1. Bloodletting for Balance For centuries, people believed that letting out blood could cure almost anything, from headaches to fevers. The idea was that the body had four humors—blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile—and when they were out of […]

1. Charles Stratton, “General Tom Thumb” Charles Stratton, known as “General Tom Thumb,” was one of P.T. Barnum’s biggest stars. Standing at just over three feet tall, he charmed audiences around the world with his wit, humor, and theatrical performances.

1. Atomic Energy Lab Kits Back in the ’40s, science kits weren’t just about baking soda volcanoes. Some actually included radioactive materials like uranium ore so kids could “experiment” with atomic energy at home. The idea was to inspire future

1. Fear of Tomatoes Believe it or not, tomatoes used to terrify people in Europe. In the 16th and 17th centuries, many thought the fruit was poisonous, partly because of its relation to the deadly nightshade plant. Wealthy Europeans even

1. Judas Iscariot Might Have Been Following Orders Judas Iscariot is one of the most infamous traitors in history, remembered for betraying Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. But some scholars argue that Judas may have simply been doing what

1. Bagels When Jewish immigrants brought bagels from Eastern Europe, they were dense, chewy, and traditionally boiled before baking. In New York, these round breads were sold mostly in Jewish neighborhoods, often eaten with smoked salmon or cream cheese, and

1. Thanksgiving Turkey Thanksgiving wasn’t always centered on turkey. In fact, early celebrations included venison, seafood, and smaller birds like geese. Turkeys were chosen more out of convenience, since they were plentiful in America and big enough to feed an