H.G. Wells predicted the invention of the atomic bomb in 1911.

The Senegalese, who mostly speak Wolof but play Scrabble in French, celebrate their Scrabble champions as national heroes.

Manila folders are so named because of Manila hemp, or abaca, from which they were originally made. The plant is native to the Philippines and is named after its capital city.

Swiss researchers at Firmenich have found that women’s sweat smells like grapefruit or onions and men’s sweat smells like cheese.

The highest permanent settlement in the world currently is La Rinconada, a village in Peru at 5,100 meters, or about 16,700 feet.

This article appears in February 6 • 2009.

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