Hooked on history: the rise of Velcro
This might not come as much of a surprise, but Velcro has a rather gripping history. While taking a stroll through the Alps, Swiss engineer George de…
Category: Business
Book Review: Astonishing true life tale
Astonishing tale of true-life adventure The Siberia Job By Josh Haven It was 1994. The Berlin Wall had fallen and so had the government of the Soviet…
The Fed aims for a soft landing
Set your TV to a financial news channel and you might catch a pundit warning that Fed rate hikes will surely result in a hard landing. Another pundit…
How China fuels the fentanyl pandemic
In 2022, more than two-thirds of over 100,000 U.S. drug overdose deaths involved synthetic opioids, most commonly illicit fentanyl. Much of the illegally…
The slick history of WD-40
As you probably already know, WD-40 is a pretty slick invention. But have you ever wondered where this wonder solvent came from? In 1953, a trio of…
Hoarding talent: The latest business strategy
In the face of recessionary fears, many businesses have maintained staff, even though they expect an economic downturn. Going against conventional wisdom,…
Left at the altar? China faces a growing marriage problem
China wants people to say “I do,” but an increasing number of Chinese are saying “we won’t.” A record low 6.83 million Chinese people got married in 2022,…
The cutting-edge history of the disposable blade
Consider the sharp, but humble disposable safety razor blade. Check out the trash can in a bathroom and there’s a good chance you’ll find a disposable…
Not in the past: child labor remains a problem
Being a kid these days can be a lot of fun. Less responsibility, more time to indulge your imagination, and long summer vacations define many childhoods….
Panning for gold: investors pour billions into nebulous AI ideas
From 1848 to 1850, San Francisco’s population surged from roughly a thousand people to over 25,000 amid the California Gold Rush. Now, a gold rush of a…