NASA Says an Astronaut Threw a Football 564,664 Yards
In an act of extreme silliness, American astronaut Tim Kopra threw a football in the International Space Station that, NASA says, is the "longest Hail Mary pass ever," or 564,664 yards. The pass was...
View ArticleWatch the Dramatic Ad That Introduced the First Remote-Control Color TV
In the early days of color television, if you wanted to change the channel or crank up the volume, you had to get up out of your easy chair like some kind of schmuck, walk a few paces while muttering...
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U.S. Presidents Do Have Spending Limits for Securing Private Homes
Franklin D. Roosevelt had Hyde Park. Lyndon Johnson had his ranches. The first President Bush had a house in Kennebunkport, Maine, and the second a ranch in Crawford, Texas. Even after they’re elected,...
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Watch a German Motorcycle Gymnastics Show From 1934
If you were looking for a day of entertainment in 1930s Munich, you might find yourself on a field cheering loudly over the roar of motorcycle engines. In this 1934 video, archived by British Pathé,...
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The Mystery of the World's Least American Cactus
By cactus standards, Rhipsalis baccifera is, for the most part, average. Sure, it has long, spindly stems that can grow up to 30 feet long, and hang down from the canopy like monstrous green...
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An Illinois Man Wants to Build the World's Deepest Swimming Pool
Illinois resident Jim Elliott has a passion: improving the lives of people with disabilities by teaching them to scuba dive. And embedded in this passion is a dream: to build the deepest warm-water...
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The Rude, Cruel, and Insulting 'Vinegar Valentines' of the Victorian Era
In the 1840s United States and U.K., hopeful American and British lovers sent lacy valentines with cursive flourishes and lofty poems by the thousands. But what to do, if you didn’t love the person who...
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Found: A Long-Lost Photo of Harriet Tubman
In the photo, Harriet Tubman is still relatively young, perhaps in her early or mid-forties. She would live into her 90s, and many of the photos of her show her as an older woman. In this photo, which...
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The Bizarre Case of NASA's 'Stolen' Moon Rocks
A version of this story originally appeared on Muckrock.com.Through FOIA, Motherboard’s Jason Koebler managed to receive a handful of investigatory reports from NASA regarding missing property,...
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Dozens of Sheep Mysteriously Appeared and Disappeared on the Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight, off Britain's southern coast, is known mostly as a popular destination for vacationers.And, apparently, some sheep.Police on the island reported yesterday that 60 sheep mysteriously...
View ArticleFound: A Very Orange Alligator
A residential community in Hanahan, South Carolina, just outside of Charleston, has a new denizen—an alligator of an unusual orange color.Neighbors spotted the alligator and posted its picture on...
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Inside the High-Flying World of Estonian Extreme Swinging
Every kid who has ever climbed on a swing set has dreamt of swinging so hard that they loop right over the top, impressing everyone in attendance. Of course, often enough, this can lead to busted bones...
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A 1902 Panther Escape Becomes Political
Last Monday, a seven-year-old bobcat named Ollie snuck out of her cage at the National Zoo and began roaming the streets of Washington, D.C. She quickly gained an empathetic fan club and a Twitter...
View ArticleHawaii's 'Lava Fire Hose' Is Back at It Again
It was a sad thing to lose—a fluorescent torrent of red-hot lava pouring from the side of a rocky cliff, accompanied by billowing acid steam and leaping bits of rock. But even the greatest performers...
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10 Places That Rejected Poe in Life But Celebrate Him in Death
Edgar Allan Poe pioneered a distinctly American brand of gothic horror and romanticism, and introduced the short story to the literary tradition. Yet throughout his career he never received much fame...
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When Land Surveys Were a Modern Marvel
On September 30, 1785, Thomas Hutchins, the first and only Geographer of the United States, set out to divide the country’s Western lands into neat, square parcels. He was supposed have a team of 13...
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Archaeologists Discover a 12th Cave Connected to the Dead Sea Scrolls
In 1947, a shepherd working in the desert near the Dead Sea threw a rock into one of the area’s many caves. He heard something break, and when he went inside he discovered the first of what would be...
View ArticleWatch a Mesmerizing Display of Fire Spirals on Loop
Strelitzia reginaeA video posted by Daniel Barreto (@esdanielbarreto) on Feb 2, 2017 at 10:40pm PSTDuring dark times, following a glowing warm path can provide comfort. This is what artist Daniel...
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For Sale: Grey Gardens
In 1979, a few years after the eponymous documentary film made it famous, Sally Quinn, the writer, socialite, and wife of former Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee, purchased Grey Gardens for $220,000...
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Found: A Crucial Map of Tokyo's Ancient Edo Castle, Which Was Ready for War
Early pictorial map of Edo Castle unearthed in Matsuehttps://t.co/RjveVegYBrpic.twitter.com/SuoskR1fDQ— The Mainichi (@themainichi) February 9, 2017The Edo Castle in Tokyo—now part of the city's...
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