Though the word Cappuccino sounds like a take-off on the word coffeCappuccino’s origin: an ancient religious order? e, it actually derives from the Italian word… Read More »Cappuccino’s origin: a monastic order?
Well, that would be the first tank! As I’m sure most have you have heard at the end of the First World War, the… Read More »Which tank was first to use a bio-communication system?
In the early 20th century cigarettes were a popular product. Smoking was perceived as a relaxing agent and therefore as benefiting the body and… Read More »Why were cigarettes considered healthy?
Although presently associated with Asian fighting arts, originally martial arts referred to European armies’ fighting methods. The word “martial” means “of Mars”, the Roman… Read More »Why is it called Martial Arts?
During the Great Depression in the United States (1929 – 1939), owners of the flour mills in rural America noticed that many mothers of… Read More »What was America’s fabric of choice during the great depression?
Hocus pocus is a corruption of the catholic text “Hoc est enim corpus meums”, said by catholic priests during transubstantiation sacrament ceremony and mean… Read More »Is hocus pocus a Catholic spell in Latin?
Abracadabra is an ancient magic incantation that survived the test of time and is used even in today’s magic performance. It derives from Aramaic… Read More »Is Abracadabra an old-testamnet spell in Hebrew?
In October 1348, more than a year after the outbreak of the Black Death in Europe, King Philip VI of France asked the doctors… Read More »What caused the Black Death according to medieval scientists?
While toady cornrows are just another cool hairstyle, not so long ago they played a major part in the struggle for freedom and even… Read More »Cornrows hairdo: a secret communication channel?
In ancient times, just like today, many commodities were bought by weight. Only back then digital scales were not available and weighing small goods… Read More »Why is gold measured in karats?