Song Curio
Find your next musical obsession.
Curio Cabinet
- By Date
- By Type
September 17, 2025
-
FREEWorld History Daily Curio #3153Free1 CQ
All the other mummies must be rolling in their graves! Until recently, it wasthought that the oldest mummies were around 7,000 years old, originating from the Chinchorro people in South America. Now, scientists have discovered mummies nearly twice as old in southeast Asia.
The process of deliberately mummifying a person’s remains is as varied as the cultures that practiced it. In ancient Egypt, the first mummies were created around 5000 B.C.E. thanks to the region’s naturally dry climate, which helped preserve bodies without extensive effort. More elaborate rituals developed later, around 4330 B.C.E., when Egyptians began using advanced embalming techniques to mummify the dead. Also around 5000 B.C.E., the Chinchorro people in modern-day Peru and Chile developed artificial mummification, and their mummies were thought to be the oldest in history. However, a string of new discoveries in south China, Vietnam, Laos, and other parts of Asia show that the history of artificial mummification is much older.
Researchers found human remains of hunter-gatherers which were deliberately desiccated with fire over a long period of time. In addition to the heat, the smoke helped preserve the bodies as they dried out over several months. The bodies were also positioned carefully to avoid letting the skeleton fall apart while drying, showing that there was significant effort put into the process. According to the researchers, these hunter-gatherers were using the smoke-drying method nearly 12,000 years ago, predating the Chinchorro mummies by 7,000 years. The method itself is also rare, but not unheard of. Smoke-drying was used by the indigenous peoples of Australia, and it’s still used by some groups in the highlands of New Guinea. While it’s not as famous today as ancient Egyptian mummification techniques, the smoke-drying method must have been well known in pre-history, since it appears to have been used widely over millennia. You could say these mummies are tried, dried, and true.
All the other mummies must be rolling in their graves! Until recently, it wasthought that the oldest mummies were around 7,000 years old, originating from the Chinchorro people in South America. Now, scientists have discovered mummies nearly twice as old in southeast Asia.
The process of deliberately mummifying a person’s remains is as varied as the cultures that practiced it. In ancient Egypt, the first mummies were created around 5000 B.C.E. thanks to the region’s naturally dry climate, which helped preserve bodies without extensive effort. More elaborate rituals developed later, around 4330 B.C.E., when Egyptians began using advanced embalming techniques to mummify the dead. Also around 5000 B.C.E., the Chinchorro people in modern-day Peru and Chile developed artificial mummification, and their mummies were thought to be the oldest in history. However, a string of new discoveries in south China, Vietnam, Laos, and other parts of Asia show that the history of artificial mummification is much older.
Researchers found human remains of hunter-gatherers which were deliberately desiccated with fire over a long period of time. In addition to the heat, the smoke helped preserve the bodies as they dried out over several months. The bodies were also positioned carefully to avoid letting the skeleton fall apart while drying, showing that there was significant effort put into the process. According to the researchers, these hunter-gatherers were using the smoke-drying method nearly 12,000 years ago, predating the Chinchorro mummies by 7,000 years. The method itself is also rare, but not unheard of. Smoke-drying was used by the indigenous peoples of Australia, and it’s still used by some groups in the highlands of New Guinea. While it’s not as famous today as ancient Egyptian mummification techniques, the smoke-drying method must have been well known in pre-history, since it appears to have been used widely over millennia. You could say these mummies are tried, dried, and true.
-
FREEBiology Nerdy CurioFree1 CQ
You can ko-a-la us crazy, but we think these are some of the most fascinating animals on the planet. They’re about to get a lot healthier, too: Australia recently approved a koala-specific vaccine to help the species fight chlamydia, a sexually-transmitted disease that around 48 percent of wild koalas are thought to have. The new vaccine reduces mortality by around 65 percent, which is especially good news since koala populations are currently in decline.
Koalas, like many animals native to Australia, are marsupials, meaning that they give birth to tiny, underdeveloped young which then attach themselves to a pouch and continue developing there. Many marsupials also carry their young in their pouches even after they’re fully developed, to protect them from predators and shield them from the elements. Koalas are around the size of small dogs, growing up to 33 inches long and weighing up to 33 pounds. They’re famous for their cute, teddy-bear-like appearance, but there’s a lot more to them than that.
Even among marsupials, koalas are oddballs. It’s thought that their name originates from the Dharug language, in which it means “no drink” or “no water.” Indeed, koalas almost never drink water directly, unless there’s a fire or particularly devastating heat wave. Instead, they get all their water from their only source of food: Eucalyptus leaves. Yes, koalas only eat one thing, and it’s poisonous. Most animals would die from consuming eucalyptus, but koalas have special liver enzymes and gut fauna that allow them to digest the toxic leaves with no issue.
