Author Archives: WeRaven
Microplastics in Bottled Water and the Hidden Risks in Our Food Chain
Research conducted by Sherri Mason, a scientist at Penn State University, revealed that bottled water contains an average of 325 plastic particles per liter, while tap water only contains about 5.5 plastic particles per liter. Microplastics are ingested by marine organisms and accumulate within the food chain, affecting a range of species from filter feeders… Read More »
Mafia Ties: The Godfather’s Iconic Line and Sinatra’s Alleged Connection
The iconic line, “an offer he can’t refuse,” from The Godfather, is inspired by an intriguing rumor involving mob enforcer Willie Moretti. Allegedly, Moretti used intimidation tactics, such as holding a gun to Tommy Dorsey’s head, in order to secure Frank Sinatra’s release from his binding contract. Interestingly, this event took place during the early… Read More »
The Mysterious and Fascinating World of ‘Numbers Stations’
Shortwave radio signals, which occupy the radio frequency band between 3 and 30 megahertz, have the unique ability to bounce or “skip” off the earth’s ionosphere, allowing them to propagate over vast distances. This has attracted a devoted international community of shortwave radio enthusiasts, who exploit the unique properties of the medium to listen to… Read More »
The Horrifying Origin of the Term “Stool Pigeon”
American gangster films of the 1920s, 30s and 40s have contributed a wealth of colourful slang to the English language, much of which is still floating around popular culture to this day: “sleeping with the fishes”, “concrete overshoes”, “G-man”, “Chicago typewriter”, “goon”, “big house”, “private dick”, “speakeasy”, “Chicago overcoat”, “ride the lightning”, “fuzz”, and many… Read More »
WTF Fun Fact 13316 – Bermuda’s Good Friday Kites
Video clips don’t show Buzz Aldrin admitting he never went to the Moon
New speed cameras with a limit of 72mph haven’t been set up on the M1 or M25
Traffic cameras in Leeds city centre cannot ‘capture faces’
Zed vs. Zee: Pronunciation Variations Across English-Speaking Countries
In the majority of English-speaking countries across the globe, the letter “Z” is pronounced as “zed.” However, the United States stands out as the sole exception, opting for the pronunciation “zee.” This divergence can be traced back to the late 17th century, when American lexicographer Noah Webster decided to simplify certain aspects of the English… Read More »
Australia: Earth’s Fastest Moving Continent
Australia is shifting approximately 7 cm (2.76 inches) northward each year, making it the fastest moving continental landmass on Earth. This movement is due to the tectonic activity of the Indo-Australian Plate, which is being pushed by the neighboring Pacific Plate. As a result, the Australian continent experiences a gradual increase in the frequency and… Read More »