Modern humans, especially in western countries, live a life of relative ease, despite always finding petty things to complain about. We live much longer than we ever did before thanks to all those amazing discoveries and technological advancements. But what about days gone by when people had to do everything themselves? Well in the article, you’re going to find out about just exactly how things worked before those life-changing inventions came to be!

1. Before Crash Test Dummies, Living Volunteers Were Used

In the 1930s, prior to the crash test dummy, corpses were the go-to test subjects in order to analyze the impact of a crash on the human. Although this was helpful, it still wasn’t enough. That’s when, between 1960 and 1975, researchers like Lawrence Patrick, a biomechanics professor who, along with his students, volunteered for all sorts of tests including 400 rides on a rocket sled and crushing blows to the head and body. It was totally worth it because one of his students, Harold Mertz, went on to develop Hybrid III, the current standard crash test dummy.

2. Before Modern Erasers People Used Bread Crumbs

Rubber erasers came into existence in 1858. And before that? Well, bread crumbs were the go-to option for clearing out your mistakes. Sounds weird at first, but it really isn’t. This is because erasers work by sticking to the graphite marks on the paper, then grind them away as you rub against it. And this principle is pretty much the same with a lot of other substances, including breadcrumbs. So from about 1612 and 1770, whenever someone made a mistake, they’d just reach over for some leftover bread!

3. Before the Heart Lung Machine, Cross Circulation Connected Two Living Patients Together

The heart-lung machine, a key component in undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass, was developed during the 1950s. It basically takes over the function of the heart and lungs while the patient is undergoing surgery on these organs. But before that was a thing, doctors came up with the ingenious idea of connecting two living patients together. This is known as cross-circulation and in 1954, a father and son were put under anesthesia and had their veins and lungs connected while the latter underwent surgery to repair his heart.

4. Before Insulin, Diabetics Had to Live on Dangerous Low Carb Diets

Most diabetics today live a fairly long healthy life thanks to Frederick Banting’s discovery of insulin in 1921. Before, they were only given a life expectancy of only three to four years from diagnosis, and it was a pretty rough time for them. The only treatment was a strict diet that was completely void of carbohydrates. This sometimes worked for type II diabetics. But that wasn’t the case for type I’s whose body is unable to produce insulin. Some only consumed a mere 450 calories a day, which, unsurprisingly, led to starvation and death.

5. Before Radar, War Tubas Helped Detect Enemy Aircraft

The invention of radar was one that took war to a whole new height, making it much easier for soldiers to detect incoming enemies before it was too late. But it only came to be in 1935 and the closest thing to a radar before this was the war tubas which was devised by the Japanese. Like the name indicates, the war tuba was a giant horn that pointed upward at the sky so that the wide-opened mouth end would catch the sound of an approaching aircraft. Seemed like a great idea, though there really isn’t much evidence that it worked.

 

The stock exchange is a key aspect of finance which offers entrepreneurs the opportunity to raise large amounts of capital and revolutionize the world. Five days a week, stockbrokers and traders buy and sell stocks and bonds. This economic activity seems complex to many and has become even more fascinating with the introduction of cryptocurrency. Although it is said that the market never sleeps, there have been incidents that have surely shut it down. Here are five things that have led to such an outcome.

1. COVID-19 Pandemic 

From March 2020, the world plummeted into a time of uncertainty, turmoil and great distress due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) shut down in March 2020; something that no one anticipated. It temporarily closed and was forced to resort fully to electronic trading. This was the same for other stock markets. After being shut down for a little over two months, the NYSE reopened in May 2020. This unprecedented event saw a drop in economic output and crashed the stock exchange. Who would have ever imagined that a virus could shut down the stock exchange?

2. Solar Storms

On August 16, 1989, a solar flare shut down the Toronto Stock Exchange. Scientists attribute the events to an extraordinary surge of solar activity. Trading was halted for three hours because three disc drives crashed in quick succession on a computer system that was intended to be “fault-tolerant.” This came as a great shock to officials. A few months prior, the sun’s unusual activity was noted. This period was characterized by solar flares, charged particle discharges and magnetic storms on earth which caused many personal computers around Toronto to malfunction.

3. Squirrels

Squirrels seem to be raging a silent waging war on the US stock exchange. The tiny rodents were the culprits in the shutdown of the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations Service (NASDAQ) for eighty-two minutes on December 9, 1987. Officials explained that a squirrel with a sense of adventure started the power outage in Trumbull, Connecticut. It was estimated that the power outage prevented the trading of a little more than twenty million shares. When the power was restored, the power surge rendered Nasdaq mainframe computers inoperable and significantly affected the complex’s electrical infrastructure, leaving backup generators useless.

