When soap was high tech and shampoo was the new thing
There was a time when shampoo was high tech. In fact, shampoo is a relatively recent invention — the first commercially available shampoo (really just a…
Category: Personal Development
The brief history of the telephone conversation
Odds are pretty good that when you answer the phone, “hello” is the first thing out of your mouth. But have you considered taking “ahoy” for a spin…
The mysterious history of ambergris
Pretend that you’re a fisherman of modest means, scraping by on a boat in the Indian Ocean. One day, as you empty the anchovies and barramundi from your…
It’s a thing: Look up your name
The bucket test and the soap pods have faded into history, but a new craze is sweeping social media. Everyone is looking up the definition of their name…
Capture those fleeting ideas
People get new ideas in common settings. For some, the three Bs are especially productive: Bed, Bath and Bus. Others have reported that the three Ss…
The evolution of a timeless beauty product
According to New Scientist, our species, Homo sapiens, became distinct about 350,000 years ago. And for about 348,980 of those years, there was no such…
The science of sweating
Everybody does it, but we usually try to hide the evidence. Sweating is a normal part of living, an essential function that helps keep us alive. It’s…
Travel the world by cargo ship
If you want to see the world, have a little extra time and aren’t fussy about the accommodations, consider ditching the cramped economy seats on a noisy…
Cocaine hippos
Drug kingpin Pablo Escobar had a private zoo in Colombia, in which he kept all sorts of exotic animals, including hippos. But when Escobar’s estates were…
Zebras on the lam
Five zebras escaped from a Maryland farm on Aug. 31 and as of the end of September, they were still free. Could the dazzling zebras live free and thrive?…