#WTFact | Britannica.com

<!doctype html> <html data-ytrk-page="POPULAR-TOPICS ARCHIVE stories" lang="en"> <head prefix="og: http://ogp.me/ns# fb: http://ogp.me/ns/fb#"><script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=7YQSqjSh" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("https://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("https://www.britannica.com/stories/wtfact","20190812023536","https://web.archive.org/","web","https://web-static.archive.org/_static/", "1565577336"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=p7PEIJWi" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />  <meta charset="utf-8"> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"/> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"/> <meta name="p:domain_verify" content="5247c07bac63b6b3250f68cfe355c9a2"/> <meta property="fb:pages" content="74442380906"/> <meta name="description" content="Expand your knowledge and go behind the news at Encyclopaedia Britannica by joining the discussion of popular and trending articles, quizzes, lists, and more."/> <meta name="keywords" content="topic, popular topics, topics, encyclopedia britannica, britannica, encyclopedia britannica topics, stories, archive, stories archive, stories browse, browse"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/stories/wtfact"/> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel"> $UI = {}; Mendel = { "adsLibraries" : {}, "config" : { "page": "StoriesBrowse", "videoPlayerId": "RVHVXRYp", "currentUrl": "https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/stories/wtfact", "sharedUrl": "https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/stories/wtfact", "userInfo": { "type": "ANONYMOUS" ,"userId": "" ,"currency": "USD" ,"country": "US" ,"bcomId": "2665129026129902662" ,"hasAds": true ,"testVersion": "C" ,"mvst": {"PHONE_GISTED_LEG":"FALSE"} ,"requiresConsent": false }, "isLoggedInAsUser": false, "analytics": { "gaId": "UA-6636134-11" }, "isMobile": false, "isTablet": false, "isPhone": false, "a9Id": "3022", "mendelCookieName": "__mendel", "mendelCookie": {"pagesViewed":16,"articleCatfishShown":false,"surveyShown":false}, "autocompleteToSearchPage": false,"featureSubTypeId": "5" } }; </script> <meta property="fb:app_id" content="1887621861548296"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@britannica"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel/resources/eb-thistle-social-image.jpg"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Expand your knowledge and go behind the news at Encyclopaedia Britannica by joining the discussion of popular and trending articles, quizzes, lists, and more."/> <meta property="og:type" content="WEBSITE"/> <meta property="og:title" content="#WTFact"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Expand your knowledge and go behind the news at Encyclopaedia Britannica by joining the discussion of popular and trending articles, quizzes, lists, and more."/> <meta property="og:site_name" content="Encyclopedia Britannica"/> <meta property="og:url" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/stories/wtfact"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel/resources/eb-thistle-social-image.jpg"/> <meta property="og:image:type" content="image/jpeg"/> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="init opengraph"> Mendel.openGraph = {"type":"WEBSITE","title":"#WTFact","description":"Expand your knowledge and go behind the news at Encyclopaedia Britannica by joining the discussion of popular and trending articles, quizzes, lists, and more.","imageUrl":"https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536/https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel/resources/eb-thistle-social-image.jpg","imageType":"image/jpeg","pageUrl":"https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/stories/wtfact"}</script> <title>#WTFact | Britannica.com</title> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536cs_/https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Montserrat:300,400,400i,700,700i"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536cs_/https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Cinzel&text=ENCYCLOP脝DIA BRITANNICA"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536cs_/https://fonts.googleapis.com/icon?family=Material+Icons"><link href="/web/20190812023536cs_/https://www.britannica.com/resources/css/libs/reset.css" rel="stylesheet"/> <link href="/web/20190812023536cs_/https://www.britannica.com/resources/dist/mendel-css.css?v=3.19.79" rel="stylesheet"/> <link href="/web/20190812023536cs_/https://www.britannica.com/resources/dist/stories-browse-page.css?v=3.19.79" rel="stylesheet"/> <link href="/web/20190812023536cs_/https://www.britannica.com/resources/css/fontello/css/mendel-icons.css" rel="stylesheet"/> <script type="text/javascript"> if ('scrollRestoration' in history) { history.scrollRestoration = 'manual'; } </script> <script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536js_/https://cdn.digitru.st/prod/1/digitrust.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> try { DigiTrust.initialize({ member: "MXoMW59N2l", site: "XNlcB44GhM" }, function (digiTrustResult) { } ); } catch (e) {} </script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="googletags"> var googletag = googletag || {}; googletag.cmd = googletag.cmd || []; </script> <script async src="//web.archive.org/web/20190812023536js_/https://js-sec.indexww.com/ht/htw-britannica.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> window.Adomik = window.Adomik || {}; Adomik.randomAdGroup = function() { var rand = Math.random(); switch (false) { case !(rand < 0.09): return "ad_ex" + (Math.floor(100 * rand)); case !(rand < 0.10): return "ad_bc"; default: return "ad_opt"; } }; </script> <script async="async" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536js_/https://securepubads.g.doubleclick.net/tag/js/gpt.