22/500
Why aren’t Icelandic Horses Allowed to Leave the Country?

The Icelandic horse is not allowed to leave the country, and if they do, they are not allowed to return. That is because, being an island country, Iceland has few diseases, and banning import and export of animals helps to maintain that.

21/500
The Man Who Ate Metal

French entertainer, Michel Lotito, ate a Cessna 150 airplane piece by piece over a period of two years. While performing, he consumed 2.2 lb of material daily, and it is estimated that he had ingested nearly nine tons of metal between 1959 and 1997. The Guinness Book of Records awarded him a brass plaque, commemorating his abilities. He ate that as well.

20/500
The Official Tourism of Ambassador of Japan Might Surprise You

In 2015, Godzilla was named a special resident of Tokyo and was also made the official tourism ambassador of Japan.

19/500
Japanese Ice Cream Manufacturer Made Public Apology after Raising Prices

Japanese ice cream manufacturer Akagi Nyuguyo once made a 60-second commercial, publicly apologizing for having to raise the price of its popsicle from Y60 to Y70 for the first time in 25 years. The commercial, in which the president of the company as well as the staff bowed to the viewers and showed their remorse, ran on national TV.

18/500
Why Did This Bar in Pittsburgh Ban Tipping?

Bar Marco, a restaurant in Pittsburgh, banned tipping and offered all of its employees a base salary of at least $35,000 per year with bonuses, health care benefits, 500 shares in the business, and paid vacation. The company tripled its profits in just two months.

17/500
How the Wine-Making Industry Found a Way around Prohibition

During Prohibition, America’s winemaking industry found a clever way of sneaking around the law. Since grape juice was legal, they started selling concentrated grape juice known as “wine bricks” that came with a “warning” that literally told people how to turn it into wine. The warning read, “After dissolving the brick in a gallon of water, do not place the liquid in a jug away in the cupboard for twenty days, because then it will turn into wine.”

16/500
Here’s How Much the German Currency Drop during the German Hyperinflation

During the German hyperinflation of 1923, the exchange rate of the German currency dropped from nine marks to 4.2 billion marks to the dollar. Once, a worker got robbed while transporting a wheelbarrow full off billions of marks, his wages for the week, but the thieves stole the wheelbarrow and left the worthless wads of cash.

15/500
Max Planck was Told Not to Pursue Physics

In 1874, Max Planck’s university professor told him there was no point in pursuing physics because, “almost everything is already discovered, and all that remains is to fill a few holes,” but that did not deter Planck. He was fascinated with physics and wanted to learn the fundamentals. He went on to launch quantum theory and win the Nobel Prize.

14/500
Indian Physicians Knew about Diabetes as Early as the 5th Century BCE

As early as the 5th century BCE, Indian physician Sushruta described diabetes by using the term “honey-like urine.” He pointed out that the urine of diabetic people is sticky to the touch and sweet enough to attract ants. He also mentioned that the disease primarily affects the rich and those who consume a lot of rice, sweets, and cereals.

13/500
The Record for the Most Passengers on an Aircraft

In 1991, the world record for most passengers on an aircraft was set when 1,086 Ethiopian Jews were evacuated on the El Al Boeing 747 to Israel. The plane landed with a total of 1,088 passengers since two babies were born on the flight.

12/500
This Canadian Man Has Built a 10,000-Square-F00t Nuclear Fallout Shelter

Since the 80s, a man named Bruce Beach has been building a nuclear fallout shelter in the village of Horning’s Mills in Ontario, Canada. The 10,000-square-foot shelter can accommodate as many as 500 people and has a decontamination room, a chapel, a radio-based communications center, a private well, and a motel-sized septic tank, and it is powered by redundant diesel generators. Admission to the shelter is free and everyone is welcome.

