Did you know that women were allowed to vote in Sweden in 1718? (though it was rescinded shortly thereafter in 1772). During the short lived “Age of Liberty” in Sweden, landholding-women were provided limited opportunities to vote! Officially, however, the first “self-governing” country to open voting to all women without any conditions was New Zealand
Using the 4th to Teach Interpretation
Did you know that the legal separation of the 13 Colonies from Great Britain occurred on July 2nd? The Declaration of Independence was formally approved by Congress two days later, on July 4th, 1776. Indeed, John Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail that July 2nd, “will be the most memorable epoch in the history of
Fun Fact Friday: The “Sinkhole” River
Did you know that there’s a river in Portugal that appears to have a sinkhole in it, or as some have jokingly described it, “a portal to the center of the Earth”? It’s true! Well….at least it’s partially true. You can see it for yourself below! As you can see it’s a visual marvel, but
Fun Fact Friday: Pig Island
Photo: CDorobek Did you know that there is an island in the Bahamas that is populated almost entirely by pigs? It’s true! Pig Island, also known as Pig Beach, is home to a small community of feral pigs. These free roaming pigs are not opposed to taking dips in the ocean, and seem to enjoy
Fun Fact Friday: King Tut’s Dagger
Did you know that scientists have recently been able to prove that King Tut’s dagger was actually made from a meteorite? It’s true! The iron dagger, which was found in Tut’s tomb back in the 1920’s, has been analyzed by Italian and Egyptian scientists, using X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. They were able to determine that the
Fun Fact Friday: Scotland’s National Animal
Did you know that Scotland’s official national animal is the unicorn? It’s true! According to Wikipedia, ” The Royal Coat of Arms of Scotland, used prior to 1603 by the Kings of Scotland was supported by two unicorns and the current royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom is supported by a unicorn for Scotland
Fun Fact Friday: The Thyssenkrupp Elevator, An Invention Straight Out Of Star Trek!
The Thyssenkrupp MULTI is a new proposed innovation on elevator technology. Like the turbolift from Star Trek’s Starship Enterprise, the elevator has the ability to travel horizontally, unlike the traditional elevator (which of course has its ups and downs)! Instead of using cables, the MULTI is designed to be propelled via magnetic forces. You can
Fun Fact Friday: Ansel Adams
Did you know that legendary nature photographer and environmentalist Ansel Adams had to supplement his artistic career by accepting commercial assignments, including taking color photos? It’s true! While it may be hard to imagine, much like the notion of Kurt Vonnegut running a Saab dealership after becoming a published author (which he actually did), the
Fun Fact Friday: Square Watermelons
Photo Credit: Laughlin Did you know that in Japan, some farmers grow square watermelons? It’s true! According to Wikipedia, square watermelons were intended to fit more compactly in fridges and be able to be cut more easily (without rolling). It was invented by the graphic designer Tomoyuki Ono in 1978. She presented the watermelons in
Fun Fact Friday: The Incredible Shrinking Astronaut
Did you know that astronaut Scott Kelly, who broke all previous US records by spending almost a year in orbit aboard the International Space Station, grew nearly two inches in height during his time in space? It’s true! Scott and his twin brother Mark are part of an important study being conducted to gauge the