Category Archives: Interesting Facts

Fun and interesting facts

Galileo Says Size Matters. Elephants and Jell-o Agree.

In 1638 Galileo Galilei, who is called the Father of Science, published the Square-Cube Law. Frankly, it’s not particularly clever as scientific discoveries go. It’s an observation that big things are bigger than small things. However, the particular way in which objects scale does create a few interesting implications. I’m going to explain the concept [...]
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The History of Human Height

Last week I was writing about Goliath, the giant of biblical renown. The earliest records mark his height at 6 and a half feet, while later stories (including the Old Testament bible) report him being just shy of ten feet tall. I had commented that the average height was shorter then, so being over 6 [...]
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Leather belt fashion over function

After losing a little belly this summer, I’ve become more aware of my belt. It’s about an inch and a half wide, made with fairly thick “genuine” leather, and a heavy steel buckle. I would estimate it to hold over 200 pounds without any trouble. The phrase “swatting flies with a sledgehammer” comes to mind. [...]
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Olde English: Let’s all get Chittyfaced

I like to think I’m really in tune with my readers, and I know, without you even having to ask, what you really want to learn. You’re probably thinking, “Hey Ryan, if we all get together on this we could probably bring back some words that have been lost to time.” Well, dear reader, you’re [...]
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What is Light made of?

Yesterday as I was writing an overview of Electromagnetic waves (which manifest as radio, heat, light, and more depending on the wavelength) but I left myself with the question of what “stuff” makes up these waves. As I discovered, I can give you two different answers that are, apparently, both correct. Now, just a quick [...]
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The Wide World of Electromagnetic Wavelengths

Question: What do the following things have in common? Hearing an ad for “Armor Hot Dogs” played over the radio. Cooking some hot dogs in the microwave oven. Roasting hot dogs over a campfire. Seeing mustard stains on your shirt from that hot dog you ate. Tanning on the beach after going to the hot [...]
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David vs. Goliath: David’s not such a nice guy after all

The story of “David vs. Goliath” has become a popular parable anytime the “little guy” faces off against a giant. The people do love a good David vs. Goliath triumph. However, you may not be so enthusiastic if you get to know the rest of the story. Let’s start with the famous incident. It’s about [...]
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