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="init GPT slots"> var googletagSlots = []; googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.pubads().setTargeting('dc_ref',['https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/stories/wtfact']);googletag.pubads().setTargeting('PAGE',[16]); googletag.pubads().disableInitialLoad(); googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); googletag.pubads().enableAsyncRendering(); googletag.enableServices(); }); </script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Amazon a9"> var a9Slots = []; !function(a9,a,p,s,t,A,g){if(a[a9])return;function q(c,r){a[a9]._Q.push([c,r])}a[a9]={init:function(){q("i",arguments)},fetchBids:function(){q("f",arguments)},setDisplayBids:function(){},targetingKeys:function(){return[]},_Q:[]};A=p.createElement(s);A.async=!0;A.src=t;g=p.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];g.parentNode.insertBefore(A,g)}("apstag",window,document,"script","//web.archive.org/web/20190812023536/https://c.amazon-adsystem.com/aax2/apstag.js"); var p = { pubID: '3022', adServer: 'googletag', bidTimeout: 2e3 }; apstag.init( p ); if ( Mendel.config.ads && Mendel.config.ads.length > 0 ) { for (var i = 0; i < Mendel.config.ads.length; i++) { a9Slots.push({slotID: Mendel.config.ads[i].divId, slotName: Mendel.config.ads[i].adUnit, sizes: [Mendel.config.ads[i].size]}); } apstag.fetchBids({slots: a9Slots}, function() { googletag.cmd.push(function () { apstag.setDisplayBids(); googletag.pubads().refresh(); }); }); } </script> <script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536js_/https://eb-com.videoplayerhub.com/videoplayer.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" async="async" src="/web/20190812023536js_/https://www.britannica.com/resources/js/libs/prebid2.9.0.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> window.pbjs = window.pbjs || {}; pbjs.que = pbjs.que || []; Mendel.config.prebidDFPId = '15510053/EB_C/video_pre'; Mendel.config.prebidInfo = { code: 'EBVIDEO', mediaTypes: { video: { playerSize: [640,480], context: 'instream' } }, bids: [ { bidder: 'appnexus', params: { placementId: '14597403', video: { skippable: true, maxduration: 15, playback_method: ['click_to_play'] } } }, { bidder: 'pubmatic', params: { publisherId: '157732', adSlot: '1791028@640x480', video: { mimes: ['video/mp4','application/javascript'], api: [2], skippable: true, playbackmethod: [3], protocols: [2,3,5,6], linearity: 1, placement: 1, w: 640, h: 480, minduration: 1, maxduration: 15, startdelay: 0 } } }, { bidder: 'openx', params: { unit: '540532192', delDomain: 'merriamwebster-d.openx.net', openrtb: { imp: [{ video: { mimes: ['video/mp4','application/javascript'] } }] } } }, { bidder: 'oneVideo', params: { video: { playerWidth: 480, playerHeight: 640, mimes: ['video/mp4', 'application/javascript'], protocols: [2,5], api: [2], delivery: [2] }, site: { id: 1, page: 'https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com' }, pubId: 'MerriamWebster' } } ] }; </script> <script> dataLayer = []; </script> <script type="text/javascript" data-name="google_tags_manager"> (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src= '//web.archive.org/web/20190812023536/https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); })(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-5W6NC8'); </script> <script type="text/javascript" data-name="facebook_pixel"> !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s) {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod? n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)}; if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0'; n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0; t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window,document,'script', 'https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536/https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js'); fbq('init', '154643575315468'); fbq('track', 'PageView'); </script> <script id="ns_script_dc" data-key="12ca4747-8e80-4a36-b550-dc239c18b954" data-e="5" src="//web.archive.org/web/20190812023536js_/https://cdn.includemodal.com/sp.js" type="text/javascript"></script> </head> <body data-leg="C" class="popular-topics-archive user-ANONYMOUS md-desktop leg-c"> <script type="text/javascript" data-name="informizely" id="_informizely_script_tag"> var IzWidget = IzWidget || {}; (function (d) { var scriptElement = d.createElement('script'); scriptElement.type = 'text/javascript'; scriptElement.async = true; scriptElement.src = "https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536/https://insitez.blob.core.windows.net/site/f780f33e-a610-4ac2-af81-3eb184037547.js"; var node = d.getElementById('_informizely_script_tag'); node.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, node); } )(document); </script> <noscript><iframe src="//web.archive.org/web/20190812023536if_/https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> <noscript> <img height="1" width="1" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536im_/https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=154643575315468&ev=PageView&noscript=1"/> </noscript> <main> <div class="md-page-wrapper"> <header class="md-header hidden-xs"> <div class="grid no-gutter"> <div class="grid-xs-shrink md-header-thistle"> <a href="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel/250-anniversary/thistle-gradient-half.png" alt="250 thistle logo"/> </a> </div> <div class="grid-xs" data-layout="column"> <div class="md-header-top-row grid no-gutter"> <div class="grid-xs middle-xs"> <a href="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/" class="font-logotype">ENCYCLOP脝DIA BRITANNICA</a> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel/250-anniversary/eb-mendel-anniversary-11-13-18-a2-resized.png" alt="250 thistle logo" class="md-250-logo ml-10 visible-lg visible-md"/> </div> <div class="grid-xs-shrink" data-layout="row"> <div class="md-header-subscribe has-callout"> <div class="marketing-HEADER_SUBSCRIPTION_DESKTOP marketing-content" data-marketing-id="HEADER_SUBSCRIPTION_DESKTOP"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536/https://safe1.britannica.com/registrations2/signup.do?partnerCode=EBOPOTHERSUB_LP_MDL_C" target="_blank"> START YOUR FREE TRIAL <div class="md-header-subscribe-callout text-center ui-hidden"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/marketing/header-subscribe.png" alt="Subscribe!"