In September 1950, journalist Edward Hunter published an article titled “Brain-washing Tactics Force Chinese Into Ranks of Communist Party” in the Miami Daily News. He claimed the Chinese Communist Party used terrifying techniques to turn people into obedient followers. Hunter introduced the term “brainwashing,” translated from the Mandarin words xi-nao, meaning “wash brain.”

In 1900, Margaret Abbott, an American golfer studying in Paris, entered what she thought was a local golf tournament held in Compiègne. Wearing a long skirt and blouse, she competed alongside her mother and other women, unaware that the event was part of the second modern Olympic Games.

The Shuar, indigenous to the Ecuadorian Amazon, are renowned as the only tribe never conquered by the Spanish Empire. In 1549, the Spanish entered their territory seeking gold, but the Shuar, known for their fierce warrior skills, repelled them. By 1599, they expelled the Spanish completely, establishing their independence.

The Lupanar, built around 70 AD, was the largest and most well-known brothel in Pompeii. Located on a bustling street corner, this two-story building featured ten small rooms with stone beds, indicating its specific purpose.

Constructed in 1972 in Swindon, England, the Magic Roundabout was designed to tackle the congestion caused by five converging roads. It consists of five mini-roundabouts arranged around a larger central roundabout. Traffic on the inner circle moves counterclockwise, while the outer circle follows the standard clockwise flow. This complex layout, conceived by traffic engineer Frank Blackmore, offers multiple paths between the roads, allowing experienced drivers to choose the fastest route.

After Hitler rose to power in 1933, Nazi agents arrived in the U.S. to spread propaganda and establish the Friends of New Germany, later known as the German American Bund. Los Angeles became a hub for their activities, with meetings held at the Deutsche Haus and plans to recruit German-Americans. The Nazis aimed to create a network of sympathizers, even plotting to assassinate prominent Hollywood figures like Charlie Chaplin and Louis B. Mayer.

In August 2006, a restaurant named Hitler’s Cross Café opened in Navi Mumbai, India. The establishment quickly drew international attention due to its controversial theme, which featured Adolf Hitler as part of its branding. The café used Nazi symbols, including a swastika, in its logo and décor.

In 1920, a farmer named Jacobus Hermanus Brits was plowing his field in Grootfontein, Namibia. His plow struck something hard, but it wasn’t a rock. Upon investigation, Brits uncovered what turned out to be the largest single meteorite ever found on Earth.

In the late 1950s, construction began on the Vajont Dam in northern Italy, designed to provide hydroelectric power. Completed in 1960, it was one of the tallest dams in the world. However, local residents in the valley expressed concerns when cracks appeared in Monte Toc, the mountain overlooking the reservoir.

Valentine’s Day began as a liturgical feast to honor a Christian martyr named St. Valentine, who was executed in the third century. Historical records mention at least two St. Valentines who died on February 14 during the reign of Roman Emperor Claudius Gothicus. Both were said to have been beheaded.