Latest Stories

Most recently published stories in FYI.

Did You Know?
A seahorse seems impossible. It seems unlikely to really be real. Like a unicorn, fairy or dragon, the seahorse has been so legendary, and throughout time in cultures across the globe, have inspired so many incredible medical remedies, art, literature and myths, that it seems too hard to believe that a seahorse lives, day in and day out, right alongside every other normal thing on the planet. Yet, although the seahorse seems like the embodiment of obscurity, magical and mysterious in its underwater existence, it is as real as you and I.
By Tess Celinalaha 5 years ago in FYI
Murder
The sky is covered with black specks flying in circles. Crows! Lots of them. Normally a large group of certain animals are named differently. A herd of cattle, a flock of sheep, but in this case, it is called a “murder of crows” or an “unkindness of crows”. Media, different cultures, and literature sometimes paint these creatures to symbolize death.
By Vinnie Quan5 years ago in FYI
That time a bear joined the Polish Army
Wars bring about loss, sadness, and chaos. During times of war, people naturally look for ways to lift their spirits—this was especially true during the dark days of World War II. A little-known Polish Army unit found hope in a comrade named Wojtek. This remarkable trooper made life-long connections with the soldiers he served alongside, and now his name carries so much fame, more than one movie has been made about his life. Wojtek, however, was unlike any other solider in the war: he was a 500-pound Syrian Black Bear.
By Ed Wilson5 years ago in FYI
Is color in the eye of the beholder?
If a tree falls in the forest and no one sees it, is it still brown and green? In principle, color is primarily determined by a property of light, wavelength, that has little to do with hikers passing by… Or has it? On the one hand, it is true that physical properties of light are independent of beholders (as long as we don’t go into the weird world of quantum physics) but, on the other, a wavelength is not a color. A wavelength only becomes a color once a creature with the right kit to detect it puts it in a mental box different from the mental box for some other detectable wavelength. That’s where things get interesting.
By Ines Anton-Mendez5 years ago in FYI
Historic Long Island
Montauk. The Hamptons. Even casual consumers of pop culture are familiar with these iconic Long Island locales. Film fans will recall passing references in blockbuster movies like Jaws as well as important scenes in Something's Gotta Give and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Sitcom audiences will remember celebrated episodes of Seinfeld and Friends. Those who prefer their TV soapy and dramatic may be more familiar with Revenge and The Affair. Celebrity watchers know that actors, musicians, athletes, and media personalities including Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Beyonce, Paul Simon, Eli Manning, and Martha Stewart are frequent visitors and part-time residents of towns in the area.
By Sean Johnson5 years ago in FYI
Little Known London: Exhibition Road
Exhibition Road is known as a place for tourists and locals alike to enjoy the history and culture of London. But how did this road and these beautiful buildings come to be such a cultural hub?
By Alicia Jake5 years ago in FYI
America's Bloodiest Conflict
Many people believe that the Civil War was a conflict over slavery. That was a large piece of the puzzle, but it was not the whole story. It was also a war about autonomy and representation. President Abraham Lincoln wrote,
By Ted Lacksonen5 years ago in FYI
Bury Me Then Plant a Tree
Within the Philippines, deep in South Sulawesi, there is a grove of Tarra trees that have strange little patch marks going up and down their trunks. They look like a roof thatching carved into the side of the tree. Behind those patches is a morbid tradition that I find fascinating, disturbing, and beautiful all at once. This is something I discovered by accident and yet I cannot unlearn now that I know it. I am debating if I will adapt this idea into the novels, because it definitely fits my fantasy world’s religion. My fantasy world is not based on facts though. So here is my obscure truth and how I discovered it.
By Lucy Alice Dickens5 years ago in FYI
Liquid Paper: Not Just Monkee Business
For those who remember typewriters, you also remember liquid paper. Liquid Paper was that small bottle of paint like substance used to correct typos. It wasn’t created by some large company. Rather it was invented out of necessity. This is the story behind it.
By Tabra Lee5 years ago in FYI
Polar Bears hunt and kill whales?!
Polar Bears are fascinating animals, more so than other bears because of their large size, unique colour, and arctic environment where they live. They are the largest land carnivores in the world, and live in some of the coldest and inhospitable places on Earth. People who are interested in and learn about these tough and rugged bears know they normally hunt seals. Hunting seals takes patience and strength, as the seals polar bears routinely hunt can weigh up to 150 pounds and must be hauled out of the water after being caught. If you have tried to lift anything out of the water, you know how hard that is. It doesn’t hurt that male bears can weigh as much as 1400 pounds, which is nearly 10 times as heavy as a keg full of beer. They massively outweigh their regular prey.
By Desmond James5 years ago in FYI
Vegan
I can give you the definition according to Wikipedia... I can tell you what the main World Religions say about 'how to treat' Animals...
By Ahowan ICrow5 years ago in FYI
Hunting Dog Aids In Discovery Of New Fastener
Who in the world does not know what Velcro is? This very handy fastener is used in every country around the world but very few people know its origins. It is used in just about every industry and is on a par with duck tape for its durability and its many applications.
By Michael Trigg5 years ago in FYI