Daily Curio
An amusing daily fact from the Curious team.
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September 7, 2025
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FREEStyle PP&T CurioFree1 CQ
If you think bras are uncomfortable, try wearing corsets in the middle of summer. Brassieres have been around in some form for millennia, but the modern bra has only been popular for around a century. Some call them indispensable, some call them oppressive. Whether you love them or hate them, one thing’s for sure: they’ve got quite the history.
Before the advent of underwires, nylon, and adjustable straps, women used a variety of undergarments to support and cover their breasts. As far back as the 4th and 5th centuries B.C.E., the ancient Greeks and Romans used long pieces of fabric to make bandeau like garments. The Romans called it a strophium or mamillare, and these early predecessors to the bra lifted, separated, and supported the breasts. In the following eras, various other cultures developed breast-supporting garments of their own, though there isn’t much surviving documentation describing them. One medieval-era bra discovered in Austria resembles a modern bra or bikini top, consisting of two “cups” made of fabric meant to provide support and held up by straps made from the same material. During the 14th century, French surgeon Henri de Mondeville described a garment worn by many women of that time, which he likened to two bags of fabric fitted tightly on the breasts and fastened into place with a band. However, starting in the 16th century, corsets were introduced in Europe and became favored by middle and upper class women. Corsets were made to measure and wrapped around the wearer’s waist. Sewn into the layers of fabric was boning, often made of literal whale bones or, later, out of steel. Unlike the earlier iterations of the bra, corsets provided support from below by lacing around the torso. They also provided a thinning effect on the waist. Contrary to popular belief, corsets weren’t necessarily uncomfortable, provided they were properly fitted. While tightlacing trends sometimes took the idea of thinning women' s waists to extremes, these were exceptions, not the rule.
Even if corsets were perfectly comfortable, their days were numbered. Their downfall in popularity ultimately came down to their need for boning. The first iteration of the modern bra was invented in 1893 by Marie Tucek, whose patent shows a bra with shoulder straps and a pair of connected cups that support the breasts from underneath. Tucek’s bra didn’t catch on widely, but a few decades later in 1913, the modern bra as most people know it was invented by Mary Phelps Jacob. Jacob was a New York socialite who was sick of corset boning showing through the thinner fabrics of the fashionable evening dresses of the time. Her version was originally made of two silk handkerchiefs fastened onto her with ribbons, and she later created an improved version which she patented in 1914. Jacob also gave the garment its name, with “brassiere” being based on the French word for “bodice” or “arm guard.” Jacob first gave out her bras to friends and family by request, and later sold them commercially under the name “Caresse Crosby.” She later sold her patent to the Warner Brothers Corset Company, and the bras grew in popularity over the years.
The killing blow to the corset was actually World War I. During the war, steel rationing meant that most women were encouraged to give up corsets, which in the U.S. used up enough steel to build two battleships. With a better alternative, there was no reason not to switch to bras.
Over the last century, bras have undergone many changes, usually reflecting the fashions of the time. New materials like Lycra (better known as Spandex) and nylon allowed for more comfortable bras, while “bullet bras” or “cone bras,” with their exaggerated shapes, were designed purely for aesthetic reasons. Today, the bra has evolved from undergarment to essential sportswear for women with the advent of sports bras, which prioritize functionality and comfort, and are often worn without an additional layer of clothing over them. And not a sliver of whale bone in sight!
[Image description: A modern black bra against a white background.] Credit & copyright: FlorenceFlowerRaqs, Wikimedia Commons.If you think bras are uncomfortable, try wearing corsets in the middle of summer. Brassieres have been around in some form for millennia, but the modern bra has only been popular for around a century. Some call them indispensable, some call them oppressive. Whether you love them or hate them, one thing’s for sure: they’ve got quite the history.
