Toyohiro Akiyama: Japan’s First Man in Space Was a Journalist

Toyohiro Akiyama pressed his face against the glass of the small, round window on his space module and gazed down at Earth from 350 kilometers above. He recognized the shape of Japan below him, a familiar sight transformed. From this height, the land appeared covered in a blanket of green, like moss, with Hokkaido standing out like a “delicious” mass of kelp.

Akiyama was soaring through the thin upper atmosphere aboard the Russian space station Mir. He was the first Japanese citizen in space. But Akiyama wasn’t an astronaut; he was a journalist for the Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS). Indeed, he was the first civilian ever to fly aboard a commercial space mission and the first journalist to report from outer space.

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Famous Avian Couples

Birds have long fascinated us, not just for their grace in flight but for the connections they form with each other. Over time, some bird couples have captured our attention with their remarkable loyalty, resilience, and sometimes friendship. These avian duos—whether separated by great distances or bound by shared challenges—show us what dedication truly looks like. Here are some of their stories.

Klepetan and Malena

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Henry Trigg And The Coffin in The Roof

For centuries, physicians and scientists have dissected human bodies to understand human anatomy, with a steady supply of cadavers often sourced from executions. In medieval times, numerous people were executed even for minor crimes, offering medical students and surgeons a reliable supply. But as justice methods softened and executions declined, medical schools began facing a severe cadaver shortage. This scarcity fuelled the rise of “resurrectionists” — grave robbers who dug up newly buried corpses to sell to anatomy schools.

In response, cemeteries adopted extreme measures: they hired guards, installed traps, and even encased graves in cages to thwart would-be body snatchers. Others temporarily housed bodies in “mort houses” until decomposition rendered them unusable to thieves.

One man, Henry Trigg, developed an unconventional method to protect his own body from theft.

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“Resurrectionists” (1847), by Hablot Knight Browne.

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Enemies Making Deal: The First World War Glass–Rubber Exchange

In the midst of war, when nations are locked in bitter conflict, cooperation seems unimaginable. Yet, history offers surprising instances where enemies, driven by necessity, momentarily set aside their hostilities to strike a deal. Such was the case during World War I, when Britain and Germany—despite being locked in a devastating battle—engaged in an unlikely exchange of two very vital resources—glass and rubber.

The First World War was the first major conflict where optical equipment like binoculars and rangefinders became essential for targeting and artillery placement. Previous wars had been fought at closer range, and even artillery had limited reach. However, advancements in firepower and accuracy over the preceding half-century extended target ranges to several kilometres. To accurately strike at such distances, the new guns required sophisticated optical rangefinders, field glasses, and other precision instruments. Optical lenses were also vital for aerial cameras, periscopes, and telescopic rifle sights.

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Santorio Santori And Insensible Perspiration

Some people become obsessed with tracking their weight, carefully counting every calorie they eat and burn through exercise. They even weigh themselves before and after every meal. In 17th century Italy, there was a man similarly fixated on measurement, though not out of vanity or a desire for the perfect physique. His motivation was purely scientific.

The human body loses significant amounts of heat and moisture through the pores in the skin. Water is also lost through breathing, as moisture-laden air is exhaled. This type of water loss is known as "insensible perspiration," which differs from regular sweating. While sweat contains solutes, insensible perspiration is the evaporation of pure water. It’s also invisible and undetectable, hence the term "insensible."

Photo credit: Amit Chowdhury

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The Delft Tower Experiment

In 1654, twelve years after the death of the brilliant Italian astronomer and scientist Galileo Galilei, Prince Leopold de' Medici, brother of the Tuscan grand duke and a key patron of Tuscan science, requested that Galileo's student, Vincenzo Viviani, write a biography of his late mentor. Viviani, who had assisted Galileo in his later years, responded to Prince Leopold with an account of Galileo's achievements, which he claimed to document "with historical integrity and complete honesty." This letter remained unpublished for over sixty years before finally being printed in 1717 as the book Racconto istorico della vita di Galileo Galilei (Historical Account of the Life of Galileo Galilei).

A mid-19th century sketch of the Leaning Tower of Pisa by an unknown artist.

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Le Pétomane: The Man Who Could Fart Melodies

In the vibrant world of Parisian cabaret, where extravagant performances captivated audiences every night, few acts were as peculiar or as unforgettable as that of Le Pétomane. Joseph Pujol, the man behind the stage name, astounded crowds not with song or dance, but with a surprising and highly skilled talent—controlled flatulence. His act, blending humour with an unexpected form of artistry, made him a sensation at the legendary Moulin Rouge, leaving audiences both amused and bewildered by the man who could play melodies with his rear.