There’s a price to pay for their unusual diet, though. First of all, eating just one thing means that koalas can’t adapt to other environments very well, so deforestation and diseases that affect eucalyptus trees inevitably devastate koala populations. Then there’s the fact that digesting poisonous leaves requires a lot of energy, which means that koalas have to conserve it in other areas. This is part of the reason that they spend up to 22 hours a day sleeping. It might also contribute to their extremely small brain size. Koalas have one of the smallest brain-to-body mass ratios in the entire animal kingdom, with their brains making up just 0.2 percent of their body mass. As if that’s not embarrassing enough, koalas’ brains are also smooth, which makes complex or out-of-the-norm tasks (such as eating eucalyptus leaves from anything other than an actual branch) difficult for them to learn. Large, complex brains take a lot of energy to maintain, and koalas simply don’t have enough to spare. Despite koalas’ declining population, Australia regards them as a national symbol, and conservationists are doing all they can to preserve their habitats and fight the climate change and deforestation that impacts them. They may be small (and sleepy) but they’ve got a lot of dedicated people in their corner.
[Image description: A koala sitting in a tree, grasping leaves in its paws.] Credit & copyright: Sklmsta, Wikimedia Commons. This file is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.You can ko-a-la us crazy, but we think these are some of the most fascinating animals on the planet. They’re about to get a lot healthier, too: Australia recently approved a koala-specific vaccine to help the species fight chlamydia, a sexually-transmitted disease that around 48 percent of wild koalas are thought to have. The new vaccine reduces mortality by around 65 percent, which is especially good news since koala populations are currently in decline.
Koalas, like many animals native to Australia, are marsupials, meaning that they give birth to tiny, underdeveloped young which then attach themselves to a pouch and continue developing there. Many marsupials also carry their young in their pouches even after they’re fully developed, to protect them from predators and shield them from the elements. Koalas are around the size of small dogs, growing up to 33 inches long and weighing up to 33 pounds. They’re famous for their cute, teddy-bear-like appearance, but there’s a lot more to them than that.
Even among marsupials, koalas are oddballs. It’s thought that their name originates from the Dharug language, in which it means “no drink” or “no water.” Indeed, koalas almost never drink water directly, unless there’s a fire or particularly devastating heat wave. Instead, they get all their water from their only source of food: Eucalyptus leaves. Yes, koalas only eat one thing, and it’s poisonous. Most animals would die from consuming eucalyptus, but koalas have special liver enzymes and gut fauna that allow them to digest the toxic leaves with no issue.
There’s a price to pay for their unusual diet, though. First of all, eating just one thing means that koalas can’t adapt to other environments very well, so deforestation and diseases that affect eucalyptus trees inevitably devastate koala populations. Then there’s the fact that digesting poisonous leaves requires a lot of energy, which means that koalas have to conserve it in other areas. This is part of the reason that they spend up to 22 hours a day sleeping. It might also contribute to their extremely small brain size. Koalas have one of the smallest brain-to-body mass ratios in the entire animal kingdom, with their brains making up just 0.2 percent of their body mass. As if that’s not embarrassing enough, koalas’ brains are also smooth, which makes complex or out-of-the-norm tasks (such as eating eucalyptus leaves from anything other than an actual branch) difficult for them to learn. Large, complex brains take a lot of energy to maintain, and koalas simply don’t have enough to spare. Despite koalas’ declining population, Australia regards them as a national symbol, and conservationists are doing all they can to preserve their habitats and fight the climate change and deforestation that impacts them. They may be small (and sleepy) but they’ve got a lot of dedicated people in their corner.
[Image description: A koala sitting in a tree, grasping leaves in its paws.] Credit & copyright: Sklmsta, Wikimedia Commons. This file is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.
September 16, 2025
-
FREEWorld History Daily Curio #3152Free1 CQ
War makes history, and sometimes unmakes it as well. An enduring and iconic symbol of Greece, the Parthenon has stood for two and a half millennia, though not without bearing its share of scars. The most devastating blow to the ancient wonder of the world arrived this month in 1687, during the Venetian siege of Athens, which was then under Ottoman control.
The Parthenon was originally a temple to Athena, and it was built on the ruins of two other temples dedicated to the same goddess. The first was the Hekatompedon Temple, which was replaced by what is now called the Older Parthenon. After the still incomplete Older Parthenon was destroyed during the war against the Persians, Athenians built the new Parthenon over the ruins in 438 B.C.E., and it stood there largely intact for centuries. After the Romans adopted Christianity, it became a Christian church until the Ottomans conquered it and turned it into a mosque. Both groups made modifications to the Parthenon, with the former adding murals of saints and the latter adding a minaret. The Parthenon was already far from its original condition by the time the Venetians laid siege to Athens in 1687, though no modification would prove to be quite as extensive as an artillery bombardment that turned much of the Parthenon’s marble structure into rubble.
