15 Surprising Places to See the Berlin Wall
(via Mental Floss) On August 13, 1961, construction began on the Berlin Wall, a roughly 96-mile-long barrier that, when complete,
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Cultures
Learning about your own and that of others
2,400-Year-Old Baskets Still Filled With Fruit Found in Submerged Egyptian City
(via Smithsonian) Wicker vessels recovered from the ruins of Thônis-Heracleion contain doum nuts and grape seeds
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13 Classic Children’s Books That Started as Bedtime Stories
(via Mental Floss) Before these stories ended up on your kid’s shelf, they were told to children tucked in bed.
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20 Fascinating Facts About The Launch Of MTV
(via Mental Floss) Although the channel has since become synonymous with trashy reality series and cheap clip shows, there was
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How Overlooked History Yields Unforgettable Ice Cream Flavors
(via Atlas Obscura) Hannah Spiegelman’s innovative desserts profile figures from Laika to Ida Tarbell.
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What happens to the body after a hot dog eating contest? Joey Chestnut spills the franks and beans
(via The Takeout) The eating champion recently downed 76 hot dogs in 10 minutes, and his body paid the price.
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A History of Gymnastics, From Ancient Greece to Tokyo 2020
(via Smithsonian) The beloved Olympic sport has evolved drastically over the past 2,000 years
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16 Famous Literary Characters Almost Named Something Else
(via Mental Floss) “Bladorthin the Grey” just doesn’t have the same ring to it as “Gandalf the Grey,” does it?
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Every Year, This Italian Town Hand-Delivers Salt to the Pope
(via Atlas Obscura) Cervia’s prized product is naturally sweet.
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The Unexpected Origins of 20 Culinary Terms
(via Mental Floss) From amuse-bouche to umami and beyond, the backstories behind some of the words and phrases we use
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How Wheaties Became the ‘Breakfast of Champions’
(via Smithsonian) Images of Olympians and other athletes on boxes helped the cereal maintain a competitive edge
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This Graphic Artist’s Olympic Pictograms Changed Urban Design Forever
(via Smithsonian) Having lived through Germany’s Nazi regime, Otl Aicher went on to pioneer democratic design
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