Oh, I see! moments
Travel Cultures Language

World Views:

Topics

21

Dec

Aha Moment Maker: Kernels of Curiosity

by Your friends at OIC on December 21, 2013

MicrowavePopcorn

LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS, 1945—Shortly after the end of WWII, Percy Spencer was touring the labs at Raytheon, where he worked. During the war, the Allies had charged the company with mass producing magnetrons, the tubes that powered radar systems. Percy had been instrumental in solving critical efficiency and production issues, so when he spotted one of his achievements in the lab, he naturally stopped to admire it.

We don’t know whether he got a warm feeling inside while inspecting the magnetron, but we do know that he got a warm feeling inside his pocket, and soon discovered that a chocolate bar he had been saving there was melting.  Read more...

 

Your Own Aha Moments

14

Dec

Aha Moment Maker: Word Magic

by Your friends at OIC on December 14, 2013

Abracadabra

ANCIENT ROME—Today, “abracadabra” is a word we instantly recognize and associate with magicians and magic tricks. However, the history of this unique word is as much medical, as it is magical.

Abracadambra TriangleThe first recorded use of he word “abracadabra” was in a Latin medical poem by the Roman physician Quintus Serenus Sammonicus in the 2nd Century AD. His prescription for those with malaria or fever was to wear an amulet around their neck with “abracadabra” written in the form of a triangle. The contention was that this “formula” would funnel the sickness out of the body.  Read more...

 

Your Own Aha Moments

07

Dec

Aha Moment Maker: Where’d You Get Those Jeans?

by Your friends at OIC on December 7, 2013

Jeans2

EUROPE, 1650—It’s hard to think of something more “American” than a good old pair of blue jeans. As it happens, historians have long argued the origin of the iconic trousers, and America might not even have a leg to stand on in the debate!

The French make their case with a sturdy fabric that originated in the 17th century in Nimes, France. Pants made from the fabric “serge de Nimes” were favored by plantation workers for their durability. Since fabrics at that time were commonly named for their place of origin, it became known as “de Nimes,” which is widely considered the source of the word “denim.”  Read more...

 

Your Own Aha Moments

Copyright © 2011-2024 OIC Books   |   All Rights Reserved   |   Privacy Policy