While the Parthenon was still in Ottoman custody in the early 1800s, British ambassador Lord Elgin took it upon himself to preserve what remained of the building’s sculptural features by removing them from the building’s grounds. He later sold the meticulously-detailed frieze and metopes to the British government, setting off a still-ongoing dispute between Britain and Greece regarding the ownership of the “Elgin Marbles.” It wasn’t until Greece gained independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1830 that the Parthenon would be restored to better resemble its original appearance. Despite its missing pieces, the ancient wonder is still a national symbol of Greece, having endured the ages despite the odds. Athena would be pleased, don’t you think?
[Image description: A painting of the parthenon with some collapsed columns.] Credit & copyright: The Parthenon, Frederic Edwin Church, 1871. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Bequest of Maria DeWitt Jesup, from the collection of her husband, Morris K. Jesup, 1914. Public Domain.War makes history, and sometimes unmakes it as well. An enduring and iconic symbol of Greece, the Parthenon has stood for two and a half millennia, though not without bearing its share of scars. The most devastating blow to the ancient wonder of the world arrived this month in 1687, during the Venetian siege of Athens, which was then under Ottoman control.
The Parthenon was originally a temple to Athena, and it was built on the ruins of two other temples dedicated to the same goddess. The first was the Hekatompedon Temple, which was replaced by what is now called the Older Parthenon. After the still incomplete Older Parthenon was destroyed during the war against the Persians, Athenians built the new Parthenon over the ruins in 438 B.C.E., and it stood there largely intact for centuries. After the Romans adopted Christianity, it became a Christian church until the Ottomans conquered it and turned it into a mosque. Both groups made modifications to the Parthenon, with the former adding murals of saints and the latter adding a minaret. The Parthenon was already far from its original condition by the time the Venetians laid siege to Athens in 1687, though no modification would prove to be quite as extensive as an artillery bombardment that turned much of the Parthenon’s marble structure into rubble.
While the Parthenon was still in Ottoman custody in the early 1800s, British ambassador Lord Elgin took it upon himself to preserve what remained of the building’s sculptural features by removing them from the building’s grounds. He later sold the meticulously-detailed frieze and metopes to the British government, setting off a still-ongoing dispute between Britain and Greece regarding the ownership of the “Elgin Marbles.” It wasn’t until Greece gained independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1830 that the Parthenon would be restored to better resemble its original appearance. Despite its missing pieces, the ancient wonder is still a national symbol of Greece, having endured the ages despite the odds. Athena would be pleased, don’t you think?
[Image description: A painting of the parthenon with some collapsed columns.] Credit & copyright: The Parthenon, Frederic Edwin Church, 1871. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Bequest of Maria DeWitt Jesup, from the collection of her husband, Morris K. Jesup, 1914. Public Domain.
September 15, 2025
-
FREEEngineering Daily Curio #3151Free1 CQ
If you’re afraid of needles, there’s no need to flinch—unless you also happen to be afraid of bees. Researchers in South Korea have developed a new type of microneedle that is more comfortable than existing ones, and they did it by taking a look at nature’s flying syringes: bees.
Microneedles are already pretty pain-free compared to standard needles, thanks to the fact that they’re only a few microns thick. Still, they have their limits. These minuscule needles are used when patients require continuously injected medication, but over time, the rigidity of the needles can start to cause pain and discomfort. Microneedles are also primarily used by patients with chronic conditions. For them, the very tool meant to treat them becomes a nuisance of its own. To tackle this issue, researchers at Chung An University developed what they call electrospun web microneedles (EW-MNs), inspired by honeybee stingers. Honeybees have barbs on their stingers, and when they sting something, they get stuck. That’s why the stinger tears away from the bee’s thorax as the insect flies away, leaving the bee to perish after delivering its venomous payload. The bee might find some cold comfort in the fact that its stinger remains attached to its victim, pumping what remains of the venom, all thanks to the microscopic barbs holding it in place.
Researchers recreated this mechanism by spinning ultra-fine polymer fibers in an electric field, which act as anchors for microneedles. Like the honeybee’s stinger, the barbs allow the needles to stay in place while delivering medication without as much pain and inflammation as conventional needles would cause. Even when there was inflammation, it subsided quickly after the microneedle patch was removed. The drug they tested using the EW-MNs was rivastigmine, used for Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease, and researchers found that their bee-inspired microneedles also increased the absorption of the drug. All those poor bees who gave their lives would be rolling in their graves if they knew that their stingers were actually helping people!
[Image description: A honeybee on a purple flower.] Credit & copyright: John Severns (Severnjc), Wikimedia Commons. This work has been released into the public domain by its author, Severnjc at English Wikipedia. This applies worldwide.If you’re afraid of needles, there’s no need to flinch—unless you also happen to be afraid of bees. Researchers in South Korea have developed a new type of microneedle that is more comfortable than existing ones, and they did it by taking a look at nature’s flying syringes: bees.
