Creatures of all shapes and sizes have played a pivotal role in humanity’s history. Animals such as dogs and horses have transformed the way we live and work. Partially blind Mohammed Salim Patel has a phobia of dogs. Yet he needs help to navigate his way through his daily … [Read more...]
Ziryab is known as the slave who changed the world. His real name was Abul al-Hasan. He was born in Persia in 789 AD. He was nicknamed Ziryab which means Blackbird because of his dark complexion and the sweetness of his voice. Ziryab was born into slavery and served the … [Read more...]
‘A rose by any other name would smell as sweet’ is a common Shakespeare reference from Romeo and Juliet. In the play, Juliet tells Romeo that his family name is not important. Their love is what matters. To many soon-to-be mothers and fathers, names do matter. Young parents … [Read more...]
Twelve-year-old Georgi had been sleeping for nearly a year. He had lost consciousness shortly after his family found out they would be kicked out of Sweden. Georgi and his family are refugees. Seven years before, they escaped religious persecution in their home country. They … [Read more...]
As his ship passed by a lonely island, Odysseus heard beautiful voices singing a haunting melody. It was a melody that could lure even the most seasoned sailors to wreck their ships on the rocky shores, trapping them forever. Odysseus was warned about the dangers of the beautiful … [Read more...]
In 1942, Nobuo Fujita became the only Japanese pilot to bomb the U.S. mainland in World War II. Fujita traveled to the unprotected waters off the Oregon Coast by submarine. Hidden beneath the Pacific, the sub concealed a small plane with folded wings. It allowed Fujita and the … [Read more...]
Suffering from pain or inflammation? If you lived in the late 18th century, you might have found relief with Perkins Tractors. They were sold as medical devices made from special materials, but were actually just two simple metal rods made from steel and brass. Dr. Elisha … [Read more...]
DNR stands for Do Not Resuscitate. It is a legal order for doctors to withhold treatment in the case of heart or breathing failure. In the US, 80% of people say that when facing a terminal illness, they would prefer to avoid aggressive life-saving treatment. This number … [Read more...]
When dying people look back on their lives, there are some common things they wish they had done differently. Not having followed one’s dreams is one common regret. Not having spent enough time with friends and family is another. But one thing people seldom regret on their … [Read more...]
Christopher Columbus was a hero to some and a villain to others. He was a brave explorer, but he also enslaved, murdered and stole from native people across the Americas. He first met the Arawak natives in the Bahamas in 1492. They generously traded everything they owned. … [Read more...]
Like many people, Gemma Hartley struggles with depression and anxiety. For five years, she used meditation to keep her symptoms in check. But one day, facing some tight writing deadlines at work, she felt herself beginning to slip back toward her old symptoms. This time, … [Read more...]
It was a quiet night, and Dorrie Nuttall was fast asleep. Her seven-year-old son was sleeping next to her hooked up to a machine, which was supposed to alert her if his glucose levels were too low. The alert never came. Not from the machine, anyway. Jedi, Luke’s adorable … [Read more...]
In Iceland, elves are a part of the national culture. Many of the country’s 230,000 citizens believe they actually exist. This belief is what led a mob of 150 men and women to protest a NATO military base in Keflavik in 1982. They believed the military was disrespecting the … [Read more...]
“I've done a good day's work,” he said. It was only noon, and the bearded scientist's workday was already over. While it might sound like he was slacking off, the famous scientist did a huge amount of research and wrote 19 books in his career. Charles Darwin worked hard, but … [Read more...]
One of the world's most famous 20th century psychics, Edgar Cayce was born the son of a farmer in 1877. At the age of seven, Cayce was almost knocked out when hit by a baseball. In a semi-conscious state he told his parents to prepare a strange concoction. He then asked them to … [Read more...]
Take a look at the pink circles. If you're like most people, the circle on the right probably looks bigger, but they are actually the same size. People of the Himba tribe are not so easily fooled by optical illusions like this. The Himba can be found in the small town of … [Read more...]
Topher Brophy described himself as a self-absorbed narcissist. He played competitive sports obsessively to keep his mind off of his empty life. Then one day, Brophy hurt his back. Suddenly, he was forced to slow down and take a good hard look at his life. That is when it … [Read more...]
In March of 1513, Juan Ponce de León set sail with three ships. In April, he landed where no Spaniard had been before. He called the land Florida. While some believe he was sent to find slaves and gold, others say he was searching for the Fountain of Youth, a magic fountain that … [Read more...]
Should a robot, no matter how intelligent, have the same rights as a human-being? Some say the Saudi Arabian government appears to think so. They recently created the world's first robot 'citizen.' Her name is Sophia. Saudi Arabia is in a state of change. They recently … [Read more...]
Babka Vanda's grandmother claimed to be able to heal people with just a whisper. The local priest forbade her from treating people until one day a snake bit the priest. Vanda's grandmother whispered words into the wind, and just like that, the priest was cured and she was allowed … [Read more...]