/> </div> </a></div> </div> <div class="md-header-user-actions text-center"> <a href="#" class="login-link">Log In · Join</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="md-header-bottom-row grid no-gutter md-header-gradient"> <div class="grid-xs middle-xs"> <ul class="md-header-menu"> <li><a href="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/stories/demystified">Demystified</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/quiz/browse">Quizzes</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/stories/wtfact">#WTFact</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/list/browse">Lists</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/on-this-day">On This Day</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/biographies">Biographies</a></li> <li> <span class="marketing-NAVBAR marketing-content" data-marketing-id="NAVBAR"><a href="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/explore">Explore</a></span> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="grid-xs-shrink" data-layout="row"> <div class="md-header-pinned-subscription md-header-subscribe has-callout hidden-xs hidden-sm mr-10"> <div class="marketing-HEADER_SUBSCRIPTION_DESKTOP marketing-content" data-marketing-id="HEADER_SUBSCRIPTION_DESKTOP"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536/https://safe1.britannica.com/registrations2/signup.do?partnerCode=EBOPOTHERSUB_LP_MDL_C" target="_blank"> START YOUR FREE TRIAL <div class="md-header-subscribe-callout text-center ui-hidden"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/marketing/header-subscribe.png" alt="Subscribe!"/> </div> </a></div> </div> <div class="md-header-search middle-xs"> <span class="visible-lg mr-5">Search Britannica</span> <em class="material-icons " data-icon="search"></em> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="md-search-box-backdrop ui-hidden"></div> <div class="md-search-box ui-hidden-opacity text-center"> <div class="md-search-header">What are you looking for?</div> <form method="get" action="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/search" id="header-search" class="md-search-form grid-xs-offset-16 grid-xs-66 middle-xs"> <div class="search-box"> <label class="sr-only" for="header-search-query">Search</label> <input name="query" id="header-search-query" placeholder="Search Britannica Articles and Images..." class="md-form-control search-query" maxlength="200" autocomplete="off"/> <button class="search-submit md-button md-primary middle-xs" type="submit" disabled><span class="sr-only">Click here to search</span> <em class="material-icons" data-icon="search"></em></button> </div> </form> <div class="md-search-popular mb-30"> <div class="md-search-popular-title">Browse popular topics:</div> <ul class="md-search-popular-links"> <li><a href="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/place/Sri-Lanka" rel="nofollow">Sri Lanka</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/place/Easter-Island" rel="nofollow">Easter Island</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/event/Chinese-Civil-War" rel="nofollow">Chinese Civil War</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/topic/Barabbas-biblical-figure" rel="nofollow">Barabbas</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/topic/Five-Year-Plans" rel="nofollow">Five-Year Plans</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="marketing-INSIGHTS_SEARCHBOX_DRIVER marketing-content" data-marketing-id="INSIGHTS_SEARCHBOX_DRIVER"><div class="md-chrome-extension-promo text-center mx-lg-75"> <a class="pb-10 pt-10" target="_blank" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/insights"> <span>Bring fact-checked results to the top of your browser search.</span> <strong class="text-uppercase mr-10">Learn More.</strong> </a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536/https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/britannica-insights/hfipegnjbpgdlgifpfdcfnjnhepckmbf" target="_blank"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/marketing/extension-CHROME.png" alt="Chrome store logo"/> </a> </div> </div> </div> </header> <div id="content" class="md-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="browse-title"> <h1>Britannica #WTFact</h1> </div> <div id="pt-archive-content" class="stories-browse-by-type-content"> <div class="grid"> <div class="grid-lg-25 grid-md-33 grid-sm-50"> <a class="extended-feature-box " href="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/story/the-strange-grisly-history-of-the-first-blood-transfusion" data-id="6256"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/s:360x270/93/195493-131-202FF888.jpg" alt="Transfused Human blood in storage"/> <div class="content " data-layout="column"> <div class="banner-title"> <div class="banner wtfact"> <strong>#WTFact</strong> / Health & Medicine </div> </div> <div class="title">The Strange, Grisly History of the First Blood Transfusion</div> </div> </a></div> <div class="grid-lg-25 grid-md-33 grid-sm-50"> <a class="extended-feature-box " href="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/story/cannibalism-cultures-cures-cuisine-and-calories" data-id="6183"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/s:360x270/35/136035-131-82D948A1.jpg" alt="Human Cannibalism; Johannes Lerii's account of the description of the method the Indians use for "barbecuing" human flesh. Nude Indians barbecuing and eating parts of human bodies; Theodor de Bry."