Microneedles are already pretty pain-free compared to standard needles, thanks to the fact that they’re only a few microns thick. Still, they have their limits. These minuscule needles are used when patients require continuously injected medication, but over time, the rigidity of the needles can start to cause pain and discomfort. Microneedles are also primarily used by patients with chronic conditions. For them, the very tool meant to treat them becomes a nuisance of its own. To tackle this issue, researchers at Chung An University developed what they call electrospun web microneedles (EW-MNs), inspired by honeybee stingers. Honeybees have barbs on their stingers, and when they sting something, they get stuck. That’s why the stinger tears away from the bee’s thorax as the insect flies away, leaving the bee to perish after delivering its venomous payload. The bee might find some cold comfort in the fact that its stinger remains attached to its victim, pumping what remains of the venom, all thanks to the microscopic barbs holding it in place.
Researchers recreated this mechanism by spinning ultra-fine polymer fibers in an electric field, which act as anchors for microneedles. Like the honeybee’s stinger, the barbs allow the needles to stay in place while delivering medication without as much pain and inflammation as conventional needles would cause. Even when there was inflammation, it subsided quickly after the microneedle patch was removed. The drug they tested using the EW-MNs was rivastigmine, used for Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease, and researchers found that their bee-inspired microneedles also increased the absorption of the drug. All those poor bees who gave their lives would be rolling in their graves if they knew that their stingers were actually helping people!
[Image description: A honeybee on a purple flower.] Credit & copyright: John Severns (Severnjc), Wikimedia Commons. This work has been released into the public domain by its author, Severnjc at English Wikipedia. This applies worldwide. -
FREEArt Appreciation Art CurioFree1 CQ
This fanciful object was once a common household item…unfortunately for the ocean. The picture above shows a black glass vessel. It’s rounded at the top and has a tiered base. This object is actually a whale oil lamp used to illuminate homes. Whale oil has been used for millennia for various purposes, mostly for lighting. Starting in the 19th century, however, whale oil began to have wider commercial and industrial applications, primarily as a lubricant that could tolerate extreme temperatures. Whale oil was used well into the 20th century, including in the manufacture of nitroglycerin, soap, and even margarine. Among whale oils, the type refined from sperm whale blubber was considered the best, particularly as an illuminant. Unlike other oils, sperm oil produced a smokeless, odorless flame and was used in large quantities in lighthouses. For these qualities, its versatility and its convenience, whale oil continued to be used long after petroleum-based fuels became widely available. Of course, none of this was particularly convenient for the whales themselves. Today, many laws prohibit whale oil and other whale products except under specific circumstances. Who needs lamps in the middle of the ocean anyway?
Whale Oil Lamp, 1830-40, Pressed and free-blown glass, 11.56 in. (29.4 cm), The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, New York
[Image credit & copyright: Whale Oil Lamp, Gift of Dr. Michael Heidelberger, in memory of Nina T. Heidelberger, 1982. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Public Domain.This fanciful object was once a common household item…unfortunately for the ocean. The picture above shows a black glass vessel. It’s rounded at the top and has a tiered base. This object is actually a whale oil lamp used to illuminate homes. Whale oil has been used for millennia for various purposes, mostly for lighting. Starting in the 19th century, however, whale oil began to have wider commercial and industrial applications, primarily as a lubricant that could tolerate extreme temperatures. Whale oil was used well into the 20th century, including in the manufacture of nitroglycerin, soap, and even margarine. Among whale oils, the type refined from sperm whale blubber was considered the best, particularly as an illuminant. Unlike other oils, sperm oil produced a smokeless, odorless flame and was used in large quantities in lighthouses. For these qualities, its versatility and its convenience, whale oil continued to be used long after petroleum-based fuels became widely available. Of course, none of this was particularly convenient for the whales themselves. Today, many laws prohibit whale oil and other whale products except under specific circumstances. Who needs lamps in the middle of the ocean anyway?
Whale Oil Lamp, 1830-40, Pressed and free-blown glass, 11.56 in. (29.4 cm), The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, New York
[Image credit & copyright: Whale Oil Lamp, Gift of Dr. Michael Heidelberger, in memory of Nina T. Heidelberger, 1982. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Public Domain.
September 14, 2025
-
FREEWorld History PP&T CurioFree1 CQ
Time flies when you’re having fun—or switching to a new dating system. During this month in 1752, the Calendar Riot supposedly took place after Britain adopted the Gregorian calendar. Due to a lingering error, the new calendar was off by 11 days when it went into effect, but the government simply decided to skip over the lost days and start anew. The move was met with disapproval by those who felt that they might be cheated out of wages. Strangely, it’s not the only time in history that a difference between calendars caused trouble.
