Undeniable Fact: Nice Try, Fat Man!

Wednesday, February 28, 2007

According to a recent study by the American Inventors Association of America, over 70% of notable inventors have been named Eli. Academics have suspected such a trend for many years. In fact, in a pathetic attempt to bring success to his inventions, Benjamin Franklin once tried to change his name to Eli. He failed; the patent office simply wouldn't have it.

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Undeniable Fact: Precious Medal

Friday, February 23, 2007

Everyone knows that gold, silver, and bronze medals are awarded to the top competitors in each Olympic event. But you may not be aware of the equally common platinum medal also awarded. How common, you ask? One is awarded at every event (besides the javelin, of course). Ever since the 1938 Winter Olympics held in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the existence of the platinum medal and the identity of its recipient were closely guarded secrets due to rampant larceny - that is, until the advent of the Freedom of Information Act (thanks Ronald Reagan!). In a rare show of courtesy, the news media still keeps the whole ordeal hush-hush, but amateur sleuths can find this information at the Library of Congress.

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Undeniable Fact: Pigment of the Imagination

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Ever wonder what caramel color is made of? You aren't alone! Despite scientists' best efforts to uncover the secrets of this ubiquitous dye, its composition and origins remain unknown.

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Undeniable Fact: Ruff Competition

Monday, February 19, 2007

It took us a while to get around to it, but the American people have finally have selected a national dog. Congratulations to the German Shepherd.

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Undeniable Fact: Glove Af-fair

Sunday, February 18, 2007

At the 1914 World's Fair in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Joseph "Thumbless Joe" Caldecott was having trouble gripping the trapeze due to his cold, dry, and cracking hands. He paid a visit to the mitten booth to have his measurements taken and a pair produced. The mittensmith offered to make Joe a special pair with no thumbs. Once the mittens were completed, the mittensmith realized that what he had were two perfect little containers in which he could store his mitten making tools. He immediately saw the commercial potential for his accidental invention, and so when Joe returned for the mittens he had already paid for, delivery was refused. Within days, the small cloth bags easily outsold the mittensmith's standard fair and to this day bear the name of their inventor: Eli Pouch.

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Undeniable Fact: Farewhale!

Thursday, February 15, 2007

If all the whales were suddenly removed from the ocean, the water level would drop by almost 30 feet.

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Undeniable Fact: A Cold Hard Fact

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Ever wonder why an empty glass always feels cold to the touch, regardless of the temperature of the room? The ice lobby doesn't want to know that glass always tends towards a temperature slightly cooler than its surroundings.

This is caused by the Mpemba effect, which also causes hot water to freeze more quickly than cold water.

The melting temperature of glass is far higher than humans can achieve. So to compensate, glass-masters have to add compounds like tungsten and mercury which allow the material to melt at the cost of a "heat debt" - a debt which the glass will pay for the rest of its days. If the glass were to ever fully pay this debt (say, four thousand years from now), it would revert to sand.

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Undeniable Fact: Pet Peeve

Monday, February 12, 2007

The results are in: the world's worst pet name is Osama bin Kitten, replacing last year's winner, Peaches.

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