Before the advent of underwires, nylon, and adjustable straps, women used a variety of undergarments to support and cover their breasts. As far back as the 4th and 5th centuries B.C.E., the ancient Greeks and Romans used long pieces of fabric to make bandeau like garments. The Romans called it a strophium or mamillare, and these early predecessors to the bra lifted, separated, and supported the breasts. In the following eras, various other cultures developed breast-supporting garments of their own, though there isn’t much surviving documentation describing them. One medieval-era bra discovered in Austria resembles a modern bra or bikini top, consisting of two “cups” made of fabric meant to provide support and held up by straps made from the same material. During the 14th century, French surgeon Henri de Mondeville described a garment worn by many women of that time, which he likened to two bags of fabric fitted tightly on the breasts and fastened into place with a band. However, starting in the 16th century, corsets were introduced in Europe and became favored by middle and upper class women. Corsets were made to measure and wrapped around the wearer’s waist. Sewn into the layers of fabric was boning, often made of literal whale bones or, later, out of steel. Unlike the earlier iterations of the bra, corsets provided support from below by lacing around the torso. They also provided a thinning effect on the waist. Contrary to popular belief, corsets weren’t necessarily uncomfortable, provided they were properly fitted. While tightlacing trends sometimes took the idea of thinning women' s waists to extremes, these were exceptions, not the rule.
Even if corsets were perfectly comfortable, their days were numbered. Their downfall in popularity ultimately came down to their need for boning. The first iteration of the modern bra was invented in 1893 by Marie Tucek, whose patent shows a bra with shoulder straps and a pair of connected cups that support the breasts from underneath. Tucek’s bra didn’t catch on widely, but a few decades later in 1913, the modern bra as most people know it was invented by Mary Phelps Jacob. Jacob was a New York socialite who was sick of corset boning showing through the thinner fabrics of the fashionable evening dresses of the time. Her version was originally made of two silk handkerchiefs fastened onto her with ribbons, and she later created an improved version which she patented in 1914. Jacob also gave the garment its name, with “brassiere” being based on the French word for “bodice” or “arm guard.” Jacob first gave out her bras to friends and family by request, and later sold them commercially under the name “Caresse Crosby.” She later sold her patent to the Warner Brothers Corset Company, and the bras grew in popularity over the years.
The killing blow to the corset was actually World War I. During the war, steel rationing meant that most women were encouraged to give up corsets, which in the U.S. used up enough steel to build two battleships. With a better alternative, there was no reason not to switch to bras.
Over the last century, bras have undergone many changes, usually reflecting the fashions of the time. New materials like Lycra (better known as Spandex) and nylon allowed for more comfortable bras, while “bullet bras” or “cone bras,” with their exaggerated shapes, were designed purely for aesthetic reasons. Today, the bra has evolved from undergarment to essential sportswear for women with the advent of sports bras, which prioritize functionality and comfort, and are often worn without an additional layer of clothing over them. And not a sliver of whale bone in sight!
[Image description: A modern black bra against a white background.] Credit & copyright: FlorenceFlowerRaqs, Wikimedia Commons.
September 6, 2025
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FREESports Sporty CurioFree1 CQ
Even elbow grease has its limits. The San Francisco Giants have announced that their relief pitcher, Randy Rodriguez, will have to sit out the rest of the season due to an elbow surgery that’s getting more and more common among baseball players. Known as the Tommy John surgery, the operation repairs a type of injury that could easily have ended an athlete’s career just decades ago. Named after the first baseball player to undergo the procedure in 1874, it involves taking ligaments from a donor site (usually the wrist) and using them to repair the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL). As of 2023, around 35 percent of pitchers in the MLB have received the surgery. More surprising, however, is the number of young baseball players who have needed it. In fact, over half of all people who have had their UCL repaired are athletes between the ages of 15 and 19, mostly baseball players. Increased specialization in the sport combined with year-round training and increasing competition have made injuries more common. Those who pitch more and at faster speeds are more likely to injure their UCL, and young athletes aiming for scholarships are no exception. The trend is so pronounced among young athletes that they are the fastest growing segment of the population to receive the surgery. They really do grow up so fast.
Even elbow grease has its limits. The San Francisco Giants have announced that their relief pitcher, Randy Rodriguez, will have to sit out the rest of the season due to an elbow surgery that’s getting more and more common among baseball players. Known as the Tommy John surgery, the operation repairs a type of injury that could easily have ended an athlete’s career just decades ago. Named after the first baseball player to undergo the procedure in 1874, it involves taking ligaments from a donor site (usually the wrist) and using them to repair the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL). As of 2023, around 35 percent of pitchers in the MLB have received the surgery. More surprising, however, is the number of young baseball players who have needed it. In fact, over half of all people who have had their UCL repaired are athletes between the ages of 15 and 19, mostly baseball players. Increased specialization in the sport combined with year-round training and increasing competition have made injuries more common. Those who pitch more and at faster speeds are more likely to injure their UCL, and young athletes aiming for scholarships are no exception. The trend is so pronounced among young athletes that they are the fastest growing segment of the population to receive the surgery. They really do grow up so fast.