For much of European history, governments, churches, and all civic functions used the Julian calendar. The dating system was named after Julius Caesar, who sought to replace the Roman Republican calendar for a number of reasons. At that time, the Roman calendar consisted of 355 days spread out over 10 months, falling about 10.25 days short of a full solar year. To keep the calendar in pace with the seasons, the Roman government would occasionally add in an extra month of 27 or 28 days called Mercedonius. It wasn’t long before this was exploited by politicians who wanted to shorten or lengthen the term of an official they opposed or supported. The Julian calendar, by contrast, consisted of 365.25 days and 12 months, with each month consisting of 30 or 31 days except for February, which had 28. On leap years, the calendar simply repeated February 23 instead of adding on an extra day at the end. This new calendar was based on the Egyptian calendar, but due to a slight miscalculation, the Julian calendar was off by 11 minutes and 14 seconds. While that was still impressively accurate at the time, the calendar still began to drift ever so slowly as the centuries ticked by. By the 16th century, it was off by 10 days. To amend the problem, Pope Gregory XIII created the Gregorian calendar in 1582, which was adopted in the following years by most of Europe. When Britain made the switch in September of 1752, taking the calendar from Wednesday September 2 to Thursday September 14, the decision was met with derision and hostility. Some believed that their lives had been shortened by as many days, while others loathed the idea of a “popish” calendar in a non-Catholic nation. Claims of rioting, however, were likely fabricated or exaggerated, and the new calendar was there to stay.
Aside from the Julian and Gregorian calendars, there have been other dating systems throughout history, and some are still in use today. Even the Julian calendar is still used to determine feast days by Eastern Orthodox churches, meaning that their Easter falls on a different day than those who used the Gregorian calendar. In India, there are at least three calendars being used simultaneously; the Gregorian calendar is used for secular purposes, the Indian National calendar is used exclusively by the government, and a number of Hindu calendars are used for religious purposes. Ethiopia has a calendar of their own too, which is the dominant dating system in the country. Their calendar has 12 months of 30 days, with an extra month of five days (six on leap years), and lags by seven or eight years. The Ethiopian calendar is used for both secular and religious purposes, while the Gregorian calendar is used for international commerce. Some calendars have even come and gone in recent centuries. The French Republican calendar, developed during the French Revolution, was used for just 14 years before the country gave it up. It consisted of 10-day weeks and 12 months of 30 days, with a five or six day holiday period at the end of the year. The Soviet Union also experimented with a dating system based on the French Republican calendar without success.
Historical calendars are a glimpse into past cultures and traditions, but sometimes they’re also a pain. One famous anecdote from the 1908 Olympics claims that the shooting team of the Russian Empire showed up 12 days late and missed the entire competition because they were on the Julian calendar. How unlike them to miss their mark.
[Image description: A black-and-white French calendar that was briefly used after the French Revolution.] Credit & copyright: Revolutionary Calendar, Louis Philibert Debucourt, 1793. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Funds from various donors, 2013. Public Domain.Time flies when you’re having fun—or switching to a new dating system. During this month in 1752, the Calendar Riot supposedly took place after Britain adopted the Gregorian calendar. Due to a lingering error, the new calendar was off by 11 days when it went into effect, but the government simply decided to skip over the lost days and start anew. The move was met with disapproval by those who felt that they might be cheated out of wages. Strangely, it’s not the only time in history that a difference between calendars caused trouble.
For much of European history, governments, churches, and all civic functions used the Julian calendar. The dating system was named after Julius Caesar, who sought to replace the Roman Republican calendar for a number of reasons. At that time, the Roman calendar consisted of 355 days spread out over 10 months, falling about 10.25 days short of a full solar year. To keep the calendar in pace with the seasons, the Roman government would occasionally add in an extra month of 27 or 28 days called Mercedonius. It wasn’t long before this was exploited by politicians who wanted to shorten or lengthen the term of an official they opposed or supported. The Julian calendar, by contrast, consisted of 365.25 days and 12 months, with each month consisting of 30 or 31 days except for February, which had 28. On leap years, the calendar simply repeated February 23 instead of adding on an extra day at the end. This new calendar was based on the Egyptian calendar, but due to a slight miscalculation, the Julian calendar was off by 11 minutes and 14 seconds. While that was still impressively accurate at the time, the calendar still began to drift ever so slowly as the centuries ticked by. By the 16th century, it was off by 10 days. To amend the problem, Pope Gregory XIII created the Gregorian calendar in 1582, which was adopted in the following years by most of Europe. When Britain made the switch in September of 1752, taking the calendar from Wednesday September 2 to Thursday September 14, the decision was met with derision and hostility. Some believed that their lives had been shortened by as many days, while others loathed the idea of a “popish” calendar in a non-Catholic nation. Claims of rioting, however, were likely fabricated or exaggerated, and the new calendar was there to stay.
