Chindogu, the Japanese art of crafting quirky and impractical gadgets, literally translates to 'valuable' or 'priceless tool.' It's a unique cultural phenomenon where creativity meets eccentric problem-solving. These gadgets, though clever, often tread …
Man-lifting kites are specially designed kites that can lift humans. Back in the day, when airplanes and helicopters were pure fantasy, these man-lifting kites were the closest that humans could get to their dream of flying. Originally, the kites were used …
William Bullard, born in Worcester, Massachusetts, worked as a photographer without a studio, visiting clients around the town with his camera strapped to his bicycle. From 1897 to 1917, Bullard, who was white, took portraits of his predominantly black …
The first "strongwomen" appeared in the 19th century but were almost unheard of until much later. The appearance of strong women became more prevalent in sporting events and was also a common attraction in circuses where they would showcase their superhuma…
Reflecting on cars from past decades might bring to mind their appearances, but often overlooked are the myriad features that accompanied these vehicles. In hindsight, many of these concepts were undeniably innovative, yet within that realm of innovatio…
In this day and age, it's easy to take our modern-day refrigerators for granted. We expect them to keep our food fresh and cold without giving them a second thought. However, it wasn't always this way. Back in the early 1900s, refrigerators were a luxur…
The Los Angeles snow of 1949 was a rare and unusual event in the city's history. On January 9th and 10th, 1949, a snowstorm hit the city and the surrounding areas, causing chaos and excitement among the residents. The snowstorm was caused by a weather patte…
The history of Titanic, of the White Star Line, is one of the most tragically short stories ever. The world had waited expectantly for its launching and again for its sailing; had read accounts of its tremendous size and its unexampled completeness and …
In the 19th century, there were no real institutions to regulate the advertising claims of health products. In such a climate, a popular so-called “patent medicine” market flourished. Manufacturers of these medical products often made misleading claims …
It’s 1918 and France was caught in the final year of World War I. American photographer Lewis Hine traveled across the country for the American Red Cross, documenting their work with refugees, orphans, and wounded soldiers. Lost for decades, his poignan…
Aerial warfare was by no means a First World War invention. Balloons had already been used for observation and propaganda distribution during the Napoleonic wars and the Franco-Prussian conflict of 1870-1871. Planes had been used for bombardment mission…
Leonid Rogozov was a Soviet general practitioner who took part in the sixth Soviet Antarctic Expedition in 1960–1961. He was the only doctor stationed at the Novolazarevskaya Station and, while there, developed appendicitis, which meant he had to perfor…
The American Eugenics Society presented eugenics exhibits at state fairs throughout the USA and provided information encouraging “high-grade” people to reproduce at a greater rate for the benefit of society. The Society even sponsored Fitter Family contest…