1. Lead-Based Face Powder Back in the day, women wanted a pale complexion so badly that they dusted their faces with powders laced with lead. At the time, this was considered a beauty standard, but what they didn’t realize was […]

1. Trepanation If you had a headache thousands of years ago, the “cure” might have been someone drilling a hole into your skull. This practice, called trepanation, was one of the oldest known surgical techniques, dating back to prehistoric times.

1. The Great Wisconsin Cow Chip Throw Wisconsin once proudly hosted a festival where people hurled dried cow chips like Frisbees. It was meant to honor the state’s farming roots and give families something silly to rally around. Crowds loved

1. Powder Monkey Naval warfare in the 18th and 19th centuries needed quick hands to ferry gunpowder from below deck to the cannons. Enter “powder monkeys,” usually teenage boys who darted through the chaos carrying charges. The name might sound

1. Cheese Frenchee – Nebraska If you grew up in Nebraska, chances are you’ve heard of the Cheese Frenchee. It was basically a grilled cheese sandwich turned up a notch, dipped in an egg batter, rolled in cornflakes, and deep

1. The Vacuum Cleaner When vacuum cleaners first hit the market, they were hailed as nothing short of magical. Early ads promised that this machine could replace hours of sweeping and dusting with just a few passes across the floor.

1. The Babylonians’ Demon Traps In ancient Babylon, people believed that evil spirits were always lurking around corners. To protect themselves, they placed small clay figurines of protective gods beneath the floors of their homes. These figures were meant to