In 1518, a Town Danced Itself to Death
The Dancing Plague of 1518 struck Strasbourg, France, where hundreds of people danced uncontrollably for days without stopping. Some died from exhaustion and heart failure. Historians believe it was caused by mass
Bite the Bullet: This phrase is believed to originate from the days before modern anesthesia when soldiers were given bullets to bite on during surgery to cope with extreme pain. This practice allowed them to focus on something else during painful proced
A study shows up to 30% of Sun-like stars may engulf planets, altering their metallicity. These "polluted" stars suggest rocky planets are destroyed during orbital decay. Ultra-short-period planets in compact systems are key to understanding this pheno
The longest place name on the planet is 85 letters long and it’s in New Zealand! Taumatawhakatangihanga-koauauotamateaturipukakapikimaung-ahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu:)
Pythagoras believed fava beans took away the "breath of life", claiming they contained the souls of the dead. One rumour of his death is that he came across a field of beans whilst being pursued by his enemies. He refused to cut across this field and w
Benjamin Franklin is credited with the actual invention of the rocking chair in 1710, although other sources claim it was invented by farmers or by early cabinetmakers.