/> <div class="content " data-layout="column"> <div class="banner-title"> <div class="banner wtfact"> <strong>#WTFact</strong> / Society </div> </div> <div class="title">Cannibalism: Cultures, Cures, Cuisine, and Calories</div> </div> </a></div> <div class="grid-lg-25 grid-md-33 grid-sm-50"> <a class="extended-feature-box " href="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/story/the-1916-shark-attacks-that-gave-sharks-a-bad-rap" data-id="6389"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/s:360x270/93/197393-131-664B0490.jpg" alt="Great White Shark"/> <div class="content " data-layout="column"> <div class="banner-title"> <div class="banner wtfact"> <strong>#WTFact</strong> / Animals </div> </div> <div class="title">The 1916 Shark Attacks That Gave Sharks a Bad Rap</div> </div> </a></div> <div class="grid-lg-25 grid-md-33 grid-sm-50"> <a class="extended-feature-box " href="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/story/beautiful-gibberish-fake-arabic-in-medieval-and-renaissance-art" data-id="6213"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/s:360x270/09/195209-131-48F4DF22.jpg" alt="Madonna and Child Enthroned by Gentile da Fabriano, tempera on panel, c. 1420, 95.7 x 56.5 cm"/> <div class="content " data-layout="column"> <div class="banner-title"> <div class="banner wtfact"> <strong>#WTFact</strong> / Arts & Culture </div> </div> <div class="title">Beautiful Gibberish: Fake Arabic in Medieval and Renaissance Art</div> </div> </a></div> <div class="grid-lg-25 grid-md-33 grid-sm-50"> <a class="extended-feature-box " href="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/list/9-bizarre-myths-about-pregnancy" data-id="3850"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/s:360x270/00/164700-131-5659A683.jpg" alt="Pregnancy. pregnancy and birth. Fertilization, Pregnancy, and Birth. Stages of nine month pregnant woman abdomen growth. Pregnant human female developing human within her. White pregnant female, developing fetus. mother"/> <div class="content " data-layout="column"> <div class="banner-title"> <div class="banner wtfact"> <strong>#WTFact</strong> / Health & Medicine </div> </div> <div class="title">9 Bizarre Myths About Pregnancy</div> </div> </a></div> <div class="grid-lg-25 grid-md-33 grid-sm-50"> <a class="extended-feature-box " href="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/story/carlo-gesualdo-murder-witchcraft-choral-music" data-id="6008"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/s:360x270/66/192566-131-F5EB0FCB.jpg" alt="Portrait of Carlo Gesualdo da Venosa (Venosa, 1566-Gesualdo, 1613), Italian composer. Painting by Francesco Mancini. Naples , Museo Storico Musicale"/> <div class="content " data-layout="column"> <div class="banner-title"> <div class="banner wtfact"> <strong>#WTFact</strong> / Music </div> </div> <div class="title">Carlo Gesualdo: Murder, Witchcraft, Choral Music</div> </div> </a></div> <div class="grid-lg-25 grid-md-33 grid-sm-50"> <a class="extended-feature-box " href="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/story/the-most-stolen-work-of-art" data-id="5779"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/s:360x270/46/446-131-E3B823F4.jpg" alt="Click on image for enlargements of panel sections. The Ghent Altarpiece (open view) by Jan and Hubert van Eyck, 1432, polyptych with 12 panels, oil on panel; in the Cathedral of Saint-Bavon, Ghent, Belg."/> <div class="content " data-layout="column"> <div class="banner-title"> <div class="banner wtfact"> <strong>#WTFact</strong> / Arts & Culture </div> </div> <div class="title">The Most Stolen Work of Art</div> </div> </a></div> <div class="grid-lg-25 grid-md-33 grid-sm-50"> <a class="extended-feature-box " href="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/list/rest-in-peace-not-for-these-7-unlucky-individuals" data-id="7003"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/s:360x270/84/105184-131-2918D7A2.jpg" alt="Charlie Chaplin as the 'Little Tramp'"/> <div class="content " data-layout="column"> <div class="banner-title"> <div class="banner wtfact"> <strong>#WTFact</strong> / Society </div> </div> <div class="title">Rest in Peace? Not for These 7 Unlucky Individuals </div> </div> </a></div> <div class="grid-lg-25 grid-md-33 grid-sm-50"> <a class="extended-feature-box " href="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/story/where-do-the-terms-nerd-and-geek-come-from" data-id="5505"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/s:360x270/38/188938-131-96458DC5.jpg" alt="Student girl writing formulas on transparent wall"/> <div class="content " data-layout="column"> <div class="banner-title"> <div class="banner wtfact"> <strong>#WTFact</strong> / Literature & Language </div> </div> <div class="title">The Bizarre Origins of the Words <em>Nerd</em> and <em>Geek</em></div> </div> </a></div> <div class="grid-lg-25 grid-md-33 grid-sm-50"> <a class="extended-feature-box " href="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/story/queen-elizabeths-court-occultist" data-id="5411"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/s:360x270/05/188005-131-A83B1AEB.jpg" alt=""John Dee performing an experiment before Queen Elizabeth I" by Henry Gillard Glindoni. Oil painting 18th century. Pentimento, occult, sorcery, magic."/> <div class="content " data-layout="column"> <div class="banner-title"> <div class="banner wtfact"> <strong>#WTFact</strong> / History </div> </div> <div class="title">Queen Elizabeth's Court Occultist</div> </div> </a></div> <div class="grid-lg-25 grid-md-33 grid-sm-50"> <a class="extended-feature-box " href="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/story/the-mysterious-death-of-edgar-allan-poe" data-id="6366"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/s:360x270/99/196899-131-1D299F2E.jpg" alt="Portrait of Edgar Allan Poe by Frederick T. Stuart, c. about 1845"/> <div class="content " data-layout="column"> <div class="banner-title"> <div class="banner wtfact"> <strong>#WTFact</strong> / Literature & Language </div> </div> <div class="title">The Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe</div> </div> </a></div> <div class="grid-lg-25 grid-md-33 grid-sm-50"> <a class="extended-feature-box " href="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/story/faking-shakespeare" data-id="5900"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/s:360x270/94/191694-131-C476A8CE.jpg" alt="Facsimile of one of William Henry Ireland's forgeries, a primitive self-portrait of William Shakespeare(tinted engraving). Published for Samuel Ireland, Norfolk Street, Strand, December 1, 1795. (W.H. Ireland, forgery)"/> <div class="content " data-layout="column"> <div class="banner-title"> <div class="banner wtfact"> <strong>#WTFact</strong> / Literature & Language </div> </div> <div class="title">The Time a Law Clerk Successfully Forged a New Shakespeare Play to Impress His Dad</div> </div> </a></div> <div class="grid-lg-25 grid-md-33 grid-sm-50"> <a class="extended-feature-box " href="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/story/how-the-symbolism-of-the-swastika-was-ruined" data-id="5851"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/s:360x270/19/191219-131-697C52A6.jpg" alt="A background with a view of earthen lamps arranged on the holy Swastika design made of flowers, during Diwali festival in India."