4. A Loud Noise

In 2018, a North European stock market was brought to its knees when the computers were affected by a loud noise. The fire prevention system made the noise when it was activated. Data centers frequently use devices that release inert gas to displace oxygen and extinguish fires instead of spring water which can damage delicate equipment. The gas leak was loud and the high decibel whistle took down Nasdaq servers at Digiplex data center in Stockholm. This incident halted trading in seven countries which lasted for several hours.

5. Groucho Marx

Groucho Marx was an American comedian, actor, writer, singer and television star from 1905 to 1976. He was one of Hollywood’s big stars. In 1950, he was invited to the New York Stock Exchange to have a tour of the facility. Marx, the superb showman, took over the public announcement system and started singing “Lydia the Tattooed Lady” for the traders who were present. He expressed that they owed him at least one song because he had lost all his money in 1929 when the stock market crashed. He closed the market for fifteen minutes as he had caught the interest of all the traders who gave him their undivided attention.

At first glance, most religions appear to be completely separate from each other. But upon further inspection, this is hardly the case as many of them share similar themes and even their sacred figures. You’d be surprised to learn just how much religions have copied from each other, be it due to violent raids and crusades, or just naturally interacting with different cultures. There is so much to discuss, but here are the top five ones.

1. Moors Bring Greek Philosophy

For nearly 535 years, the Moors ruled over Sicily, Malta and the Iberian Peninsula, raiding Christian churches and restricting public displays of anything that wasn’t Muslim. However, during the 9th and 10 centuries CE, venerated intellectuals such as al-Kindi and al-Razi were strong supporters of the previously dismissed teachings of Greek philosophers such as Plato, Socrates and Aristotle. So they spread these Greek teachings which remained highly favored among Spanish theologians who originally translated the texts not in Greek, but Arabic.

2. Roman Mythology Was Heavily Influenced by the Greeks

The Roman and Greek gods are often thought to be one and the same, just with different names. You know, like how Mars and Ares are the gods of war, while Pluto and Hades rule the underworld. The reason for those striking similarities is because of the multiple Greek invasions, which led to the Romans adopting parts of the Greek faith, much like your friends copying your homework. Roman mythology also differed from the Greeks’ in the sense that religion played a huge role in the social life of its citizens, such as the publicly accessible priesthood institutions.

3. Greek Mythology Changes Christianity

Most of the early copies of the New Testament were originally written in Greek, before it was translated into other languages. So it only seems natural that the Greeks would insert their own beliefs while translating Christian texts. According to Arthur Fairbanks’ 1910 novel A Handbook of Greek Religion, the sudden rise of Virgin Mary as a heralded figure was significantly influenced by the worship of the Greek goddess of virgin and wisdom, Athena. Similarly, saints and gods began to mirror each other, such as St. Nicholas, the patron saint of sailors being modeled after Poseidon, the god of the sea. The same goes for holidays, such as Easter.

4. Christianity Overlaps with Hinduism

There is a widely held belief within the Vedas, ancient scriptures of Hinduism, that Jesus Christ was the eighth incarnation of their god, Vishnu as a human. However, many historians believe that this was not an organic addition into their mythology, but rather the result of forgeries to the Vedas by British colonizers in an attempt to convert the Indian people to Christianity. As for the Vedas, its origins are so unclear that many historians believe they came from Aryans in Central Asia instead of India.

5. Hinduism to Buddhism

For one reason or another, certain sects of Hinduism were willing to incorporate figures from other religions, though they were still Hindus first and foremost. Vaishnavism, in particular, states that Bhudda was another incarnation of Vishnu in the flesh, the 9th one to be precise. A claim that was first made by 12th century poet Jayadeva who believed that Vishnu became Buddha with the goal of putting an end to the practice of animal sacrifice that was widespread among the Hindu community. Though the math doesn’t quite add up, considering that Christ, the supposed 8th incarnation of Vishnu, was born several centuries after Buddha’s death.

When we hear of DNA tests, paternity comes to mind but there is so much more to it. DNA tests or genetic testing involves examining one’s DNA, a chemical database that contains instructions of the body’s processes. These tests can indicate mutations in the genes that can result in diseases. They are used for carrier testing, newborn screening, prenatal testing, ancestry identification and to determine the best medicine to treat an individual’s illness. One’s genes reveal quite a bit about who they are. You just might be amazed by the following five DNA tests that can actually be done.

1. DNA Testing for Athletes

Athletes are known to possess strength, fitness, speed and endurance. Well, it is possible to know whether one has such characteristics through DNA testing. There are tests that can indicate genetic variants that predispose individuals for high aerobic fitness. Some companies promise that by swabbing one’s cheek and mailing the sample to them, they can reveal personalized information that can be useful to individuals, especially athletes. These tests have been marketed to help athletes and bodybuilders for instance make decisions regarding their training and diet to help them maximize their potential. This information can help in understanding how best to avoid injury.

