humans are different to animals because of our attraction to compiling lists of “top 10″. in this case the list is of 100 things that we didn’t know this time last year. each week the BBC Magazine compiles a list of “top 10 things we didn’t know last week”. this is an almanac for the year.
19. The = sign was invented by 16th Century Welsh mathematician Robert Recorde, who was fed up with writing “is equal to” in his equations. He chose the two lines because “noe 2 thynges can be moare equalle”.
some interesting facts.
“41. Tactically, the best Monopoly properties to buy are the orange ones: Vine Street, Marlborough Street and Bow Street.” I fail to see how something that’s plain logic, based on a game that’s been around for years, could possibly be something we didn’t know last year…
“43. The spiciness of sauces is measured in Scoville Units.” People have known that for years.
But my personal favourite would have to be number 23. In America it’s possible to subpoena a dog.