Science, Technology & Medicine Archives - Page 3 of 5 - Useless Information

Useless Information

Fascinating True Stories From the Flip Side of History

On the Web Since 1994

Podcasting Since January 2008

Kept Alive by Pumping Arms

Published on August 21, 2018

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Science, Technology & Medicine, Tidbits

In 1927, 18-year old Walter L. Boothe was kept alive for sixteen days by his friends who constantly pumped his arms up and down.

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Self-Service Gasoline

Published on July 26, 2018

Posted in: Money & Financial, Science, Technology & Medicine, Tidbits

Opposition to self-service gasoline stations was very high in the 1940s and '50s. Today, only New Jersey has a total ban on them.

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Rubber Hose Cures Hiccups

Published on June 28, 2018

Posted in: Science, Technology & Medicine, Tidbits

A team of doctors determined that hiccups could be cured by sticking a flexible rubber tube up a patient's nose and stimulating the nerve endings of the pharynx.

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More Intelligent People Have Gout

Published on June 20, 2018

Posted in: Science, Technology & Medicine, Tidbits

On June 30, 1959, a UPI article discussed how two US government scientists, Dewitt Stetten, Jr. and John Z. Hearon, were studying the relationship between gout and intelligence.

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Cow Jumps Over the Moon

Published on June 16, 2018

Posted in: Animals & Pets, Bizarre & Oddities, Science, Technology & Medicine, Tidbits

Elm Farm Ollie became the first cow to fly on February 18, 1930 when a tri-motored Ford airplane flew her to a height of 5,000 feet.

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Moons of Mars Made by Martians

Published on June 12, 2018

Posted in: Science, Technology & Medicine, Tidbits

On May 1, 1959, it was reported that Soviet scientist Iosif Shklovsky had found evidence that the two moons of Mars, Phobos and Deimos, may be artificial.

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A Journey to the Center of the Earth – Podcast #112

Published on June 2, 2018

Posted in: Podcast, Science, Technology & Medicine

John Cleves Symmes asked Congress to fund a voyage to the North Pole so that his crew could sail into the Earth's interior. You may be surprised to find out how many of our elected officials approved the voyage...

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Glue Sniffing Fad

Published on February 12, 2018

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Science, Technology & Medicine, Tidbits

On July 5, 1962, Arizona state authorities tried to calm the public by telling them that the latest craze of glue sniffing was just a fad.

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Exercise Fad is Dangerous

Published on February 5, 2018

Posted in: Science, Technology & Medicine, Tidbits

On October 27, 1939, the AMA’s health magazine Hygeia printed an article written by Dr. Henry A. Christian warning that excessive exercise was dangerous to one’s health.

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Safety Buttons Proven Unsafe

Published on January 21, 2018

Posted in: Holidays & Celebrations, Science, Technology & Medicine, Tidbits

In 1974 the Consumer Product Safety Commission had to recall 80,000 of their own "Think Toy Safety" buttons because they were unsafe.

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World’s First Commercial Airline

Published on December 21, 2017

Posted in: Forgotten History, Science, Technology & Medicine, Tidbits

Percival Elliott Fansler started the first commercial airline in January 1,1914 between St. Petersburg and Tampa.

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The First Transatlantic Airplane Race – Podcast #107

Published on November 25, 2017

Posted in: Forgotten History, Podcast, Science, Technology & Medicine

It was the Green Flash vs. the Yellow Bird and only one plane would make it to Europe. To the crews' surprise, a stowaway was aboard.

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Intelligence Related to Breast Size

Published on November 5, 2017

Posted in: Science, Technology & Medicine, Tidbits

From a study of infertile women, Dr. Erwin O. Strassman concluded in 1964 that women with smaller breasts are smarter.

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Children Will Have Bugs Bunny Teeth

Published on October 20, 2017

Posted in: Science, Technology & Medicine, Tidbits

In 1949, Dr. George W. Hahn warned a group of 4,000 dentists that their children will grow teeth like Bugs Bunny.

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Elixir of Death – Podcast #106

Published on October 9, 2017

Posted in: Death and Murder, Forgotten History, Podcast, Science, Technology & Medicine

Massengill was the first to introduce sulfanilamide in a liquid form, but never bothered to test the safety of the drug. More than 100 people died.

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