2. DNA and Weight Management

One’s DNA can affect the way that the body responds to different foods. The ability to store and burn fat, appetite and capacity to maintain a healthy weight following weight loss are all factors that have been linked to specific genes, according to research. An app is included with the DNA test which can be used to manage food intake and have better success with weight loss. Scientists have conflicting views of the effectiveness of such testing and the guide to a weight loss regimen.

3. DNA Tests and  Food Sensitivity 

People who have food allergies frequently have a lower quality of life and experience much anxiety while choosing food. There are science-based DNA tests that demonstrate how aspects of one’s life may be more likely than not to make one susceptible to common irritants. Sensitivity to gluten, lactose, cow milk protein, peanuts and histamine can be detected. This can motivate individuals to make certain modifications to their eating habits and food choices in order to live more comfortably.

4. DNA and Romance

Many people desire finding a life partner and go to great lengths to achieve this. Blind dates, speed dating, online dating and taking personality tests, have been quite popular over the years. There are now companies that seek to generate potential matches based on DNA analysis of individuals. By examining how similar or different two people’s HLA genes are, the majority of DNA matching websites try to forecast if they would have a love chemistry. According to several studies, diversity is good, and opposites draw each other.

5. DNA and Personality Traits

Your genes determine who you are. Personality traits are the persistent patterns of thoughts, emotions and behaviors that represent the propensity to act in particular ways under particular circumstances. Various lifelong consequences can be predicted by personality traits, which are moderately heritable. The significance of genetics in a person’s behavior is shown through longitudinal research. According to scientists, genetics accounts for between twenty and sixty percent of temperament.

 

Ever wondered how movies created those insane action scenes, complete with crazy fiery explosions and crashes? Well to make the movie seem more real, directors blow up actual cars, planes, buildings, you name it. And sometimes, the filming equipment gets caught in action too, much to everyone’s dismay. Either way, let’s have a look at the most expensive things that have been destroyed in the name of entertainment.

1. The Sands Casino at the End of Con Air

The most memorable scene in Con Air was the one where a massive prison transport plane crash landed into the Sands Casino. It’s the same Sands Casino where the Rat Pack filmed Ocean’s 11. The casino was sold in 1988 for $110 million, and by 1996, it was pretty much falling apart and set for demolition. So producers decided to take advantage of this situation by asking the owners to put off the destruction for a few weeks to film the scene. Fourteen cameras were placed at various angles since they only had one chance at this.

2. Furious 7 Destroyed Nine Lykan Hypersport Stunt Cars Worth Millions

No other film franchise has wrecked more cars than the Fast and Furious, though most of them were simply tube-chassis shells with salvaged V8 engines. In the Furious 7 alone, an estimated 1,500 cars were destroyed, including an authentic Lykan Hypersport. To be precise, nine of the ten that were made for the movie were obliterated, while the tenth was sold at an auction for nearly $2 million. Even though the true value of the destruction is still unknown, it’s safe to assume that the bill definitely runs in the millions.

3. Michael Bay Blew Up a Real Mansion for Bad Boys II

From Armageddon to Transformers, Michael Bay certainly loves making things go boom! He also directed the Bad Boys trilogy, starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. But the most remarkable explosion scene was in the second installment, where a real mansion was blown to smithereens. Instead of demolishing it himself, the mansion’s owner sold it for $16.5 million so he could convert the lot into three new properties. Though Bay did have to replace the walls with lighter ones and fake parts to make it explode faster.

4. Buster Keaton Destroyed a Locomotive in the Silent Film The General

Wanting to make a big impression on audiences, Buster Keaton something that was completely unheard of during his time. In 1926, Keaton starred and directed the silent film, The General. And in one particular scene, a train can be seen hitting a burning bridge then crashing right through the river below. The train was the real thing, costing Keaton an impressive $42,000 or $682,000, if adjusted for inflation. Though he made sure to stay clear of the train, a promise he made to his wife who demanded that he wouldn’t board it.

5. Jessica Biel Destroyed a $300,000 Camera Making Blade: Trinity

For her role as Abigail Whistler in Blade: Trinity, Jessica Biel had to take up archery lessons, a skill that she became really good at. But, maybe a little too good. For one scene, the producers had Biel shoot directly at the camera, and to ensure their safety, the camera was placed behind a plexiglass with a 2 inch by 2 inch hole for the lens. Well, her aim and eyesight was beyond what they were expecting, because Biel sent her arrow flying through the hole and right into the $300,000 camera, some 40 feet away.