September 5, 2025
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FREEMind + Body Daily CurioFree1 CQ
It’s small, but there’s no doubt that it’s mighty! Jamaican cuisine is known for its bold, spicy flavors, and nothing embodies that more than one of the island’s most common foods: Jamaican beef patties. These hand pies have been around since the 17th century, and though they’re one of Jamaica’s best loved dishes today, the roots of their flavor stretch to many different places.
Jamaican beef patties, also known simply as Jamaican patties depending on their filling, are a kind of hand pie or turnover with thick crust on the outside and a spicy, meaty mixture on the inside. The sturdy-yet-flaky crust is usually made with flour, fat, salt, and baking powder, and gets its signature yellow color from either egg yolks or turmeric. The filling is traditionally made with ground beef, root vegetables like onions, and spices like garlic, ginger, cayenne pepper powder, curry powder, thyme, and Scotch bonnet pepper powder. Some patties use pulled chicken in place of beef, and some are vegetarian, utilizing vegetables like carrots, peas, potatoes, and corn.
It’s no coincidence that Jamaican beef patties bear a resemblance to European meat pies. Similar foods first came to the island around 1509, when the Spanish began to colonize Jamaica, bringing turnovers with them. In 1655, the British took control of the island from Spain, and brought along their own Cornish pasties. These meat pies, with their hard crust, were usually served with gravy. It didn’t take long, however, for Jamaicans and others living in the Caribbean to make the dish their own. Scotch bonnet peppers, commonly used in Jamaican cuisine, were added to the beef filling, while Indian traders and workers added curry powder and enslaved Africans made their patties with cayenne pepper. The patties were made smaller and thinner than Cornish pasties and were served without gravy or sauce, making them easier to carry around and eat while working. Today, the patties are eaten throughout the Caribbean, and regional variations are common. From Europe to Asia to the Caribbean, these seemingly simple patties are actually a flavorful international affair!It’s small, but there’s no doubt that it’s mighty! Jamaican cuisine is known for its bold, spicy flavors, and nothing embodies that more than one of the island’s most common foods: Jamaican beef patties. These hand pies have been around since the 17th century, and though they’re one of Jamaica’s best loved dishes today, the roots of their flavor stretch to many different places.
Jamaican beef patties, also known simply as Jamaican patties depending on their filling, are a kind of hand pie or turnover with thick crust on the outside and a spicy, meaty mixture on the inside. The sturdy-yet-flaky crust is usually made with flour, fat, salt, and baking powder, and gets its signature yellow color from either egg yolks or turmeric. The filling is traditionally made with ground beef, root vegetables like onions, and spices like garlic, ginger, cayenne pepper powder, curry powder, thyme, and Scotch bonnet pepper powder. Some patties use pulled chicken in place of beef, and some are vegetarian, utilizing vegetables like carrots, peas, potatoes, and corn.
It’s no coincidence that Jamaican beef patties bear a resemblance to European meat pies. Similar foods first came to the island around 1509, when the Spanish began to colonize Jamaica, bringing turnovers with them. In 1655, the British took control of the island from Spain, and brought along their own Cornish pasties. These meat pies, with their hard crust, were usually served with gravy. It didn’t take long, however, for Jamaicans and others living in the Caribbean to make the dish their own. Scotch bonnet peppers, commonly used in Jamaican cuisine, were added to the beef filling, while Indian traders and workers added curry powder and enslaved Africans made their patties with cayenne pepper. The patties were made smaller and thinner than Cornish pasties and were served without gravy or sauce, making them easier to carry around and eat while working. Today, the patties are eaten throughout the Caribbean, and regional variations are common. From Europe to Asia to the Caribbean, these seemingly simple patties are actually a flavorful international affair!