/> <div class="content " data-layout="column"> <div class="banner-title"> <div class="banner wtfact"> <strong>#WTFact</strong> / History </div> </div> <div class="title">How the Symbolism of the Swastika Was Ruined</div> </div> </a></div> <div class="grid-lg-25 grid-md-33 grid-sm-50"> <a class="extended-feature-box " href="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/story/the-curious-case-of-carnivorous-plants" data-id="6019"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/s:360x270/17/192717-131-BFD9C05A.jpg" alt="Carnivorous Venus Fly Traps (Dionaea muscipula) and Sundews (Drosera capensis) Plants secrete digestive enzymes s until the insect is liquified and its soluble contents digested."/> <div class="content " data-layout="column"> <div class="banner-title"> <div class="banner wtfact"> <strong>#WTFact</strong> / Science </div> </div> <div class="title">Beyond Venus Flytraps: The Plants that Eat Meat</div> </div> </a></div> <div class="grid-lg-25 grid-md-33 grid-sm-50"> <a class="extended-feature-box " href="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/story/what-did-shakespeare-sound-like" data-id="5587"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/s:360x270/37/189537-131-8DBFD52C.jpg" alt="William Shakespeare, 1564-1616. c 1907"/> <div class="content " data-layout="column"> <div class="banner-title"> <div class="banner wtfact"> <strong>#WTFact</strong> / Literature & Language </div> </div> <div class="title">What Did Shakespeare Sound Like?</div> </div> </a></div> <div class="grid-lg-25 grid-md-33 grid-sm-50"> <a class="extended-feature-box " href="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/story/ten-days-that-vanished-the-switch-to-the-gregorian-calendar" data-id="6364"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/s:360x270/53/130653-131-6C7B3BE8.jpg" alt="Cathedrale St.Jean in Lyon, France has a 14th-century astronomical clock that shows religious feast days till the year 2019; Perpetual Calendar"/> <div class="content " data-layout="column"> <div class="banner-title"> <div class="banner wtfact"> <strong>#WTFact</strong> / History </div> </div> <div class="title">Ten Days That Vanished: The Switch to the Gregorian Calendar</div> </div> </a></div> <div class="grid-lg-25 grid-md-33 grid-sm-50"> <a class="extended-feature-box " href="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/story/how-a-rejected-block-of-marble-became-the-worlds-most-famous-statue" data-id="6339"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/s:360x270/77/196577-131-FD185F4C.jpg" alt="Florence, Italy Statue of David by Michelangelo"/> <div class="content " data-layout="column"> <div class="banner-title"> <div class="banner wtfact"> <strong>#WTFact</strong> / Arts & Culture </div> </div> <div class="title">How a Rejected Block of Marble Became the World鈥檚 Most Famous Statue</div> </div> </a></div> <div class="grid-lg-25 grid-md-33 grid-sm-50"> <a class="extended-feature-box " href="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/story/the-time-julius-caesar-was-captured-by-pirates" data-id="6312"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/s:360x270/03/184703-131-5F5449BD.jpg" alt="Julius Caesar in full Gaius Julius Caesar (100? BCE-44 BCE) statue in Rimini, Italy. Roman general and statesman and dictator"/> <div class="content " data-layout="column"> <div class="banner-title"> <div class="banner wtfact"> <strong>#WTFact</strong> / History </div> </div> <div class="title">The Time Julius Caesar Was Captured by Pirates</div> </div> </a></div> <div class="grid-lg-25 grid-md-33 grid-sm-50"> <a class="extended-feature-box " href="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/story/a-brief-history-of-food-libel-laws" data-id="6392"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/s:360x270/96/197396-131-0096D43E.jpg" alt="ribeye steak, beef, cow, meat"/> <div class="content " data-layout="column"> <div class="banner-title"> <div class="banner wtfact"> <strong>#WTFact</strong> / Food </div> </div> <div class="title">How Oprah Got Sued for Dissing a Burger</div> </div> </a></div> <div class="grid-lg-25 grid-md-33 grid-sm-50"> <a class="extended-feature-box " href="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/story/the-surprisingly-disorderly-history-of-the-us-presidential-succession-order" data-id="6447"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/s:360x270/82/191082-131-AD46C136.jpg" alt=""On the threshold of office--what have we to expect of him?" chromolithograph by Joseph Keppler, September 1881. Print shows the members of the assassinated James A. Garfield's cabinet looking at the new president, Chester Arthur. Chester A. Arthur."/> <div class="content " data-layout="column"> <div class="banner-title"> <div class="banner wtfact"> <strong>#WTFact</strong> / History </div> </div> <div class="title">The Surprisingly Disorderly History of the US Presidential Succession Order</div> </div> </a></div> <div class="grid-lg-25 grid-md-33 grid-sm-50"> <a class="extended-feature-box " href="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/story/9-dickensian-diagnoses" data-id="3747"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/s:360x270/61/146161-131-860537E9.jpg" alt="Scene from "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens, 1843. The irascible, curmudgeonly Ebenezer Scrooge with the Ghost of Christmas Present, the third of the four apparitions that visit him on Christmjas Eve. From "A Christmas Carol" by..."