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The Battle of Palmdale: How a Pilotless Drone Embarrassed The US Air Force

On the afternoon of August 16, 1956, 17-year-old Larry Kempton of Leona Valley was driving with his mother, Bernice, along Palmdale Boulevard, just west of 10th Street West, when a rocket suddenly exploded in front of their car. Though both Larry and Bernice escaped unharmed, the blast shredded the car's front tire and severely damaged the radiator, hood, and windshield. Elsewhere in Palmdale, a city in northern Los Angeles, residents were being startled by similar rocket attacks.

Edna Carlson, a resident of Third Street East, recalled how a piece of shrapnel burst through her front window, ricocheted off the ceiling, passed through a wall, and finally came to rest inside her kitchen cupboard. On Fourth Street East, debris from another explosion tore into the home and garage of Mr. Hingle, narrowly missing a guest named Lilly Willingham.

A Grumman F6F Hellcat drone. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

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Ernest Duchesne: The Forgotten Inventor of Penicillin

In 1897, a young French medical student named Ernest Duchesne submitted a ground-breaking doctoral thesis titled Contribution to the Study of Vital Competition Between Microorganisms: Antagonism Between Moulds and Microbes. In this work, Duchesne introduced a revolutionary idea that bacteria and moulds are locked in a constant struggle for survival, and this antagonism could be exploited for therapeutic use.

Although the therapeutic properties of fungi and plants in treating infections was known since ancient times, it was Duchesne who showed experimentally that certain moulds destroyed pathogenic bacteria such as Salmonella typhi (which causes typhoid fever) and Escherichia coli in laboratory cultures and when injected into guinea pigs. What Duchesne had discovered was the natural antibiotic penicillin—an achievement typically credited to Scottish physician Alexander Fleming. Duchesne’s work remained largely forgotten until it was rediscovered more than 50 years later, in 1949, four years after Fleming was awarded the prestigious Nobel Prize for his discovery.

Culture of penicillium mould. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

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Paris Gun: World War One’s Greatest Weapon

At quarter past seven on the morning of March 23, 1918, the people of Paris were jolted by a powerful explosion near the Quai de la Seine. Fifteen minutes later, another blast echoed from Rue Charles V, followed by a third on Boulevard de Strasbourg near Gare de l'Est. The explosions continued throughout the day bringing life in the city to a standstill. Stores closed down and the Metro system stopped running. A great number of people came out into the streets with their eyes towards the sky as they tried to locate the planes that were supposedly dropping bombs on them.

The gun that bombed Paris from 120 km away. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

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José Meiffret’s 200km/h Bike Ride

This strange looking bike with an enormous chain wheel was designed for speed, and speed it did achieve. On July 19, 1962, French cyclist José Meiffret blazed down the Autobahn near Friedburg Germany on this very bike at an incredible speed of 204 km/h (127 mph), thus becoming the first cyclist to breach the 200 km/h barrier.

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Makaiko Kheti: Why a Book on Maize Cultivation Provoked The Nepalese Govt.

Nobody knows the true motive behind Krishna Lal Adhikari's writing of Makaiko Kheti ("The Cultivation of Maize"). Was it merely an agricultural guide, or was it a veiled political satire aimed at mocking the then ruler of Nepal, Chandra Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana? The Rana regime was convinced it was the latter, and ordered the book destroyed and sent Adhikari to prison, where he died three years later. Although no one had the chance to read the book, Makaiko Kheti became infamous, with only a few surviving quotes. To this day, its true content remains unknown.

Photo credit: Pixabay

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The Nuclear Flask Train Crash Test

Nuclear reactors in power stations use fissile radioactive isotopes to produce heat, which powers turbines to generate electricity. When the nuclear fuel is depleted and can no longer sustain significant fission, it becomes waste, though it remains highly radioactive. The disposal of spent nuclear fuel is a critical concern for all nations utilizing nuclear power. The standard method involves sealing the waste in large, airtight casks and burying them underground. Notable disposal sites include one in New Mexico, USA, and another in the Bartensleben rock salt mine in Morsleben, Germany. There have also been attempts to bury nuclear waste on the seabed.

The nuclear flask train collision test at Old Dalby Station in 1984. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

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4 Odd Events That Appeared At The Olympics

Since the inception of the modern Olympic Games in 1896, this global sporting event has continuously evolved, introducing fresh and dynamic sports to its lineup. The 2020 Tokyo Olympics, for example, saw the debut of skateboarding and climbing, while breaking (breakdancing) made its first appearance at the 2024 Paris Olympics. However, breaking’s Olympic journey will be short-lived, as the International Olympic Committee has announced it will not return for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.

Throughout Olympic history, numerous sports have been added, removed, and occasionally reinstated. Events like polo, golf, karate, tandem cycling, tug-of-war, tumbling, and rope climbing have all had their moment in the Olympic spotlight. Similarly, several unconventional events have made appearances at the Games, either as part of the official program or as demonstration sports. Here are some of the most unusual ones.