September 4, 2025
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FREEScience Nerdy CurioFree1 CQ
It seems you can never breathe easy these days. According to a new study by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) published in ASTM International, air purifiers can sometimes release harmful byproducts into the air, and researchers have figured out a way to measure just how much. It seems paradoxical, but air purifiers aren’t always good for the air. They can use a variety of processes that create toxic byproducts. The most common of these is the ozone produced by UV lights meant to kill pathogens. Normally harmless in low concentrations, the ozone can sometimes accumulate enough to pose a threat to the user’s health. Other byproducts include formaldehyde and ultrafine particles, which are produced by an unintended interaction between the components of the air purifier. To test which air purifier models harm more than they help, the NIST developed a test to measure the pollutants. During the test, the air purifier is left running in a sealed room for four hours. Samples of the air are then taken. Then, a UV light is shone so that researchers can measure the amount of ozone and formaldehyde present in the samples, since both substances absorb UV radiation. To measure ultrafine particles, researchers use a method called scanning mobility particle sizing (SMPS), which passes the samples through an x-ray field. The x-ray imparts an electric charge on any particles that might be present, making it easier to sort ultrafine particles from larger ones, since they hold different amounts of charge. Once the ultrafine particles are isolated, they’re placed in a cool steam bath, which makes them swell in size. Then, lasers can be used to determine how much is present by measuring how much the particles scatter the light. It’s a lot of work to figure out how many impurities these purifiers are leaving behind, but there’s no doubt that it needs doing.
It seems you can never breathe easy these days. According to a new study by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) published in ASTM International, air purifiers can sometimes release harmful byproducts into the air, and researchers have figured out a way to measure just how much. It seems paradoxical, but air purifiers aren’t always good for the air. They can use a variety of processes that create toxic byproducts. The most common of these is the ozone produced by UV lights meant to kill pathogens. Normally harmless in low concentrations, the ozone can sometimes accumulate enough to pose a threat to the user’s health. Other byproducts include formaldehyde and ultrafine particles, which are produced by an unintended interaction between the components of the air purifier. To test which air purifier models harm more than they help, the NIST developed a test to measure the pollutants. During the test, the air purifier is left running in a sealed room for four hours. Samples of the air are then taken. Then, a UV light is shone so that researchers can measure the amount of ozone and formaldehyde present in the samples, since both substances absorb UV radiation. To measure ultrafine particles, researchers use a method called scanning mobility particle sizing (SMPS), which passes the samples through an x-ray field. The x-ray imparts an electric charge on any particles that might be present, making it easier to sort ultrafine particles from larger ones, since they hold different amounts of charge. Once the ultrafine particles are isolated, they’re placed in a cool steam bath, which makes them swell in size. Then, lasers can be used to determine how much is present by measuring how much the particles scatter the light. It’s a lot of work to figure out how many impurities these purifiers are leaving behind, but there’s no doubt that it needs doing.
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FREEUS History Daily Curio #3146Free1 CQ
Get ready to clutch your pearls—there are people shopping for clothes on Sundays. The city of Paramus, New Jersey, recently filed a lawsuit against a local mall for allowing shoppers to buy garments on Sundays, and while supporters of the suit say it’s to reduce noise and traffic, detractors say it’s an example of blue laws gone wrong.
Blue laws refer to any law that restricts secular activities on Sundays, though what’s covered varies considerably. Some are more well known, like the restriction on the sales of alcohol, while more extreme cases restrict entertainment, various types of commerce, sports and working in general. In the recent controversy, the American Dream mall has been accused of allowing shoppers to purchase “nonessential” goods. These include not just clothes, but furniture and appliances, as opposed to essential goods like groceries or medicine. Like many blue laws in other jurisdictions, Paramus’s has been on the books since the colonial period and has remained largely unchanged. As for how such laws got on the books in the first place, they were developed in England, then promoted by Puritans early in American history.
Due to their religious roots, blue laws have often been challenged in court as a violation of the First Amendment, which states that the government may not favor one particular religion. However, many blue laws still remain in effect partly from lack of the political will to change them and partly because of a Supreme Court ruling in their favor. In 1961, during a case called McGowan v. Maryland, the court ruled that Maryland’s blue laws forbidding certain types of commerce weren’t in violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. The justification was that, even if the laws were originally created to encourage church attendance on Sundays, they also served a secular function by making Sundays a universal day of rest. Whether you’re the pious or partying type, it’s hard to argue with a day off the clock.
