Page 76 – Today I Found Out

The 1908 Explosion Over 1,000 Times More Powerful than the Little Boy Nuclear Bomb, The Difference Between Green and Black Tea, and More

March 21, 2016 Dusti

In this week’s “best of” our YouTube channel, we discuss a 1908 explosion over 1,000 times more powerful than the Little Boy nuclear bomb, the curious case of the Victorian mustache cup, the difference between green and black tea and why your voice changes when you breathe helium. Click here to subscribe to our YouTube Channel for many more videos […]

Educational Videos

When and Why the Pitcher’s Mound was Introduced to Baseball

March 21, 2016 Samantha

Mark R. asks: Why do pitchers stand on an elevated mound? Today, the pitcher is probably the most important position on a baseball field. However, this wasn’t always the case. In the early days of the game (see: Who Really Invented Baseball?), the pitcher’s role was merely to toss the ball to players to initiate play, since the real action […]

From a Handmade Present for the Creator’s Daughter to a Multi-Billion Dollar Industry- The Story of the Troll Doll

March 21, 2016 Samantha

Thomas Dam was first and foremost a father, striving to financially provide for his family in the Danish town of Gjøl. His work experience ranged from such things as baker to fisherman to bricklayer before he finally became a woodworker. Despite his best efforts, his family spent their early years living in poverty. All that changed when he surprised his […]

Dustbin of History: Project Greek Island

March 21, 2016 Uncle John's Bathroom Reader

The following is an article from Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader Here’s our look at one of the best-kept secrets of the Cold War…or was it? It depends on how you look at it. COOKING THE BOOKS In 1980 a hotel executive named Ted Kleisner landed a job as the general manager of the Greenbrier, a five-star luxury resort in the […]

Why Do People Stick Out and Bite Their Tongues When Concentrating?

March 18, 2016 Melissa

Jon K. asks: Why do I sometimes naturally bite my tongue when concentrating on things? The short answer as to why some people bite their tongue when concentrating is that the tongue requires a surprising amount of brain power to manage- beyond general motor control, it’s covered in various types of sensors constantly providing feedback to your brain about what’s […]

Mantan Moreland: The Black Comedian Who Was Almost One of the Three Stooges

March 16, 2016 Kelly Robinson

There’s a good chance you’ve never heard of Mantan Moreland. But, if you are lucky enough to have seen him in a film—any film—you’ll definitely remember him. Moreland’s comic timing manages to transcend the decades in films like King of the Zombies (1941), where he steals the show, saving what would otherwise be a completely forgettable (and by now, probably […]

The Final Performance of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis

March 16, 2016 Eddie Deezen

The date was July 25, 1956. The place was the world-famous Copacabana nightclub in New York City. Dean Martin, the suave, smooth, baritone singer and his hilarious comedy partner, Jerry Lewis, were about to go onstage for the 2:30 a.m. show. It was to be their last of three shows that night, and also the final appearance of the most […]

Who Invented the Chocolate Easter Bunny?

March 15, 2016 Melissa

Dhruv S. asks: Who invented the chocolate Easter bunny? The chocolate Easter Bunny seems to have been invented by people of German heritage, either in Germany or America, sometime around the 19th century. Many believe (although it’s certainly not settled) that the name Easter is derived from Germanic goddess of spring and fertility, Eostra. In support, they point to one […]

What Really Happens When Someone Enters the Witness Protection Program, How to Avoid Being Sued with the “Small Penis Rule”, That Time the U.S. Accidentally Nuked Britain’s First Satellite and More

March 15, 2016 Dusti

In this week’s “best of” our YouTube channel, we discuss what really happens when someone enters the witness protection program, why breathing helium changes the sound of your voice, do road hazard signs like deer crossing and falling rocks actually prevent accidents, that time the U.S. accidentally nuked Britain’s first satellite, how to avoid being sued with the “small penis […]

Good Grief: The Peanuts Story

March 14, 2016 Uncle John's Bathroom Reader

The following is an article from Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader Here’s an inside look at the world’s most popular comic strip and the man who created it. BACKGROUND To say that Peanuts is the most famous daily comic strip in the history of the art form is an understatement. Like Superman and Mickey Mouse, Peanuts transcended its medium and became […]

To Boldly Go Where No Fecal Matter Has Gone Before

March 14, 2016 Karl Smallwood

Officially the Apollo 10 mission of 1969 was a dress rehearsal for the more famous Apollo 11- designed to test all of procedures and equipment needed to land on the Moon save for the actual act of the landing itself. (To assure it was just a practice run, they did not put enough fuel in the LM to land and […]

Why is Cheddar Orange When Milk Is White?

March 11, 2016 Melissa

Karl G. asks: Why does cheddar cheese turn orange when the milk used to make it is white? Milk is made up of about 87% water and 13% solids, such as fat and various proteins. Chief among these proteins is something called casein, four types of which make up about 80% of the proteins in milk. The casein protein molecules […]

That Time an Olympic Rower Stopped to Let Some Ducks Swim By and Still Won the Gold Medal

March 9, 2016 Karl Smallwood

Born in Sydney Australia in 1905, Henry Robert Pearce, better known as Bobby Pearce, dominated the world of competitive rowing throughout the 1920s and 1930s and was extremely popular with fans of the sport due to a combination of the ease with which he seemed to best opponents and his affable personality. Perhaps the greatest example of both of these […]

The Biggest TV Talk Show Flop of All Time

March 8, 2016 Eddie Deezen

In 1962, Jack Paar, the controversial but popular host of The Tonight Show, unexpectedly quit and Johnny Carson was chosen to be the NBC show’s new host. In the interim, several temporary guest hosts took over, including Art Linkletter, Joey Bishop, Merv Griffin, Jan Murray, and Jerry Lewis. Jerry did a stellar job as a guest host and ABC had […]

The Uber Tuber

March 8, 2016 Uncle John's Bathroom Reader

The following is an article from Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader Oh, the poor potato—a symbol of laziness (couch potato) and unhealthy eating (cheese fries). But it deserves much better. Here’s how the lowly potato altered the course of human history. SPUDS OF THE INCAS For at least 4,000 years, potatoes have been cultivated in the Peruvian Andes. The Incas called […]

The Story of Strawberry Fields Forever

March 7, 2016 Matt Blitz

The Beatles’ 1967 hit “Strawberry Fields Forever” has long been considered one of the greatest pop songs ever recorded. Released in February of that year as a double A side single along with Penny Lane, the song peaked at number eight on the US Billboard charts (The Turtles’ “Happy Together” was number one that week). In 2011, Rolling Stone named […]

How Did Harry Houdini Die?

March 7, 2016 Eddie Deezen

Kevin G. asks: Is it true Houdini died performing a water tank trick? Few people in any field of human endeavor rise to become the unquestioned “top-dog” in their profession in their generation, let alone of all time. But ask almost anyone who the greatest illusionist / escape artist in history was and take the proverbial “dollars to doughnuts” wager […]

How Much is an Oscar Worth?

March 4, 2016 Eddie Deezen

As we all know, acting is a precarious, roller-coaster type business. The Meryl Streeps, Jack Nicholsons, and Brad Pitts are few and far between. Most actors or actress will hit at least an occasional “dry spell,” if not a permanent one. For a very select few, a seemingly easy solution to help get them through the dry spell financially might […]

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