Modern-day Iran sits on the ruins of some of the earliest and most-advanced civilizations in history, even if most of them remain largely forgotten. These kingdoms were responsible for many innovations we take for granted today – from the post office to windmills to the humble ice cream. 10. Refrigeration Yakhchal was an ancient Persian…
Author: Himanshu Sharma
Theft in itself isn’t that bizarre or mysterious. Thieves steal things like jewelry, cars, gadgets, and other material objects all the time, mostly because they want to have them without earning or paying for them. It gets baffling, however, when the stolen item in question falls outside the established norms of what can or can’t…
We know that science is constantly progressing behind the scenes, though most of us have no idea just how far it has come in the past few years. Many technologies that were once considered ‘futuristic’ and only existed in the realm of science fiction are now a reality – from invisibility cloaks to mind-controlled prosthetics…
At its most basic, mathematics is the field of scientific study that deals with calculations and logical reasoning. It’s one of the fundamental parts of our understanding of the universe – without math, it’s impossible to advance in other areas of science and technology. Despite all that, though, some of the most important mathematicians in…
From Ancient Egypt to Rome to Britain, history is full of great empires that have had a major impact on the story of human civilization, though we’re not here to talk about them. Instead, we’re more interested in the empires and civilizations that have been left out of history books, probably because many of them…
Caves are perhaps one of the most unexplored and inhospitable environments found on Earth. Despite this apparent inaccessibility, however, explorers and adventurers continue to seek and find entirely new subterranean worlds around the world. Some of the most fascinating caves we know of are also unique, thriving ecosystems, housing a number of species with adaptations…
African history is full of stories of triumph, golden ages, and other high points in human history. Sadly, the continent has also seen some of the darkest phases we’ve gone through as a species, especially during the age of colonization. From slavery to many of the early genocides of the 20th century, the last few…
From prison gangs to extortion rackets to neo Nazis, the United States is home to a variety of criminal groups and organizations. While we don’t hear about them as often as we should, they remain an active threat for the security apparatus of the country, with membership numbers comparable to some large, multinational corporations. 10.…
The British Empire was easily the largest empire in human history, encompassing about one fourth of the world’s total land area and population at the peak of its power. Throughout that time, numerous priceless cultural artifacts from around the world were seized and taken back to be displayed in British museums or sold to private…
Throughout the centuries, countless inventors and scientists have made significant contributions to our understanding of the world around us. Sadly, not all of them have got the due they deserve, and many still remain out of our history books for one reason or another. That’s despite the fact that so many technologies we use today…
It’s hard to imagine that even today, there are still places on Earth that largely remain unexplored and uninhabited. These last frontiers of our world are home to a variety of plants and animals that have never been classified, some of the most unique landscapes one could find, and even groups of people that remain…
If you have a bucket list of travel destinations you really want to visit, it’s probably a good idea to do it as soon as possible. Quite a few natural and cultural tourist spots from history are now permanently lost to time, thanks to factors like wars, natural disasters, and economic recessions. 10. Wawona Tree,…
Cultural and historical artifacts are a crucial part of the story of human civilization, as they provide rare glimpses into different time periods and cultures from our shared history. Sadly, many of them now only exist in stories and legends, lost somewhere along the way to war, natural calamities, or other tragedies of history. 10.…
Most bank failures don’t make prime time news, though when they do, it’s usually bad news for everyone else. Some of the largest financial crashes in history were triggered by the collapse of major banks and other financial institutions, caused by factors like risky lending practices, bad assets, and lack of government regulation. 10. Bank…
Viral social media trends are usually harmless stuff like dancing or cats doing something specific and hilarious, though they can easily get out of hand if left unchecked. There have been quite a few bizarre – and sometimes downright dangerous – trends that went popular on websites like YouTube or TikTok in the past few…
While computer viruses are still not as dangerous as actual, real-life viruses, they can still cause a significant amount of damage if they’re left out in the open and allowed to infect a large number of computers – much like their natural counterparts. In the past few years, viruses and other similar types of mass…
Satellite and mapping technologies like Google maps have proven to be powerful tools for independent researchers and explorers around the world. While some sensitive places – like military installations and private residences – still remain out of view, most parts of the planet are now free to explore by anyone with a computer and a…
While we have no control over natural disasters like earthquakes and volcanoes, humans have been able to match – and sometimes far surpass – the damage caused by anything nature has thrown our way. Over time, ecological accidents caused by corporate greed, poor national policies, deregulation, and a bunch of other factors have caused considerable…
While it takes decades – sometimes even centuries – of effort and resources to build and populate a thriving city, all that could be wiped out by merely a few days of warfare. Even today, densely-populated settlements are deliberately and systematically targetted as a widely-practiced strategy of war, often resulting in the almost-total destruction of…
While the Second World War came to a decisive end more than seven decades ago, many of its biggest mysteries remain unsolved to this day – from lost legendary treasures like the Amber Room to missing crews that disappeared without a trace. 10. Battle of Los Angeles The ‘Battle of Los Angeles’ was the name…
The modern sniper showed up some time around the late nineteenth century, especially during the American Civil War. While still not known as ‘snipers’, sharpshooters were used by both Union and Confederate forces throughout the conflict, even if in a limited capacity. Their role would be vastly expanded by the turn of the century, when…
While underground isn’t anyone’s favorite place to live, cultures throughout history have experimented with the idea in one way or another. Even today, one can visit the remains of many fascinating underground cities and structures around the world – from the haunted vaults below Edinburgh to the vast network of catacombs beneath Odessa. 10. Matmata…
Destruction of cultural artifacts and heritage sites in times of war has been a norm throughout history, intentionally or otherwise. Sadly, cultural heritage is still one of the many casualties of war, often leaving a deep, lasting impact on the legacy and identity of communities caught in the crossfire. 10. Royal Opera House, Malta Throughout…
We tend to believe that powerful, world-changing innovations require complex engineering and a lot of scientific effort to come up with, but that’s not always the case. Sometimes, simple improvements like ball bearings and barbed wires have had a huge impact on the course of human history, often directly leading to the more complex works…