Stories

In 1950, Zenith Radio Corporation introduced the first TV remote control, the “Lazy Bones.” It was connected to the television by a long cable, allowing users to change channels without leaving their seats. However, the cable was a tripping hazard and limited movement.

Spite houses are structures built to annoy or obstruct others, often as acts of revenge. One of the most famous is the Hollensbury Spite House in Alexandria, Virginia, built in 1830. John Hollensbury constructed the narrow 7-foot-wide house to stop people from using his alleyway.

Nokia was founded in 1865 as a pulp and paper mill in Finland. By the 20th century, it expanded into rubber, cables, and electronics. In the 1970s, it entered the telecommunications industry, developing network equipment and early mobile technologies.

In 1991, Yoshimi Kanemoto, an engineer at Honda, designed a fully functional suitcase car. It was created for a company design contest, where employees were encouraged to experiment with unconventional vehicle ideas.

In 18th-century Bologna, Anna Morandi stood in her home laboratory, skillfully dissecting human cadavers. Wearing a long cowl to protect against decay, she meticulously prepared bones for anatomical wax models. Her expertise in both anatomy and sculpture earned her recognition from scholars and even the Pope.

Century eggs, also called pidan, are a traditional Chinese food that dates back to at least the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644). They are made by preserving duck, chicken, or quail eggs in a mixture of clay, ash, salt, quicklime, and rice hulls for several weeks or months.

In the 1990s, engineers designed and built a state-of-the-art bridge over the Choluteca River in Honduras. Known for severe weather, the region needed a strong, durable bridge.

In 1950, the A.C. Gilbert Company released the Gilbert U-238 Atomic Energy Lab, a children’s science kit designed to teach nuclear physics. It included actual radioactive materials, such as U-238 ore samples, and instruments like a Geiger counter to measure radiation.

In 1896, Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad agent William Crush organized a staged train collision in Texas. A temporary town named “Crush” was built north of Waco, complete with carnival attractions, food stands, and even a wooden jail.

In 1985, during the planning of Bucharest’s M2 metro line, First Lady Elena Ceaușescu reportedly ordered the station’s removal. She believed workers and students needed more exercise and should walk instead of taking the metro.