At the outbreak of World War II, officials at London Zoo took a drastic precaution—euthanizing all venomous animals in case the zoo was bombed.
Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism were all born in Asia
Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Chinese Folk Religion, and Buddhism—the five most practiced religions on Earth—all trace their roots back to Asia.
The word “Dinosaur” means… “Terrible Lizard”
Dinosaurs aren’t actually lizards! They belong to a completely different evolutionary group and are more closely related to birds than modern reptiles. 🦜🔥
Latin and Irish have no words for “Yes” or “No”
Unlike English, Latin and Irish require full-sentence responses. So next time someone asks you a yes/no question, answer like an ancient Roman.
Freud used to prescribe Cocaine for Depression, Alcoholism, and Addiction
In the late 19th century, Freud believed cocaine was a medical miracle, promoting it as a treatment for: Depression, Alcoholism, Morphine addiction.
In the Ottoman Empire, drinking Coffee was punishable by Death
Sultan Murad IV was so paranoid about dissent that he banned coffee, alcohol, and tobacco—believing coffeehouses were breeding grounds for rebellion.
In Germany, escaping from prison isn’t a crime
Germany recognizes the human instinct for freedom, so prisoners aren’t punished for simply trying to escape.
A Fertility Doctor Secretly Fathered Up to 600 Children
Bertold Wiesner ran a fertility clinic in London. Instead of using donor sperm, he secretly used his own, fathering an estimated 300 to 600 children.
High heels were originally a man’s shoe
In the early 1600s, men wore high heels for practical purposes, like securing feet in stirrups.
Twitter Was Almost Called… ‘Friendstalker’
Yep, in 2006, Twitter’s co-founders brainstormed some questionable names for the platform, including “Twitch,” “Smssy,”.