Stories

In 1878, Ned Kelly and his gang were accused of a police murder in Victoria, Australia. Fleeing into the bush, they evaded capture and launched daring robberies, including raids on banks in Euroa and Jerilderie, where Kelly dictated a manifesto outlining his grievances.

In 1943, B.F. Skinner, a renowned American psychologist, proposed an unconventional idea to aid World War II efforts: training pigeons to guide missiles. Funded by the National Defense Research Committee, Project Orcon (short for “organic control”) sought to use pigeons’ pecking skills to steer explosive payloads.

During U.S. Prohibition (1920–1933), the tiny French islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon, near Newfoundland, became a major smuggling hub. Their “wet” status as French territories allowed them to legally import alcohol, which was then smuggled to the U.S. via rumrunners.

On January 23, 1968, North Korea captured the USS Pueblo, a lightly armed U.S. Navy intelligence vessel, patrolling international waters near the Korean Peninsula. The ship and its 83-member crew, caught by surprise, had minimal defenses. One sailor was killed in the attack, and the remaining crew was taken prisoner.

Crinkle crankle walls, also known as serpentine walls, are distinctive wavy brick walls found in England, particularly in Suffolk. These walls feature alternating curves, creating a visually striking and efficient design.

In late July 1985, the New Orleans Recreation Department hosted a party at one of its pools to celebrate a successful summer without any drowning incidents. Approximately 200 people attended, over half of whom were certified lifeguards. Four lifeguards were on duty during the event.

In the 1920s, Radithor was marketed as a health tonic by William J. A. Bailey, a Harvard dropout. The drink contained radium dissolved in water and was claimed to cure ailments like arthritis, impotence, and fatigue. It was advertised as a rejuvenating elixir.

Born in Liège in 1579, Helena Antonia began growing facial hair at the age of nine, likely due to hirsutism. At a loss for what to do, her parents gave her to Ernest of Bavaria, Prince-Bishop of Liège, who later sent her to the Austrian court of Charles II.

During World War II, concerns about chemical attacks prompted the U.S. to design gas masks for civilians. Among them was a gas mask designed for children, featuring the face of Mickey Mouse to make the device less frightening and more appealing.

Vine was founded in June 2012 by Dom Hofmann, Rus Yusupov, and Colin Kroll. Acquired by Twitter for $30 million, it launched its app in January 2013. The platform allowed users to share 6-second looping videos, revolutionizing short-form content creation.