/> <div class="content " data-layout="column"> <div class="banner-title"> <div class="banner wtfact"> <strong>#WTFact</strong> / Literature & Language </div> </div> <div class="title">Diagnosing 9 of Charles Dickens鈥檚 Most Famous Characters</div> </div> </a></div> <div class="grid-lg-25 grid-md-33 grid-sm-50"> <a class="extended-feature-box " href="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/story/vikings-helped-cats-conquer-the-world" data-id="5916"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/s:360x270/43/191843-131-ED920398.jpg" alt="Norwegian forest cat relaxing in a tree"/> <div class="content " data-layout="column"> <div class="banner-title"> <div class="banner wtfact"> <strong>#WTFact</strong> / Animals </div> </div> <div class="title">Vikings Helped Cats Conquer the World</div> </div> </a></div> <div class="grid-lg-25 grid-md-33 grid-sm-50"> <a class="extended-feature-box " href="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/story/the-oldest-human-ancestor" data-id="6472"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/s:360x270/19/193719-131-C8DE8C71.jpg" alt="Artist's reconstruction of Saccorhytus coronarius, based on the original fossil finds. The actual creature was probably no more than a millimeter in size."/> <div class="content " data-layout="column"> <div class="banner-title"> <div class="banner wtfact"> <strong>#WTFact</strong> / Science </div> </div> <div class="title">The Oldest Human Ancestor</div> </div> </a></div> <div class="grid-lg-25 grid-md-33 grid-sm-50"> <a class="extended-feature-box " href="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/story/the-real-science-behindfrankenstein" data-id="6458"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/s:360x270/03/197003-131-F0327079.jpg" alt="Frankenstein, Boris Karloff (1931). Directed by James Whale"/> <div class="content " data-layout="column"> <div class="banner-title"> <div class="banner wtfact"> <strong>#WTFact</strong> / Science </div> </div> <div class="title">The Real Science Behind Frankenstein</div> </div> </a></div> <div class="grid-lg-25 grid-md-33 grid-sm-50"> <a class="extended-feature-box " href="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/list/famous-mustaches-in-history" data-id="6387"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/s:360x270/40/79340-131-619BA3D6.jpg" alt="Portrait of Salvador Dali in front of painting "The Madonna of Port Lligat.""/> <div class="content " data-layout="column"> <div class="banner-title"> <div class="banner wtfact"> <strong>#WTFact</strong> / History </div> </div> <div class="title">Famous Mustaches in History</div> </div> </a></div> <div class="grid-lg-25 grid-md-33 grid-sm-50"> <a class="extended-feature-box " href="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/list/how-9-famous-cities-got-their-nicknames" data-id="6381"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/s:360x270/71/188471-131-4DF0E559.jpg" alt="Sydney Opera House, Port Jackson, Sydney Harbour, New South Wales, Australia."/> <div class="content " data-layout="column"> <div class="banner-title"> <div class="banner wtfact"> <strong>#WTFact</strong> / Geography </div> </div> <div class="title">Why New York Is Called "The Big Apple" and How 8 Other Famous Cities Got Their Nicknames</div> </div> </a></div> <div class="grid-lg-25 grid-md-33 grid-sm-50"> <a class="extended-feature-box " href="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/list/5-things-you-can-shoot-from-a-cannon" data-id="6324"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/s:360x270/79/196279-131-C6E53A14.jpg" alt="Old medieval wooden pirate military war ship with a cannon on the deck pointed out and aiming"/> <div class="content " data-layout="column"> <div class="banner-title"> <div class="banner wtfact"> <strong>#WTFact</strong> / History </div> </div> <div class="title">Pirate School: 5 Things You Can Shoot from a Cannon</div> </div> </a></div> <div class="grid-lg-25 grid-md-33 grid-sm-50"> <a class="extended-feature-box " href="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/story/gilles-de-rais-historys-first-serial-killer" data-id="6345"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/s:360x270/27/169927-131-F8F52412.jpg" alt="Gilles de Rais (1404-1440). Breton baron, marshal of France. Fought in guards of Joan of Arc. Accused of being serial killer of children."/> <div class="content " data-layout="column"> <div class="banner-title"> <div class="banner wtfact"> <strong>#WTFact</strong> / History </div> </div> <div class="title">Gilles de Rais: History鈥檚 First Serial Killer?</div> </div> </a></div> <div class="grid-lg-25 grid-md-33 grid-sm-50"> <a class="extended-feature-box " href="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/story/a-seed-filled-doomsday-fortress" data-id="6247"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/s:360x270/09/195409-131-8E0BB293.jpg" alt="Svalbard Global Seed Vault, Scandinavia"/> <div class="content " data-layout="column"> <div class="banner-title"> <div class="banner wtfact"> <strong>#WTFact</strong> / Science </div> </div> <div class="title">The Arctic鈥檚 Seed-Filled Doomsday Fortress</div> </div> </a></div> <div class="grid-lg-25 grid-md-33 grid-sm-50"> <a class="extended-feature-box " href="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/story/freaky-fluorescent-frog-found" data-id="6559"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/s:360x270/52/194352-131-D8A5947E.jpg" alt="The polka-dot treefrog (Hypsiboas punctatus)."/> <div class="content " data-layout="column"> <div class="banner-title"> <div class="banner wtfact"> <strong>#WTFact</strong> / Animals </div> </div> <div class="title">Freaky Fluorescent Frog Found</div> </div> </a></div> <div class="grid-lg-25 grid-md-33 grid-sm-50"> <a class="extended-feature-box " href="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/list/10-deadly-animals-that-could-fit-in-your-breadbox" data-id="3738"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/s:360x270/17/157817-131-2607205C.jpg" alt="Mosquito on human skin."