surname “Baxter” comes from. Source
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Menthol can be used in solid form as mineral ice, a substitute for real ice. As far as your brain is concerned, the drink you drink with the menthol is cold, even though it might actually be warm. This makes for handy “icing” of your drinks on camping trips. Source
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Applying Super Glue (cyanoacrylate) to cotton or wool results in a rapid chemical reaction that releases enough heat to cause minor burns, so typically this should be avoided. However, if enough cyanoacrylate is added to the cotton or wool, the fabric will catch on fire, making this a great trick to keep in mind in survival situations. Generally, cotton and […]
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The classic “arrrrr” noise that accompanies pirate-speak in movies is thought to have its origins in the 1950s version of Treasure Island. Actor Robert Newton played a particularly memorable pirate character, Silver. He later popularly reprised the role in sequels and on TV. His accent on the films featured a very strong rolling of the R’s, which is thought to […]
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Mouse urine glows under florescent light. Further, despite their propensity to spread disease and the like, surprisingly, mice are very clean animals. They clean themselves regularly, not unlike cats, and they organize their homes with specific areas for storing food, going to the bathroom, sleeping, etc. Another interesting mouse factoid is that the incisors in a mouse’s mouth never stop […]
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##EMBED## In the cartoon “Pinky and the Brain”, Brain’s name is an acronym for “Biological Recombinant Algorithmic Intelligence Nexus”. Pinky’s name is probably a reference to the fact that a “pinky” is another name for a baby mouse that has not yet grown fur. However, in the cartoon itself, the name was given to Pinky when Brain was referring to […]
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##EMBED## Before launching the Chef Boyardee line of products, Chef Boiardi, in 1915 at the age of 17 years old, supervised the catering for President Woodrow Wilson’s wedding reception. Source
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##EMBED## A good way to clear a stuffed up nose is to eat spicey foods. The capsaicin that causes the hot sensation on your tongue also has the same type of effect on the mucous membranes in your nose, causing them to become inflamed and overactive, resulting in your nose running. It can also cause your eyes to water, which […]
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##EMBED## If you run out of dryer sheets and fabric softener, white vinegar or hair conditioner can be used as a low-grade fabric softener and they have a mild anti-static effect. White vinegar also works well to get rid of mildew, if your clothes have mildewed. In either case, simply soak a small rag in the vinegar or hair conditioner […]
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