How A “Sea-Worm” Inspired Marc Brunel To Dig London’s Thames Tunnel
Today in 1843, the opening of the Thames Tunnel in London, the first tunnel of its kind and one inspired by a mollusc known as a shipworm.
Albert Gunter Had To Jump London’s Tower Bridge While Driving A Double Decker Bus
Today in 1952, a double decker bus driver in London had to make a split second decision to protect his passengers… and realized the safest option was to gun it and jump a city landmark.
William Lyttle, The “Mole Man” Who Dug Tunnels Around His London Home
My chemistry teacher called today Mole Day, and while this story doesn't have much chemistry in it, it does have a mole: a Londoner called William Lyttle who dug huge tunnels around his place.
Carlester Smith Walked His Way Through Annapolis
For National Walking Day, the story of the guy known as the “Walking Man of Annapolis,” Carlester Smith, and how he helped keep his neighborhood clean on daily speedwalks.
The First Cars Licensed As London Taxis Were Electric Vehicles
Today in 1897 is said to be the day that London first licensed motor vehicles as taxicabs. They were nicknamed "hummingbirds" and they were battery-powered.
Each Year, London Pays Rent To The Crown For Land That’s… Somewhere
The UK has lots of traditions. Here's another one: once a year, sometime between about now and mid November, the city of London pays rent to the Crown for several pieces of land in what’s called the Ceremony of Quit Rents.
Our Undersea Internet Cables Are Also Pretty Good Earthquake Detectors
We now have some 750,000 miles of internet cable on ocean and seafloors. A research team found a way to use those cables to measure seismic activity, without installing anything extra.
A Liner Note Detective Wants The World To Know Something About The “London Calling” Cover Photo
The famous cover of The Clash's landmark album "London Calling" was taken on September 21, 1979, according to the liner notes. Except that Dave Marin, a concertgoer who was there when the photo was taken, has a concert stub that says September 20th. And he's spent decades trying to get the world to notice that the album credits are a day off.
Turn Those Old Straws Into New Albums
The Straw Vinyl project has lined up some high-profile bands to release limited-edition vinyl records that are made out of plastic harvested from old straws. Then your hipster friends can say they were into keeping straws out of landfills before it was cool.