/> <div class="content " data-layout="column"> <div class="banner-title"> <div class="banner wtfact"> <strong>#WTFact</strong> / Animals </div> </div> <div class="title">10 Deadly Animals that Fit in a Breadbox</div> </div> </a></div> </div> </div> </div></div> </div> </main> <div id="abDet"> <div class="adBanner"></div> </div> <footer id="md-footer" class="footer-wrapper hide-on-edit"> <div class="footer-bck"> <div class="marketing-FOOTER_NEWSLETTER marketing-content" data-marketing-id="FOOTER_NEWSLETTER"><div class="md-footer-newsletter-form pt-10 mb-30 mx-15 mx-sm-120"> <div class="font-18"> <strong>Inspire your inbox –</strong> Sign up for daily fun facts about this day in history, updates, and special offers. </div> <div class="p-30"> <div class="newsletter-form-container"> <form class="newsletter-form" method="post" action="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/newsletter-subscription/EB_ON_THIS_DAY"> <div class="form-group grid no-gutter center-xs"> <div class="grid-sm-50 grid-xs-100"> <input type="email" name="email" class="form-control font-18 p-10" placeholder="Enter your email" pattern="[a-z0-9._%+-]+@[a-z0-9.-]+\.[a-z]{2,4}$" required> </div> <div class="grid-sm-shrink grid-xs-100"> <button type="submit" class="md-button md-primary" style="width: 100%;">Subscribe</button> </div> </div> <div class="text-white pt-30 text-opacity"> By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica.<br> Click here to view our <a class="text-white text-underscore" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536/https://corporate.britannica.com/privacy-policy" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Privacy Notice</a>. Easy unsubscribe links are provided in every email. </div> <input type="hidden" name="source" value="Footer"/><input type="hidden" name="campaign" value="Mendel"/><input type="hidden" name="medium" value="Box"/></form> <div class="md-subscribed hidden text-white"> <div class="my-10">Thank you for subscribing!</div> <div>Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="md-social-toolbar-circle center-xs colored" data-value="connect"> <div class="share-label hidden-xs">Stay Connected</div> <a class="ui-icon-facebook center-xs middle-xs" data-provider="facebook" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536/https://www.facebook.com/BRITANNICA/" target="_blank"><span>Facebook</span></a> <a class="ui-icon-twitter center-xs middle-xs" data-provider="twitter" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536/https://twitter.com/britannica" target="_blank"><span>Twitter</span></a> <a class="ui-icon-youtube-play center-xs middle-xs" data-provider="youtube" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536/https://www.youtube.com/c/encyclopaediabritannica" target="_blank"><span>YouTube</span></a> <a class="ui-icon-instagram center-xs middle-xs" data-provider="instagram" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536/https://www.instagram.com/britannica/" target="_blank"><span>Instagram</span></a> <a class="ui-icon-pinterest center-xs middle-xs" data-provider="pinterest" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536/https://www.pinterest.com/britannica/" target="_blank"><span>Pinterest</span></a> <a class="ui-icon center-xs middle-xs" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536/https://cloud.email.britannica.com/PreferenceCenter" title="Newsletters" target="_blank"> <em class="material-icons" data-icon="drafts"><span>Newsletters</span></em> </a> </div> <br/> <ul class="md-footer-slim"> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536/https://corporate.britannica.com/" target="_blank">About Us</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536/https://corporate.britannica.com/privacy-policy" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">About Our Ads</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536/https://corporate.britannica.com/publishing-partner-program/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Partner Program</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536/https://corporate.britannica.com/contact/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Contact Us</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536/https://corporate.britannica.com/privacy-policy" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Privacy Notice</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536/https://corporate.britannica.com/termsofuse.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Terms of Use</a></li> </ul> <br/> ©2019 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. </div> </footer> <div class="navigation-bar flex middle-xs visible-xs"> <div class="grid no-gutter"> <div class="main-tools visible-xs grid-xs"> <div data-layout-xs="row"> <div class="md-logo md-nav-item middle-xs"> <a href="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel/250-anniversary/thistle-gradient-half.png" alt="250 thistle logo"/> </a> </div> <div class="md-nav-item menu" data-popover=".menu-popover"> <em class="material-icons " data-icon="menu"></em> <div class="title hidden-xs">Menu</div> </div> <div class="menu-popover md-popover text-left" data-clear="true"> <div class="popover-body"> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/">Home</a></li> <li><a class="dem" href="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/stories/demystified">Demystified</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/quiz/browse">Quizzes</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/stories/wtfact">#WTFact</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/list/browse">Lists</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/on-this-day">On This Day</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/biographies">Biographies</a></li> <li> <span class="marketing-NAVBAR marketing-content" data-marketing-id="NAVBAR"><a href="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/explore">Explore</a></span> </li> <li> <hr> </li> <li><strong><a href="#" class="login-link">Login</a></strong></li> <li><strong><a href="#" class="signup-link">Join</a></strong></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="additional-tools grid-xs-shrink center-xs middle-xs"> <div class="md-nav-item mobile-share" data-popover=".share-popover"> <em