Aside from the Julian and Gregorian calendars, there have been other dating systems throughout history, and some are still in use today. Even the Julian calendar is still used to determine feast days by Eastern Orthodox churches, meaning that their Easter falls on a different day than those who used the Gregorian calendar. In India, there are at least three calendars being used simultaneously; the Gregorian calendar is used for secular purposes, the Indian National calendar is used exclusively by the government, and a number of Hindu calendars are used for religious purposes. Ethiopia has a calendar of their own too, which is the dominant dating system in the country. Their calendar has 12 months of 30 days, with an extra month of five days (six on leap years), and lags by seven or eight years. The Ethiopian calendar is used for both secular and religious purposes, while the Gregorian calendar is used for international commerce. Some calendars have even come and gone in recent centuries. The French Republican calendar, developed during the French Revolution, was used for just 14 years before the country gave it up. It consisted of 10-day weeks and 12 months of 30 days, with a five or six day holiday period at the end of the year. The Soviet Union also experimented with a dating system based on the French Republican calendar without success.
Historical calendars are a glimpse into past cultures and traditions, but sometimes they’re also a pain. One famous anecdote from the 1908 Olympics claims that the shooting team of the Russian Empire showed up 12 days late and missed the entire competition because they were on the Julian calendar. How unlike them to miss their mark.
[Image description: A black-and-white French calendar that was briefly used after the French Revolution.] Credit & copyright: Revolutionary Calendar, Louis Philibert Debucourt, 1793. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Funds from various donors, 2013. Public Domain.
September 13, 2025
-
FREESports Sporty CurioFree1 CQ
Even in sports, it’s not always a good idea to get the ball. After a woman allegedly took away a home run ball from a young fan during a recent Philadelphia Phillies game, she garnered a lot of negative attention. However, the public’s poor reaction to her pales in comparison to the treatment a fan named Steve Bartman received after he caught a foul ball back in 2003. That game saw the Chicago Cubs face off against the Marlins. At stake? A shot at the World Series. By this point, the Cubs were spitting distance from the title after not having won the World Series since 1945. The dry spell was so lengthy that many fans believed the team was cursed, à la the Boston Red Sox. When a Cubs fan named Steve Bartman caught a foul ball that should have been caught by Cubs outfielder Moises Alou, it helped the team lose the playoffs. Afterward, Bartman was sent death threats, Cubs fans reviled him, and he was basically blamed for the Cubs’ failure to get the title as if it had been a forgone conclusion. Many have condemned Cubs fans’ treatment of Bartman, on the basis that he only did what anyone else would have done: catch a ball from the stands. Even the Cubs must have felt the reaction was overkill, as they gifted Bartman a World Series ring after they finally “broke the curse” in 2016. It’s an ugly part of baseball history, but if you find yourself eager to catch a stray ball, it’s definitely worth remembering.
Even in sports, it’s not always a good idea to get the ball. After a woman allegedly took away a home run ball from a young fan during a recent Philadelphia Phillies game, she garnered a lot of negative attention. However, the public’s poor reaction to her pales in comparison to the treatment a fan named Steve Bartman received after he caught a foul ball back in 2003. That game saw the Chicago Cubs face off against the Marlins. At stake? A shot at the World Series. By this point, the Cubs were spitting distance from the title after not having won the World Series since 1945. The dry spell was so lengthy that many fans believed the team was cursed, à la the Boston Red Sox. When a Cubs fan named Steve Bartman caught a foul ball that should have been caught by Cubs outfielder Moises Alou, it helped the team lose the playoffs. Afterward, Bartman was sent death threats, Cubs fans reviled him, and he was basically blamed for the Cubs’ failure to get the title as if it had been a forgone conclusion. Many have condemned Cubs fans’ treatment of Bartman, on the basis that he only did what anyone else would have done: catch a ball from the stands. Even the Cubs must have felt the reaction was overkill, as they gifted Bartman a World Series ring after they finally “broke the curse” in 2016. It’s an ugly part of baseball history, but if you find yourself eager to catch a stray ball, it’s definitely worth remembering.
September 12, 2025
-
FREEMind + Body Daily CurioFree1 CQ
If there’s any sandwich that could give the hamburger a run for its money in the fame department, it’s the Sloppy Joe. Messy and comforting, this tangy sandwich has a disputed history. Depending on who you ask, sloppy joes either originated in Cuba…or Iowa.
Rather than sliced meats or patties, Sloppy Joe buns hold a thick sauce made from ground beef mixed with liquid components like ketchup and Worcestershire sauce along with chopped tomatoes, onions, and seasonings like garlic powder. They can be served on hamburger buns, split rolls, or thick toast. Pre-made Sloppy Joe filling is commonly found at grocery stores and the sandwiches are popular to serve at parties, but unlike hamburgers, Sloppy Joes aren’t served at many fast food restaurants, probably because their saucy consistency makes for a messy on-the-go meal.