11/500
Morgan Freeman Has Turned His Ranch into a Bee Sanctuary

Concerned about the reducing bee population, Morgan Freeman converted his 124-acre ranch in Mississippi into a bee sanctuary. He imported 26 bee hives from Arkansas, hired gardeners, and planted hundreds of clover, lavender, magnolia, and other bee-friendly trees. He cares for the bees with no intention of disrupting the hives or harvesting honey.

10/500
A Man Bought the Stonehenge for His Wife, who Was Not Happy with the Gift

In 1915, a man named Cecil Chubb bought the Stonehenge at an auction for £6,600 (today’s $1,043,997). It is said that he bought the monument as a gift for his wife, who was not pleased because she wanted him to buy a set of curtains instead. In 1918, Mr. Chubb donated the Stonehenge to the nation and stipulated that the entry fee should never exceed one shilling and locals should be able to get in for free.

9/500
What Caused Stan Mikita to Change His Playstyle?

Early in his hockey career, Stan Mikita was known for his aggressive play style, and he was also one of the most penalized players in the league. He changed his behavior after his daughter asked why he spent so much time sitting down instead of playing. He went on to win two trophies for particularly sportsmanlike conduct, became a goodwill ambassador, helped bring the Special Olympics to Chicago, and founded the Stan Mikita School for the Hearing Impaired.

8/500
How Can Your Phone Make Emergency Calls Even when There is No Signal?

Ever wondered how the “emergency calls only” mode in your phone works even when you have no signal? SIM cards use a technology called GSM (Global System For Mobile), which can utilize the network coverage of another service provider from the nearest tower. That’s how if you have poor or no network, your phone can still make emergency calls by using the network of another service provider.

7/500
When Married Couples Used to Settle Disputes by Fighting Duel

In the Middle Ages, some European countries allowed married couples to legally settle disputes by fighting a marital duel. To compensate for the difference in strength, the husband had to fight with a stick from inside a pit with one hand tied to the side. The woman was free to move and was armed with a three-pound stone.

6/500
Engineer Built a Precise Replica of Thor’s Hammer

An engineer named Allen Pan built a precise replica of Thor’s hammer that only he could lift. He used electromagnets and a touch-sensitive handle with a fingerprint scanner. The magnets can only be disabled with his touch, which means that nobody else would be able to pick up the hammer.

5/500
Here’s What Happened when Henry Ford Hesitated to Pay a Bill

Once, Henry Ford hesitated to pay $10,000 to General Electric for fixing a generator and asked for an itemized bill. In response, Charles Proteus Steinmetz, the engineer who fixed the generator, sent this: “Making chalk mark on generator $1. Knowing where to make mark $9,999.” Ford paid the bill.

4/500
This is How RC Cola was Born

When Claud A. Hatcher purchased a large volume of Coca-Cola syrup and the company salesman refused to give him a special discount, he vowed to never purchase Coca-Cola again and began developing his own soft drink. His determination led to the creation of Royal Crown Cola or RC Cola.

3/500
Devon Police Started Giving Out Lollipops to Drunk People to Reduce Rowdiness

Inspired by a similar scheme in Canada, police in Devon, England, started leaving free lollipops at the door of a nightclub to reduce late night rowdiness. The idea was that the drunken nightclubbers would not cause a disturbance or yell while sucking on the sweet treats. The plan worked.

2/500
Apollo Robbins was So Skilled He Even Fooled Secret Service Agents

Apollo Robbins is a sleight-of-hand artist and security consultant who is famous for his unique skills. Once, when performing at a show where Jimmy Carter was in attendance with the Secret Service, Robbins targeted one of the agents, and within minutes, he had stolen their credentials, watches, President Carter’s travel itinerary, and the keys to the motorcade.

1/500
The Wildly Successful “Whopper Sacrifice” Campaign

In 2009, the “Whopper Sacrifice” campaign was launched on Facebook by Burger King, promising a free burger to users who unfriended ten people. However, Facebook later disabled the campaign because it notified people to let them know they had been dropped for a burger.