Snake oil originally came from China, where it is called shéyòu. There, it was used as a remedy for inflammation and pain in rheumatoid arthritis, bursitis, and other similar conditions. Snake oil is still used as a pain...Read More

On February 23, 1836, Lieutenant Colonel William B. Travis entered the Alamo with a force that later totalled approximately 187 men to defend it against the advance of the Mexican army. Approximately 6,000 Mexican soldiers...Read More

Jack Broughton was one of the most revered boxing figures in England. He was buried at Westminster Abbey, the burial place of British nobility, although Broughton was not a member of English royalty.

Astronomers know that over the next few billion years, the sun will swell so large as to envelop Earth. If we're still here, we'll probably fry and the planet will be vaporized. There's a chance, however, that the changing...Read More

In 1916, Jones Wister of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania invented a rifle for shooting around corners. It had a curved barrel and periscopic sights.

Abraham Lincoln offered this timeless, usually unheeded, piece of advice to lawyers: "Discourage litigation. Persuade your neighbor to compromise whenever you can. As a peacemaker, the lawyer has a superior opportunity of ...Read More