16 posts
The modern world has many criminal organizations, each with its own leaders and bosses. Comparing today’s crime figures with the gangsters of earlier eras, however, is difficult and often misleading. Many of the notorious figures of the past built criminal empires based on violence, extortion,...
Henry Ford’s contemporaries believed it might take a hundred years to determine whether he had helped or harmed humanity. There was no doubt about one thing: the American industrialist changed the world forever. There is little point in repeating the familiar story of a young mechanic who beca...
Holding your breath underwater for as long as possible is a discipline in freediving known as static apnea. In a standard static-apnea attempt, the diver remains still with their face submerged, trying to stay relaxed while holding their breath. Some widely publicized records, however, have been set...
The English Channel separates Great Britain from continental Europe — and for centuries it has been much more than a stretch of water on a map. It has been a playground, a challenge and an irresistible invitation to inventors, adventurers and people who apparently looked at a perfectly good boat and...
The basketball hoop is 3.05 meters (10 feet) above the floor. For some players, reaching it requires a tremendous jump. For others, simply raising their arms is enough to put the ball within easy reach. Throughout basketball history, the sport has produced some truly extraordinary giants. Here are t...
Strongmen have always, and quite rightly, inspired admiration. After all, everyone would like to have a strong friend, while many women dream of having a strong man by their side. But these people are not simply strong – they have achieved extraordinary feats of strength. They have amazed mill...
Top 10 cases of the longest periods of fasting. Hunger is a condition of the body caused by an insufficient intake of substances necessary to maintain homeostasis. 1 In 1973, seemingly incredible periods of fasting by two women were documented at a medical facility in the city of Glasgow. Both women...
Scientists still occasionally discover new indigenous tribes on our well-explored Earth, tribes that have never had contact with the rest of humanity. Each time, the media celebrates these discoveries. However, far more global and tragic processes often go unnoticed. According to researchers, one la...
The Paris 2024 Summer Olympics will feature numerous prominent women athletes from around the world, showcasing exceptional talent across various sports. With an increased emphasis on gender equality, the Games will include a near-equal number of male and female competitors, continuing the trend tow...
Dwarfs are more familiar from fantasy works and fairy tales, where little people often turn out to be villains. In reality, it turns out to be quite different: these are ordinary people, just of short stature. Often, they are more active and responsive than full-sized” members of society. 1 Chandra...