[Image description: A porcelain sculpture of a man and woman in historical clothing in a clothing shop with goods on the wall behind them.] Credit & copyright: "Venetian Fair" shop with two figures, Ludwigsburg Porcelain Manufactory (German, 1758–1824). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of R. Thornton Wilson, in memory of Florence Ellsworth Wilson, 1950. Public Domain.Get ready to clutch your pearls—there are people shopping for clothes on Sundays. The city of Paramus, New Jersey, recently filed a lawsuit against a local mall for allowing shoppers to buy garments on Sundays, and while supporters of the suit say it’s to reduce noise and traffic, detractors say it’s an example of blue laws gone wrong.
Blue laws refer to any law that restricts secular activities on Sundays, though what’s covered varies considerably. Some are more well known, like the restriction on the sales of alcohol, while more extreme cases restrict entertainment, various types of commerce, sports and working in general. In the recent controversy, the American Dream mall has been accused of allowing shoppers to purchase “nonessential” goods. These include not just clothes, but furniture and appliances, as opposed to essential goods like groceries or medicine. Like many blue laws in other jurisdictions, Paramus’s has been on the books since the colonial period and has remained largely unchanged. As for how such laws got on the books in the first place, they were developed in England, then promoted by Puritans early in American history.
Due to their religious roots, blue laws have often been challenged in court as a violation of the First Amendment, which states that the government may not favor one particular religion. However, many blue laws still remain in effect partly from lack of the political will to change them and partly because of a Supreme Court ruling in their favor. In 1961, during a case called McGowan v. Maryland, the court ruled that Maryland’s blue laws forbidding certain types of commerce weren’t in violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. The justification was that, even if the laws were originally created to encourage church attendance on Sundays, they also served a secular function by making Sundays a universal day of rest. Whether you’re the pious or partying type, it’s hard to argue with a day off the clock.
[Image description: A porcelain sculpture of a man and woman in historical clothing in a clothing shop with goods on the wall behind them.] Credit & copyright: "Venetian Fair" shop with two figures, Ludwigsburg Porcelain Manufactory (German, 1758–1824). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of R. Thornton Wilson, in memory of Florence Ellsworth Wilson, 1950. Public Domain.
September 3, 2025
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FREEEngineering Daily Curio #3145Free1 CQ
Smell ya later—but not too much later! Millions of people suffer from loss of smell (anosmia) due to a variety of medical causes, but researchers at Hanyang University and Kwangwoon University in South Korea have now discovered a way to restore the lost sense using radio waves.
The sense of smell is more important to daily life than most people think. Just ask anyone who took the sense for granted before they lost it due to a sinus infection, brain injury, or COVID-19. The recent pandemic brought the issue to the spotlight, since it caused so many people to either temporarily or permanently lose their sense of smell, along with their sense of taste. With no sense of smell, it’s difficult to enjoy food at the very least, and at the worst, it can lead to danger. Imagine, for instance, not being able to detect spoiled food at a sniff before any visual indications are obvious or not being able to smell a gas leak. Currently, there is no surefire treatment for anosmia. If the cause is something like polyps or a deviated septum, surgery might help. In other cases, olfactory treatment can be used, which involves the use of strong, often unpleasant scents to “retrain” the patient’s nose.
Now, researchers claim they have come up with a completely noninvasive, chemical-free method to restore a sense of smell. The treatment makes use of a small radio antenna placed near the patient’s head that send out targeted radio waves at the nerves inside the brain responsible for smell. It sounds almost too good to be true, but the researchers claim that just a week of treatments produced significant improvements. If it really works as they say, then even those who aren’t suffering from anosmia could benefit, as it can potentially enhance a normal sense of smell to be even sharper. It could be the mildest superpower ever!
[Image description: A black-and-white illustration of a person in historical clothing smelling a flower next to two flowering plants.] Credit & copyright: Smell, Abraham Bosse, c.1635–38. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1930. Public Domain.Smell ya later—but not too much later! Millions of people suffer from loss of smell (anosmia) due to a variety of medical causes, but researchers at Hanyang University and Kwangwoon University in South Korea have now discovered a way to restore the lost sense using radio waves.
