Mascara used to be made from bat dung, and lipstick
used to be made from whale blubber.

The study of tree rings is called dendrochronology.

Independence Day could have been celebrated on July 2, the day that Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence that had been proposed in June by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia. Congress debated and revised the Declaration, finally approving it on July 4.

Taller people have longer nerves and therefore have a slight sensory lag in comparison to shorter people. Researchers have found taller people have a 0.27 meters per second decrease in the conduction speed of one of the leg nerves for each additional centimeter in height.

Dan Castellaneta (the voice of Homer Simpson) practices tai chi.

This article appears in June 26 • 2009.

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