Top Stories
Stories in FYI that you’ll love, handpicked by our team.
Why Chocolate is the Typical Valentine's Day Gift
Chocolate is one of the most commonly given gifts when it comes to Valentine's day. In fact, Valentine's day falls behind only easter and Christmas when it comes to chocolate and candy sales in the UK (and the USA for that matter). Of course, the idea of giving simple or ornate chocolates as a gift is older than all of these holidays, having roots in pre-Christian South America.
S. A. CrawfordPublished 2 years ago in FYIThe Science of Profanity
I have never needed a swear jar nor had my mouth washed out with soap. For most of my life, if a swear word slipped out, it was an accident, and I would immediately cover my mouth in embarrassment. For some reason, profanity doesn’t sound right coming from me. It’s like when a dog talks or a three-year-old says pontificate — people stop and stare.
Jill (Conquering Cognitions)Published 2 years ago in FYIThree Identical Strangers
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a twin? What would you do and how would you feel if you discovered that you did in fact have a twin but were separated at birth? It could happen, in fact it did- multiple times. There are still at least four sets of twins or triplets that do not know that they are missing out on their sibling(s) in their life. All of these identical babies were separated on purpose- in the name of science. I personally feel that this is wrong to do. The triplets were together for the first six months of their lives and when they were placed in their adopted homes, they gave signs of abnormal distress such as hitting their heads on the wall or on the side of their crib. They were obviously in distress due to separation anxiety from their twins and I believe it is unethical to cause unnecessary pain to anyone. I wanted to look at why researchers decided to conduct this study and maybe come to understand the final result.
Do You Remember When They Said It Would Strike The Atlantic?
Asteroid 99942 Apophis is one of many NEO asteroids. The size of Apophis is threatening at more than 300 meters. And, the truth of the matter is, that in 2004 when it first appeared on radar the initial calculations were that there was a small but believable possibility that it would strike Earth in April of 2029, somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean.
Jason Ray MortonPublished 2 years ago in FYIBrain Power: How the Two Sides of Your Brain Affect Your Productivity
The brain, like our feet, legs, arms, ears, eyes, nose, and nervous system, is split into two parts - the right side and the left side.
Andy MurphyPublished 2 years ago in FYIHow Agatha Christie Revolutionised The Use of Poison in Crime Stories
Published in 1920, The Mysterious Affair at Styles is Agatha Christie’s first novel that came from a dare from her sister Madge who challenged her to write a story.
Rute BarrosPublished 2 years ago in FYIWeird Things About Dreams. Did You Know Them?
You never know what will happen after you put your head on the pillow to go to bed. You may dream that you are flying, that you are talking to dead people, that you have returned to school, or that you have a difficult exam tomorrow. Dreams are strange and mysterious, and scientists have been studying them since time immemorial to try to make sense of them.
Nikkita BravoPublished 2 years ago in FYICastle Gloom: The World's Only Fortification Never Breached
CASTLE GLOOM In ancient times, a travelling Scot by the name of Argyll came upon a wide pasture in a valley below the Ochil Hills in the Central Belt of Scotland.
Malky McEwanPublished 2 years ago in FYIWhy do attorneys call themselves attorneys at law?
Recently I saw some people on social media poking fun at attorneys for how they sometimes refer to themselves as “attorneys at law.” After all, isn’t that redundant and unnecessary? Aren’t all attorneys considered attorneys at law? If so, why bother saying "attorney at law" and not just "attorney"? As it turns out, while today it isn’t always necessary to specify “at law,” there is a reason for the practice.
Austin Blessing-Nelson (Blessing)Published 2 years ago in FYIYears Ago, You Could Order a House in the Mail
Sears, the former retail giant that got its start in Chicago, Illinois, recently vacated its last department store in the state.
Jennifer GeerPublished 2 years ago in FYIWhat’s the True Story Behind the Man Who Constructed Chicago’s Infamous Murder Castle?
When it comes to H.H. Holmes, how much is myth, and how much is reality? In the fifth season of American Horror Story, Evan Peters plays James March, the serial killer who built the fictional Cortez Hotel as a trap to lure guests and then murder them in gruesome ways. The character was based on the real-life story of H.H. Holmes, who allegedly constructed what has become known as Chicago’s Murder Castle.
Jennifer GeerPublished 2 years ago in FYITrains of Yore
One of the many old books we got when some elderly antique shop owner neighbours retired many years ago was a 1917 Encyclopedia called The Wonder Book of Knowledge. It was a bit beaten up and battered but it was a treasure that I pored over many times. And one of the fascinating items was a picture gallery of steam locomotives and other vintage railroad lore.
Marco den OudenPublished 2 years ago in FYI