The sense of smell is more important to daily life than most people think. Just ask anyone who took the sense for granted before they lost it due to a sinus infection, brain injury, or COVID-19. The recent pandemic brought the issue to the spotlight, since it caused so many people to either temporarily or permanently lose their sense of smell, along with their sense of taste. With no sense of smell, it’s difficult to enjoy food at the very least, and at the worst, it can lead to danger. Imagine, for instance, not being able to detect spoiled food at a sniff before any visual indications are obvious or not being able to smell a gas leak. Currently, there is no surefire treatment for anosmia. If the cause is something like polyps or a deviated septum, surgery might help. In other cases, olfactory treatment can be used, which involves the use of strong, often unpleasant scents to “retrain” the patient’s nose.
Now, researchers claim they have come up with a completely noninvasive, chemical-free method to restore a sense of smell. The treatment makes use of a small radio antenna placed near the patient’s head that send out targeted radio waves at the nerves inside the brain responsible for smell. It sounds almost too good to be true, but the researchers claim that just a week of treatments produced significant improvements. If it really works as they say, then even those who aren’t suffering from anosmia could benefit, as it can potentially enhance a normal sense of smell to be even sharper. It could be the mildest superpower ever!
[Image description: A black-and-white illustration of a person in historical clothing smelling a flower next to two flowering plants.] Credit & copyright: Smell, Abraham Bosse, c.1635–38. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1930. Public Domain.
September 2, 2025
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FREEMusic Song CurioFree2 CQ
This tour had a purpose, and the songs had a message. On this day in 1988, the The Human Rights Now! tour began at London’s Wembley Stadium. Organized by Amnesty International, the tour highlighted various human rights abuses around the globe and included speeches from oppressed groups, including prisoners. Many of the 20-show tour’s music was political, too, perhaps none more so than Peter Gabriel’s Biko. Named for South African anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko, who was murdered in jail by police in 1977, the rock ballad’s echoey vocals convey a deep sense of isolation. At one point, Gabriel sings in Xhosa, saying “yihla moja” or “come spirit”, as a way of calling out to Biko’s spirit. While Gabriel has described in interviews the profound effect that writing Biko had on him, the song was never a commercial success. Still, it was considered a highlight of the Human Rights Now! tour, and appeared on the tour’s official album, ¡Released! The Human Rights Concerts. Biko was taken too soon, but he’ll live forever in song.
This tour had a purpose, and the songs had a message. On this day in 1988, the The Human Rights Now! tour began at London’s Wembley Stadium. Organized by Amnesty International, the tour highlighted various human rights abuses around the globe and included speeches from oppressed groups, including prisoners. Many of the 20-show tour’s music was political, too, perhaps none more so than Peter Gabriel’s Biko. Named for South African anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko, who was murdered in jail by police in 1977, the rock ballad’s echoey vocals convey a deep sense of isolation. At one point, Gabriel sings in Xhosa, saying “yihla moja” or “come spirit”, as a way of calling out to Biko’s spirit. While Gabriel has described in interviews the profound effect that writing Biko had on him, the song was never a commercial success. Still, it was considered a highlight of the Human Rights Now! tour, and appeared on the tour’s official album, ¡Released! The Human Rights Concerts. Biko was taken too soon, but he’ll live forever in song.
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FREEHumanities Daily Curio #3144Free1 CQ
Do you think you could brave the depths of the Grand Canyon with 19th-century equipment and dwindling provisions? How about with one arm? Starting on May 24, 1869, John Wesley Powell led a group of 12 men on an expedition through the treacherous terrain of the Grand Canyon in the name of science. On August 30, the surviving crew reached the end of their grueling journey.
An explorer and geologist, Powell set out to document the geology of the Grand Canyon and locate sources of water for future settlers in the region. Things went smoothly at first, starting off on the Green River with four rowboats filled to the brim with supplies that could last for around ten months. Then, on June 8, the first of many disasters struck. A boat was lost with around a third of the group’s supplies. By late June, much of their remaining supplies were wet, though they were able to replenish some of what they had lost by trading with nearby settlements.
