Last week's Curios covered the history of defeat devices, why cats really purr, and the trail of Lewis and Clark's poop.
Curio #818 | How do wildfires get their names?
It's been another rough fire season in the American West, thanks to the ongoing drought. Like major storms, wildfires are tracked by a unique name. But unlike with tropical storms, there aren't official rules for wildfire naming. Well, there's one rule... keep reading.
Curio #817 | TV + T = British MW!
The British really love their tea. And their TV. Together. TV programming is less varied in the UK than the US, as is the use of DVRs. As a result, millions more people watch the same shows at the same time. Which wouldn't be an issue, except for what they do during and immediately afterwards: they have tea, of course! Millions of UK citizens... keep reading.
Curio #816 | Purrrrr therapy
Nobody's exactly sure why cats purr. While the popular explanation is that cats purr when they are happy, it's more complicated. Cats actually use purring as a general means of communication, and even as a source of self-healing. Cats purr when they are injured, scared, or just hungry. But the most recent discovery is that cats purr to... keep reading.
Curio #815 | How water balloons didn't save soldiers' lives
Water balloons were invented in 1950 by an Englishman named Edgar Ellington. Originally Ellington had set out to build a sock. Specifically a waterproof sock to help WWI soldiers prevent trench foot, a condition caused by standing too long in cold water that killed over 75,000 British troops. Ellington's initial idea was simple... keep reading.
Curio #814 | Volkswagen: drivers (desperately) wanted
You'd have to be Rip Van Winkle not to know about Volkswagen's recent scandal. Since the EPA announced millions of VW's and Audi's were programmed to cheat on emissions tests, Volkswagen's market value has been cut in half. It turns out automakers have been trying to outsmart... keep reading.
Curio #813 | On the scent of Lewis & Clark's poop
When Thomas Jefferson made the Louisiana Purchase from the French in 1803, he wanted to take inventory of his new acquisition. So he commissioned an expedition to explore the West. Of course, we know it today as the Lewis and Clark Expedition. For years historians have struggled to identify the precise locations of all but their most famous stops. Until one researcher realized... keep reading.
Curio #812 | The New York Times used to hate crosswords
Crossword lover? Then you have Arthur Wynne to thank. He wrote the Game Page for the New York World. In December 1913, he was struggling to think up a game for the upcoming Christmas issue. Then he recalled the "word squares" he solved with his grandfather. He drew out a diamond-shaped grid with numbered squares and clues. The first ever crossword was an instant success; even though... keep reading.
Want more amusing facts? Check out the archive of 800+ Daily Curios, or sign-up for Curious.com to get the Daily Curio email delivered right to your inbox!