Like hamburgers, Sloppy Joes couldn’t have grown popular without the rise or refrigeration and industrialization leading to widely-available ground beef in the late 19th century. As soon as ground beef became a staple item in American homes, recipes for “loose meat sandwiches” began popping up across the country, but grew especially popular in the Midwest. These sandwiches made use of condiments, sauces, and spices that most people already had on hand. It makes sense, then, that one popular story about the origin of Sloppy Joes comes from Sioux City, Iowa, where a cook named Joe supposedly created it.
The other, most common tale of the Sloppy Joe’s origin begins in Havana, Cuba, where a bar owned by a businessman named José García supposedly earned the nickname “Sloppy Joe” because of its messy atmosphere. The story goes that, after Ernest Hemingway fell in love with the bar’s signature sandwich during a trip to Cuba, he brought it back to the states, where it thrived.
Whether it was born stateside or not, there’s no doubt that Sloppy Joes are strongly associated with American backyard barbecues and family meals today. Just make sure you eat them with a good, solid plate underneath.
[Image description: A sloppy joe sandwich with chips.] Credit & copyright: Tomwsulcer, Wikimedia Commons. This file is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.If there’s any sandwich that could give the hamburger a run for its money in the fame department, it’s the Sloppy Joe. Messy and comforting, this tangy sandwich has a disputed history. Depending on who you ask, sloppy joes either originated in Cuba…or Iowa.
Rather than sliced meats or patties, Sloppy Joe buns hold a thick sauce made from ground beef mixed with liquid components like ketchup and Worcestershire sauce along with chopped tomatoes, onions, and seasonings like garlic powder. They can be served on hamburger buns, split rolls, or thick toast. Pre-made Sloppy Joe filling is commonly found at grocery stores and the sandwiches are popular to serve at parties, but unlike hamburgers, Sloppy Joes aren’t served at many fast food restaurants, probably because their saucy consistency makes for a messy on-the-go meal.
Like hamburgers, Sloppy Joes couldn’t have grown popular without the rise or refrigeration and industrialization leading to widely-available ground beef in the late 19th century. As soon as ground beef became a staple item in American homes, recipes for “loose meat sandwiches” began popping up across the country, but grew especially popular in the Midwest. These sandwiches made use of condiments, sauces, and spices that most people already had on hand. It makes sense, then, that one popular story about the origin of Sloppy Joes comes from Sioux City, Iowa, where a cook named Joe supposedly created it.
The other, most common tale of the Sloppy Joe’s origin begins in Havana, Cuba, where a bar owned by a businessman named José García supposedly earned the nickname “Sloppy Joe” because of its messy atmosphere. The story goes that, after Ernest Hemingway fell in love with the bar’s signature sandwich during a trip to Cuba, he brought it back to the states, where it thrived.
Whether it was born stateside or not, there’s no doubt that Sloppy Joes are strongly associated with American backyard barbecues and family meals today. Just make sure you eat them with a good, solid plate underneath.
[Image description: A sloppy joe sandwich with chips.] Credit & copyright: Tomwsulcer, Wikimedia Commons. This file is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.
September 11, 2025
-
FREEScience Daily Curio #3150Free1 CQ
If you start feeling queasy in the car, try blasting the stereo. Scientists have found that happy music can alleviate the symptoms of motion sickness, but the specific tunes one chooses to listen to matters a lot. Motion sickness is something that happens when a person’s brain receives conflicting information from the different senses regarding their motion. So, if the eyes see that the environment around them is moving but the inner ears and muscles don’t detect any movement, that conflict can lead to nausea, dizziness, and cold sweats. This means that riding in cars, boats, amusement park rides, and even using VR headsets can cause motion sickness, which can really cut down on the enjoyment of a car trip or vacation.
To test their theory that music can affect motion sickness, researchers at Southwest University in China actually used a driving simulator to induce the condition in participants. Participants were also equipped with electroencephalogram (EEG) caps to measure signals associated with motion sickness in the brain. When they started feeling queasy, researchers played different types of music. What they found was that “joyful” music was capable of reducing symptoms of motion sickness by 57.3 percent, while “soft” music did the same by 56.7 percent. “Passionate” music only alleviated symptoms by 48.3 percent, while “sad” music was as good as nothing, or maybe worse. In fact, they found that sad music might slightly worsen the symptoms by triggering negative emotions. Aside from music, there are other, more conventional remedies that also help with motion sickness, like sweet treats, fresh air, and taking a break from whatever is causing the sickness. In cars or other moving vehicles, reading can induce motion sickness, so it might be a good idea to take your eyes off the page or the phone. On your next road trip, maybe an MD should be the DJ.