On July 11, the expedition nearly came to a premature end when Powell himself was thrown out of a boat. Having lost one of his arms during the Battle of Shiloh in 1862, he couldn’t hold on to his boat. While he made it safely to shore, more supplies were lost. By the end of August, the crew had endured hunger, deadly rapids, and stifling heat. Faced with the prospect of a seemingly impassable rapid, three of the crew abandoned the expedition, choosing to hike out of the canyon toward a nearby town. Powell named the spot Separation Rapid, and despite their fears, the remaining crew managed to pass through and reached the mouth of the Virgin River on August 30, marking the end of their journey. The three who hiked out just days before were found dead, killed by members of the Shivwits band. Powell accomplished much of what he had set out to do, and many of the landmarks and locations within the Grand Canyon were named by him. Incredibly, he set out on a second expedition of the Grand Canyon just a few years later to document even more of the area. Let no one say that geologists aren’t dedicated people.
[Image description: A portion of the Colorado River flowing through the Grand Canyon under a blue sky.] Credit & copyright: NPS photo, Asset ID: f8f35e4c-505c-47fc-8f74-79b4b0f9ea16. Public domain: Full Granting Rights.Do you think you could brave the depths of the Grand Canyon with 19th-century equipment and dwindling provisions? How about with one arm? Starting on May 24, 1869, John Wesley Powell led a group of 12 men on an expedition through the treacherous terrain of the Grand Canyon in the name of science. On August 30, the surviving crew reached the end of their grueling journey.
An explorer and geologist, Powell set out to document the geology of the Grand Canyon and locate sources of water for future settlers in the region. Things went smoothly at first, starting off on the Green River with four rowboats filled to the brim with supplies that could last for around ten months. Then, on June 8, the first of many disasters struck. A boat was lost with around a third of the group’s supplies. By late June, much of their remaining supplies were wet, though they were able to replenish some of what they had lost by trading with nearby settlements.
On July 11, the expedition nearly came to a premature end when Powell himself was thrown out of a boat. Having lost one of his arms during the Battle of Shiloh in 1862, he couldn’t hold on to his boat. While he made it safely to shore, more supplies were lost. By the end of August, the crew had endured hunger, deadly rapids, and stifling heat. Faced with the prospect of a seemingly impassable rapid, three of the crew abandoned the expedition, choosing to hike out of the canyon toward a nearby town. Powell named the spot Separation Rapid, and despite their fears, the remaining crew managed to pass through and reached the mouth of the Virgin River on August 30, marking the end of their journey. The three who hiked out just days before were found dead, killed by members of the Shivwits band. Powell accomplished much of what he had set out to do, and many of the landmarks and locations within the Grand Canyon were named by him. Incredibly, he set out on a second expedition of the Grand Canyon just a few years later to document even more of the area. Let no one say that geologists aren’t dedicated people.
[Image description: A portion of the Colorado River flowing through the Grand Canyon under a blue sky.] Credit & copyright: NPS photo, Asset ID: f8f35e4c-505c-47fc-8f74-79b4b0f9ea16. Public domain: Full Granting Rights.
September 1, 2025
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FREEArt Appreciation Art CurioFree1 CQ
It’s a view so nice, he painted it thrice. The piece above, Two Men Contemplating the Moon, depicts two men on a path looking toward the horizon, where an orange moon is framed by tree branches. It was painted by Caspar David Friedrich, one of the most important figures in the German Romantic movement. His works explore the connection between nature and the inner self, and are famous for their ability to convey emotion, even without showing subjects’ faces. Many of his paintings are visual allegories where human figures stand in contemplation of an expressive landscape, and the moon appears as a focal point in several of them. In the piece above, Friedrich painted two figures, one of which is likely himself while the other is his disciple, August Heinrich. Friedrich created three iterations of the painting, with the second two coming after Heinrich’s death. It’s not hard to imagine the sadness that Friedrich was likely contemplating as he painted the same scene again and again.
Two Men Contemplating the Moon, Caspar David Friedrich (1774–1840), ca. 1825–30, Oil on canvas, 13.75 x 17.25 in. (34.9 x 43.8 cm.), The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, New York
[Image credit & copyright: Caspar David Friedrich, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Wrightsman Fund, 2000. Public Domain.It’s a view so nice, he painted it thrice. The piece above, Two Men Contemplating the Moon, depicts two men on a path looking toward the horizon, where an orange moon is framed by tree branches. It was painted by Caspar David Friedrich, one of the most important figures in the German Romantic movement. His works explore the connection between nature and the inner self, and are famous for their ability to convey emotion, even without showing subjects’ faces. Many of his paintings are visual allegories where human figures stand in contemplation of an expressive landscape, and the moon appears as a focal point in several of them. In the piece above, Friedrich painted two figures, one of which is likely himself while the other is his disciple, August Heinrich. Friedrich created three iterations of the painting, with the second two coming after Heinrich’s death. It’s not hard to imagine the sadness that Friedrich was likely contemplating as he painted the same scene again and again.
