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Latest — 21 Aug 2025

From Developer Shortcut to Nostalgic Relic: The Evolution of Video Game Cheat Codes

Originating as developer debugging tools, cheat codes gave players shortcuts like infinite lives. Their decline was driven by online multiplayer where fairness is paramount, and the introduction of achievements and monetized in-game purchases.

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Finland's Glowing Reindeer and the Quest to Prevent Road Collisions

To combat thousands of annual vehicle collisions in its dark northern forests, the Finnish Reindeer Herders' Association trialed a unique solution: reflective paint. Sprayed on antlers and fur, the coating glows in headlights to make reindeer visible at night.

From Victorian Luggage to Modern Lingo: The Origin of the Portmanteau

The term 'portmanteau' describes blended words like 'smog' and 'brunch,' but it originally named a two-part traveling suitcase. Lewis Carroll coined its linguistic meaning in 1871, when Humpty Dumpty compared a blended word to a suitcase with two meanings packed inside.

The Science of the Hypnic Jerk: Why We Jolt Awake Before Sleep

The sudden jolt or feeling of falling while drifting off to sleep is a hypnic jerk, a harmless phenomenon experienced by up to 70% of people. A leading theory suggests the brain misinterprets muscle relaxation as falling, causing an involuntary twitch.

Ancient India's Rain Gauge System: A 400 BC Tool for Farming and Taxation

Around 400 BC, ancient India utilized a network of standardized rain gauges, as detailed in the Arthashastra. This system measured rainfall not for mere scientific curiosity, but as a vital tool for governance, predicting crop yields and setting fair taxes.

The Irukandji Jellyfish: A Sting That Induces a Sense of Impending Doom

A sting from the tiny Irukandji jellyfish, found in Australian waters, induces Irukandji syndrome. Beyond severe physical pain, victims experience a profound psychological symptom: an overwhelming sense of impending doom so intense it can last for days.

The Misunderstood Mosquito: Why Only Females Are to Blame for Your Itch

Only female mosquitoes are responsible for itchy bites, as they require protein and iron from blood to develop their eggs. Male mosquitoes have a completely different diet, feeding on nectar much like bees, making them harmless to humans and other animals.

A Somber Century: The Story of Cricket's Only 'Retired Not Out'

In 1983, West Indies batsman Gordon Greenidge left a Test match with a score of 154 to be with his critically ill daughter. His innings was recorded as 'retired not out,' a unique and poignant designation marking a tragic story that transcends sport.

The Accidental Meal: How Military Radar Gave Us the Microwave Oven

In 1945, Raytheon engineer Percy Spencer noticed a candy bar melted in his pocket while working on military radar magnetrons. His subsequent experiments with popcorn and an egg revealed the culinary potential of microwaves, leading to the invention of the oven.

The Richat Structure: How Astronauts Discovered the Sahara's Giant Eye

A geological wonder in Mauritania, the Richat Structure, or 'Eye of the Sahara,' was unseen until astronauts spotted its 30-mile-wide bullseye from orbit. First mistaken for an impact crater, it is a deeply eroded geological dome formed 100 million years ago.