Since 2009, the names of planets from the Dune novels have been adopted for the real-world nomenclature of plains and other features on Saturn’s moon Titan, like Arrakis Planitia. Source
The Great Arkansas Pearl Rush started in 1897 after a 14-grain pink pearl was found in the Black River near Black Rock, Arkansas. It lasted until 1905, but a button-making industry emerged that continued on to the 1940s by using mussel shells that had been discarded. Source
The American Hippo Bill was an attempt to introduce hippos into the bayous of Lousiana. Lawmaker argued the hippos would eat the invasive water hyacinth that was clogging the rivers and also produce meat to help solve the American meat predicament. Source
In Hungary in the 1940’s, while the country was experiencing the worst hyperinflation in recorded history, they issued a bank note with a denomination of 100 quintillion Hungarian pengős, which was worth approximately US $0.20. Source
In the 1970s, IKEA was expanding so rapidly that German executives accidentally opened a store in Konstanz, approximately 200 miles (320 km) from their intended location of Koblenz. Source
After 35 years of age, the human brain shrinks in volume, starting at 0.2% a year and accelerating to over 0.5% a year by age 60. By age 90, the brain has lost on average 14% of its volume. Source
John Batman was the founder of the town that became Melbourne, Australia. And originally he called it “Batmania”. There’s even a street named after him: Batman Ave. Source
To help reduce the high male to female ratio (5:1) in a small Australian mining town (Mount Isa), the mayor put out a call to lonely “beauty-disadvantaged women” to move to Mount Isa for a chance to find love. Source
In 1905, American millionaire George Kessler threw himself a birthday party at the Savoy Hotel in London that involved flooding the entire courtyard with four feet of water so his guests could dine in gondolas and a five foot birthday cake brought out to them on the back of a baby elephant. Source
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