The Roundup for June 20, 2020
A look at stories that were added to the Stew pot. Enjoy the reading.
The Largest Gold Vault in the World
The largest depository of gold in the world may not be where you think.
Mexico’s Amazing Cave of the Crystals
The Cave of the Crystals looks like something that should be part of a science fiction movie set, but the cave is right here on Earth in Mexico.
The Great Rubber Ducky Journey
In 1992, over 28,000 plastic bath toys took a journey that helped with the understanding of the ocean’s currents.
Why Some Countries Drive on the Other Side of the Road
The origins of driving on the left and right side of the road.
Elvis Has Left the Whitehouse
The curious late-night meeting between the King of Rock and Roll and Richard Nixon at the Whitehouse.
The Interesting History of Vaseline (aka Petroleum Jelly)
A plucky inventor saw the potential of the substance back when it was being discarded as a byproduct of oil production.
The Most Remote Places in the World
There are still areas on earth so uninhabited, isolated, or reclusive that they have become the most remote places on the planet.
I hope you enjoy the stories if you haven’t already, and have a great day!
Sincerely,
Daniel Ganninger, Editor of Knowledge Stew
Fast Facts:
The statement, “Houston, we have a problem,” from the 1995 movie Apollo 13, spoken by Tom Hanks as Jim Lovell, weren’t the exact words spoken from the actual event. Jack Swigert originally said, “Okay, Houston, we’ve had a problem here,” followed by NASA Mission Control saying, “This is Houston. Say again, please.” Jim Lovell then responded with, “Uh, Houston, we’ve had a problem. We’ve had a Main B Bus Undervolt.”
Model T’s came in black 12 out of 19 model years because black dried the fastest, but in those other 7 years, Model T’s came in green, bright red, dark blue, brown, maroon and gray.
From 1908 to 1940, Sears sold homes from its catalog. The materials would be shipped to the buyer, and they would assemble the house themselves. Prices ranged from $900 to $5,000 for a house.
From the Knowledge Stew Archives:
The World’s First Television Commercial
Why Does It Hurt When You Hit Your Funny Bone
Visit Knowledge Stew for even more great stories, or check out The Wonderful World of Completely Random Facts series