Two Men Contemplating the Moon, Caspar David Friedrich (1774–1840), ca. 1825–30, Oil on canvas, 13.75 x 17.25 in. (34.9 x 43.8 cm.), The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, New York
[Image credit & copyright: Caspar David Friedrich, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Wrightsman Fund, 2000. Public Domain. -
FREEMind + Body Daily Curio #3143Free1 CQ
It’s an eradication throughout the nation. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently announced that Kenya is finally free from human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), also known as sleeping sickness. Among diseases that disproportionately affect impoverished regions, HAT is one of the most deadly. It’s caused by the parasite Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, which is usually transmitted to human hosts by tsetse flies. Early symptoms of HAT are easy to confuse for flu symptoms, with fevers, headaches and joint pain. However, in the later stages, it begins to affect the nervous system, leading to confusion, changes in personality, and sensory disturbances. Its most prominent symptom, which comes in the very last stages, is sleep cycle disturbance. At this point, the patient experiences drowsiness during the day and sleeplessness at night. Untreated, the disease is usually fatal, and even if caught, the treatment can be lengthy.
The disease was difficult to contain for a few reasons. One is that, aside from tsetse flies, the parasite can be transmitted from mother to fetus during gestation and through sharing needles. There is even one case of sexual contact resulting in transmission. Another reason is that HAT can take months or even up to a year to show any symptoms, and once it does, the patient’s health rapidly declines. Since the first case of the disease was discovered in Kenya in the early 20th century, the government has been fighting and monitoring its spread. In more recent years, they’ve been distributing diagnostic tools, training more clinical personnel, and monitoring the presence of the T. b. rhodesiense in animal populations. Thanks to these efforts, only a few cases of HAT have been recorded in the past decade, and the WHO has finally declared that the disease has been eliminated in Kenya, making it the 10th country to do so. Time for this disease to wake up, smell the coffee, and get gone.
[Image description: An illustration of a fly from above.] Credit & copyright: Insect life, its why and wherefore, Stanley, Hubert George.
Brooke, Winifred M. A., London. Sir I. Pitman & Sons, 1913. Biodiversity Heritage Library. Public Domain.It’s an eradication throughout the nation. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently announced that Kenya is finally free from human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), also known as sleeping sickness. Among diseases that disproportionately affect impoverished regions, HAT is one of the most deadly. It’s caused by the parasite Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, which is usually transmitted to human hosts by tsetse flies. Early symptoms of HAT are easy to confuse for flu symptoms, with fevers, headaches and joint pain. However, in the later stages, it begins to affect the nervous system, leading to confusion, changes in personality, and sensory disturbances. Its most prominent symptom, which comes in the very last stages, is sleep cycle disturbance. At this point, the patient experiences drowsiness during the day and sleeplessness at night. Untreated, the disease is usually fatal, and even if caught, the treatment can be lengthy.
The disease was difficult to contain for a few reasons. One is that, aside from tsetse flies, the parasite can be transmitted from mother to fetus during gestation and through sharing needles. There is even one case of sexual contact resulting in transmission. Another reason is that HAT can take months or even up to a year to show any symptoms, and once it does, the patient’s health rapidly declines. Since the first case of the disease was discovered in Kenya in the early 20th century, the government has been fighting and monitoring its spread. In more recent years, they’ve been distributing diagnostic tools, training more clinical personnel, and monitoring the presence of the T. b. rhodesiense in animal populations. Thanks to these efforts, only a few cases of HAT have been recorded in the past decade, and the WHO has finally declared that the disease has been eliminated in Kenya, making it the 10th country to do so. Time for this disease to wake up, smell the coffee, and get gone.
[Image description: An illustration of a fly from above.] Credit & copyright: Insect life, its why and wherefore, Stanley, Hubert George.
Brooke, Winifred M. A., London. Sir I. Pitman & Sons, 1913. Biodiversity Heritage Library. Public Domain.