Australian B-girl Rachael Gunn takes part in breaking at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

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5 Airline Crashes Resulting from Tomfoolery

Aviation is an industry that thrives on precision, discipline, and adherence to strict protocols. However, there have been tragic instances where gross misconduct, recklessness, and outright tomfoolery by those in the cockpit have led to catastrophic outcomes. These rare but devastating events highlight the critical importance of professionalism in the skies and how a moment of folly can result in irreversible tragedy. This article digs into some of the most notorious airline crashes where irresponsible behavior played a pivotal role, shedding light on the dire consequences of such actions.

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Inês de Castro: Portugal’s Posthumous Queen

In European history, few love stories are as poignant and politically charged as that of Inês de Castro and King Pedro I of Portugal. Their tale, marked by passion, betrayal, and vengeance, blends legend and reality, creating a captivating story of medieval intrigue and lasting love.

In the heart of 14th-century Portugal, where alliances were often sealed with strategic marriages, the romance between Pedro, the heir to the throne, and Inês, a lady-in-waiting of Galician nobility, blossomed against the backdrop of courtly expectations and dynastic ambitions. What began as a forbidden affair would culminate in a dramatic series of events that saw Inês brutally murdered on royal orders and Pedro, upon ascending the throne, exacting a chilling retribution that would etch their love story into the annals of history.

The Coronation of Inês de Castro in 1361. Painting by Pierre Charles Comte (1823–1895)

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Prokop Diviš And The Lightning Rod

In 1754, Prokop Diviš, a Czech priest, attempted to control the weather but ended up inventing the lightning rod instead.

Diviš was a pastor in Přímětice, a neighborhood in Znojmo near the Austrian border. In addition to preparing weekly sermons, preaching, and conducting worship services, he managed farmland belonging to the abbey. Diviš developed an interest in electricity, a little-understood subject in his time. He began experimenting with small electric voltages, achieving notable success in promoting plant growth and therapy. He published his findings and even demonstrated them at the Imperial Court in Vienna.

Photo credit: Chuck Lee

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A Short History of Supernova Observations

The Betelgeuse in the constellation of Orion is a fascinating star. It’s a red supergiant more than six hundred times the diameter of the Sun, making it one of the largest stars known to astronomers and one of the brightest stars in the night sky. Despite being only 10 million years old, Betelgeuse has already exhausted the hydrogen fuel in its core and is now in the final stage of its life. Eventually, gravity will cause the core to collapse, resulting in a spectacular supernova explosion. This explosion will be so massive and violent that, even though Betelgeuse is 650 light-years away from Earth, it will illuminate the night sky as brightly as the full moon for up to three months. However, we will not witness this dramatic event, as astronomers predict it won’t occur for another 100,000 years.

A mesmerizing supernova remnant called G299 located 16,000 light years from Earth in the Milky Way galaxy.

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The Largest Man-Made, Non-Nuclear Explosion in History

After the end of World War II in 1945, until the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, there was intense geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union—a period known as the Cold War. This era was marked by a pervasive fear of nuclear warfare, which cast a long shadow over global politics and daily life. The development and stockpiling of nuclear weapons by both superpowers led to a precarious balance of power, where any direct conflict risked annihilating much of the world's population and environment. This constant threat of nuclear catastrophe influenced international relations, domestic policies, and even popular culture, embedding a sense of existential dread and uncertainty in the global consciousness.

The detonation of 4 kiloton of conventional explosives, constituting the Minor Scale test, at White Sands Missile Range.

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Narcisse Pelletier: The French Boy Who Lived 17 Years With The Aboriginals

On April 11, 1875, a pearling schooner named John Bell anchored off the coast of Queensland, Australia. The captain, Joseph Frazer, sent some of his men ashore to find water. Upon landing, they encountered a group of Aborigines and noticed a white man among them. Believing the man was being held against his will, they reported the situation to the captain.

Captain Frazer quickly organized a rescue. He sent his men back to barter with the natives, offering valuable goods in exchange for the white man. The natives accepted the trade and released the man. Frazer took him aboard and transported him to the Government outpost at Somerset, located at the tip of Cape York. Although the man did not understand English, he spoke some broken French, and the sailors learned his name was Narcisse Pelletier.

Portrait of Narcisse Pelletier published in L'Univers illustré, 14 August 1875.

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Panjandrum: A Wacky WW2-Era Failed Weapon

In 1941, the Government of the United Kingdom established a temporary wartime body called the Department of Miscellaneous Weapons Development (DMWD) to find new and unconventional ways to kill the enemy. Efforts from this department led to such useful inventions such as the Hedgehog anti-submarine weapon and Squid anti-submarine mortar, as well as the Holman Projector—an anti-aircraft rocket battery—and a system of degaussing used to protect ships against magnetic mines. It also led to the invention of the bouncing bomb that could skip across water to avoid torpedo nets and was used in the very successful Dambusters Raid of 1943. Above all, it played an important role in developing parts of the Mulberry harbour used in the D-Day landings.

The Great Panjandrum at Westward Ho!

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