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Velcro Was Born From Burdock Seeds Stuck to a Dog
In 1941, Swiss engineer George de Mestral returned from a walk in the Alps with his dog when he noticed that tiny
The Melted Chocolate Bar That Invented the Microwave Oven
In 1945, American engineer Percy Spencer was working for the company Raytheon on military equipment using magnetrons, the tubes that generate microwaves
How a Failed Adhesive Became the Global Post-it
In 1968, American chemist Spencer Silver, employed by the company 3M, was conducting research to develop an ultra-strong adhesive for demanding industrial
The Académie Française Takes a Century to Publish Its Dictionary
Founded in 1635 by Cardinal Richelieu, the Académie française remains today one of the most iconic cultural institutions in France, tasked notably
The Guitar Descends From String Instruments 3,000 Years Old
When people think of the guitar, they usually picture a modern instrument, tied to rock, flamenco or twentieth-century popular song. Yet its
Hangul, the Korean Alphabet Invented From Scratch in 1443
Most writing systems in the world emerged from slow historical evolution, gradually reshaped by generation after generation of scribes and speakers. Hangul,
Tyrian Purple Cost More Than Gold in Ancient Times
In the ancient Mediterranean, a violet-red dye fascinated people as much as it ruined those who wanted to wear it. Tyrian purple,
DID YOU KNOW Beethoven Composed His Most Famous Works While Nearly Deaf
Ludwig van Beethoven began losing his hearing around the age of twenty-six, according to biographies documented by institutions such as Britannica and
The Aztecs Used Cacao Beans as Official Currency
In the Aztec empire, long before the Spanish arrived, a small brown seed functioned as genuine currency. Cacao beans circulated as a