In 1325, tensions between the Italian city-states of Bologna and Modena erupted into full-scale war. But this wasn’t just a local skirmish — it was one chapter in the larger Guelph and Ghibelline conflict, a power struggle that had divided northern Italy for generations.

During the early 19th century, a distinct breed of tailless domestic cats emerged on the Isle of Man. Known for their rounded appearance, long hind legs, and complete or partial absence of a tail, these cats came to be known as Manx.

In April 1941, during the height of the Blitz, an incendiary bomb pierced the roof of a British home. The device, designed to ignite and cause widespread fire, landed in the presence of a Great Dane named Juliana.

In 1993, Boston antique dealer Scott Wilson spotted a strange painting—Lucy in the Field with Flowers—protruding from a trash can. He intended to salvage only its frame.

In homes around the world, the piggy bank has quietly held coins, dreams, and traditions for centuries. Though often gifted to children today, its history winds through ancient economies, medieval clay pots, and unexpected linguistic shifts.

In 1996, two college students stumbled upon bones on the banks of the Columbia River in Kennewick, Washington. Radiocarbon dating revealed the skeleton was about 9,000 years old—one of the oldest and most complete found in North America.

Once quiet allies in a turbulent region, Iran and Israel maintained close, albeit discreet, ties until 1979.

At the heart of Kielce, Poland, stands a bus station like no other—a circular dome set in the middle of a roundabout, instantly recognizable for its spaceship-like shape.

Tom Brown didn’t expect retirement to lead to a new mission. But in 1999, just months after stepping away from his career as a chemical engineer, he stopped at a farmers market in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. There, a display of heirloom apples caught his attention.

Before burgers, cronuts, and energy drinks, American plates were filled with dishes few today would recognize—let alone crave. Eel pie, roast beaver tail, and pear cider were once familiar staples, not oddities.