class="material-icons " data-icon="share"></em> <div class="share-popover md-popover text-left"> <div class="popover-body"> <div class="md-social-toolbar-circle center-xs start-xs inverted blue-border pt-15" data-value="share"> <div class="share-label ">SHARE</div> <a class="ui-icon-facebook center-xs middle-xs" data-provider="facebook" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536/https://www.facebook.com/BRITANNICA/" target="_blank"><span>Facebook</span></a> <a class="ui-icon-twitter center-xs middle-xs" data-provider="twitter" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536/https://twitter.com/britannica" target="_blank"><span>Twitter</span></a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="md-nav-item modal-search"> <em class="material-icons " data-icon="search"></em> <div class="navigation-modal-search ui-hidden text-left"> <div class="search-area grid no-gutter middle-xs p-10"> <div class="grid-xs-shrink"> <span class="search"> <em class="material-icons " data-icon="search"></em> </span> </div> <div class="grid-xs"> <form action="/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/search"> <label class="sr-only" for="navbar-search-mobile">Search</label> <input name="query" class="form-control" id="navbar-search-mobile" placeholder="Search Britannica..."> </form> </div> <div class="grid-xs-shrink"> <span class="close"> <em class="material-icons " data-icon="close"></em> </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="loginbox-dialog" class="ui-hidden"> <div class="mobile-loginbox-dialog-close">脳</div> <div id="loginbox-dialog-iframe-container"></div> </div> <div class="marketing-SLIDER marketing-slider" data-marketing-id="SLIDER" data-duration="14" data-name="SLIDER"><button class="close-btn material-icons p-10">close</button><style> .marketing-slider .close-btn { color: white; } .marketing-slider .preview { background-color: #009adf; color: white; } .marketing-slider .preview .orange-circle { background-color: #009adf; border-radius: 100%; height: 250px; position: absolute; right: 180px; top: -80px; width: 250px; } .marketing-slider .preview .orange-circle img { opacity: 0.7; width: 130px; } .marketing-slider .offer .md-button-gradient { font-size: 12px; background:#F87307; } </style> <div class="preview"> <div class="p-15 pl-80"> Do you have what it takes to go to space? <div class="orange-circle end-xs middle-xs"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/marketing/thistle-white.svg" class="mt-50 mr-15"/> </div> </div> </div><div class="offer"> <div> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/explore/space" target="_blank"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/marketing/space/SliderGraphic-250x314.jpg" alt="SpaceNext50"/> </a> </div> </div></div> <script type="text/javascript" src="//web.archive.org/web/20190812023536js_/https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/3.3.1/jquery.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript">window.jQuery || document.write('<script src="/resources/js/libs/jquery-3.3.1.min.js"><\/script>');</script> <script type="text/javascript" data-name="vwo"> var _vwo_clicks = 30; var _vwo_code=(function(){ var account_id=331471, settings_tolerance=2000, library_tolerance=2500, use_existing_jquery=false, f=false,d=document;return{use_existing_jquery:function(){return use_existing_jquery;},library_tolerance:function(){return library_tolerance;},finish:function(){if(!f){f=true;var a=d.getElementById('_vis_opt_path_hides');if(a)a.parentNode.removeChild(a);}},finished:function(){return f;},load:function(a){var b=d.createElement('script');b.src=a;b.type='text/javascript';b.innerText;b.onerror=function(){_vwo_code.finish();};d.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(b);},init:function(){settings_timer=setTimeout('_vwo_code.finish()',settings_tolerance);var a=d.createElement('style'),b='body{opacity:0 !important;filter:alpha(opacity=0) !important;background:none !important;}',h=d.getElementsByTagName('head')[0];a.setAttribute('id','_vis_opt_path_hides');a.setAttribute('type','text/css');if(a.styleSheet)a.styleSheet.cssText=b;else a.appendChild(d.createTextNode(b));h.appendChild(a);this.load('//web.archive.org/web/20190812023536/https://dev.visualwebsiteoptimizer.com/j.php?a='+account_id+'&u='+encodeURIComponent(d.URL)+'&r='+Math.random());return settings_timer;}};}());_vwo_settings_timer=_vwo_code.init(); </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536js_/https://a.optmnstr.com/app/js/api.min.js" data-account="62791" data-user="55795" async></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '/resources/dist/stories-browse-page.js?v=3.19.79' }); })(); </script> <script type="text/javascript" data-name="google_gtag_script" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190812023536js_/https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=UA-6636134-11" async> </script> <script type="text/javascript" data-name="google_analytics"> function gaPageLoad(pathname, documentLocation) { var pathname = pathname || location.pathname; var documentLocation = documentLocation || document.querySelector('html').getAttribute('data-ytrk-page'); if (documentLocation) { documentLocation = documentLocation.replace(/ /g, '/'); window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag() { dataLayer.push(arguments); } gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('set', { 'dimension1': 'ANONYMOUS', 'dimension2': 'C', }); gtag('config', 'UA-6636134-11', { 'page_path': documentLocation + pathname + decodeURI(location.search), 'link_attribution': true, }); } } gaPageLoad(); </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,host:'www.britannica.com',domain:'www.britannica.com'}; </script> <script type="text/javascript" data-name="webstats"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//web.archive.org/web/20190812023536/https://www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,{accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'www.britannica.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''});} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

#WTFact | Britannica.com