[Image description: A reflection of trees, clouds, and the sun in a car window.] Credit & copyright: Tomwsulcer, Wikimedia Commons. This file is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.If you start feeling queasy in the car, try blasting the stereo. Scientists have found that happy music can alleviate the symptoms of motion sickness, but the specific tunes one chooses to listen to matters a lot. Motion sickness is something that happens when a person’s brain receives conflicting information from the different senses regarding their motion. So, if the eyes see that the environment around them is moving but the inner ears and muscles don’t detect any movement, that conflict can lead to nausea, dizziness, and cold sweats. This means that riding in cars, boats, amusement park rides, and even using VR headsets can cause motion sickness, which can really cut down on the enjoyment of a car trip or vacation.
To test their theory that music can affect motion sickness, researchers at Southwest University in China actually used a driving simulator to induce the condition in participants. Participants were also equipped with electroencephalogram (EEG) caps to measure signals associated with motion sickness in the brain. When they started feeling queasy, researchers played different types of music. What they found was that “joyful” music was capable of reducing symptoms of motion sickness by 57.3 percent, while “soft” music did the same by 56.7 percent. “Passionate” music only alleviated symptoms by 48.3 percent, while “sad” music was as good as nothing, or maybe worse. In fact, they found that sad music might slightly worsen the symptoms by triggering negative emotions. Aside from music, there are other, more conventional remedies that also help with motion sickness, like sweet treats, fresh air, and taking a break from whatever is causing the sickness. In cars or other moving vehicles, reading can induce motion sickness, so it might be a good idea to take your eyes off the page or the phone. On your next road trip, maybe an MD should be the DJ.
[Image description: A reflection of trees, clouds, and the sun in a car window.] Credit & copyright: Tomwsulcer, Wikimedia Commons. This file is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication. -
FREEBiology Nerdy CurioFree1 CQ
When it comes to the severity of flu infections, it’s often a matter of what you have, not what you lack. It’s common knowledge that older people are more vulnerable to the flu, and according to a paper published in PNAS by an international team of researchers, the culprit isn’t just weak immune systems. According to Kin-Chow Chang, a co-author of the paper from the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science at the University of Nottingham, understanding the mechanism behind severe flu symptoms in the elderly is a matter that requires urgent attention. As he explains, "Aging is a leading risk factor in influenza-related deaths. Furthermore, the global population is aging at an unprecedented rate in human history, posing major issues for health care and the economy.” To get to the bottom of the issue, Chang and his colleagues used an aging mouse model and samples of human tissue to observe how the immune system of an older population responds to the influenza virus. They discovered that older people produce more apolipoprotein D (ApoD), a glycosylated protein associated with lipid metabolism and inflammation. Higher levels of ApoD lead to more mitophagy, or the destruction of mitochondria. In the context of a viral infection, this means two things. First, since mitochondria produce cellular energy, higher rates of mitophagy means a weakened immune response. Two, the mitochondria also induce protective interferons, which inhibit viral replication. These two factors combine to make the elderly much weaker to a variety of viral infections, including the flu. People who are 65 or older account for 90 percent of flu deaths and up to 70 percent of flu-related hospitalizations, making them by far the most vulnerable population. With flu season just around the corner, this new knowledge won’t exactly have anyone breathing easy. Here’s hoping that this insight can lead to some solutions for older folks facing the flu.
When it comes to the severity of flu infections, it’s often a matter of what you have, not what you lack. It’s common knowledge that older people are more vulnerable to the flu, and according to a paper published in PNAS by an international team of researchers, the culprit isn’t just weak immune systems. According to Kin-Chow Chang, a co-author of the paper from the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science at the University of Nottingham, understanding the mechanism behind severe flu symptoms in the elderly is a matter that requires urgent attention. As he explains, "Aging is a leading risk factor in influenza-related deaths. Furthermore, the global population is aging at an unprecedented rate in human history, posing major issues for health care and the economy.” To get to the bottom of the issue, Chang and his colleagues used an aging mouse model and samples of human tissue to observe how the immune system of an older population responds to the influenza virus. They discovered that older people produce more apolipoprotein D (ApoD), a glycosylated protein associated with lipid metabolism and inflammation. Higher levels of ApoD lead to more mitophagy, or the destruction of mitochondria. In the context of a viral infection, this means two things. First, since mitochondria produce cellular energy, higher rates of mitophagy means a weakened immune response. Two, the mitochondria also induce protective interferons, which inhibit viral replication. These two factors combine to make the elderly much weaker to a variety of viral infections, including the flu. People who are 65 or older account for 90 percent of flu deaths and up to 70 percent of flu-related hospitalizations, making them by far the most vulnerable population. With flu season just around the corner, this new knowledge won’t exactly have anyone breathing easy. Here’s hoping that this insight can lead to some solutions for older folks facing the flu.
