Geniuses occupy plenty of space in our history books, but many of them were more than a little eccentric, as Katie Spalding reveals in “Edison’s Ghosts: The Untold Weirdness of History’s Greatest G…
, the mathematician Pythagorus was killed because he so despised beans he wouldn’t cut through a field of them — even though an angry mob was pursuing him. Thomas Edison unsuccessfully tried to invent a telephone to call the dead, and Benjamin Franklin zapped his unknowing dinner guests with electricity. Other bizarre geniuses include: A 16th-century Danish astronomer and alchemist, Brahe discovered supernovas and created the world’s most accurate star maps.
Militarily, the great European conqueror really had only one fear: rabbits. When Napoleon survived the War of the Fourth Coalition, he celebrated by taking his generals on a congratulatory hare hunt. An aide rounded up thousands of rabbits in an 1807 excursion and released them where Bonaparte’s party awaited. But the bunnies saw the soldiers on horses and made a mad dash for them, and “the whole [rabbit] phalanx flung itself upon Napoleon.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Katie Holmes Celebrates Pride Month With Alice + Olivia in Cropped Button-down and Wide-leg JeansThe event benefited the Ali Forney Center, a community center that helps LGBTQ homeless youth in the U.S.
Read more »
'Intolerance has no place in Arizona': Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs vetoes drag show-related billsFour bills passed by the Arizona State Legislature that either directly targets drag shows, or is interpreted by some as being crafted against drag shows, have been vetoed by Governor Katie Hobbs on June 16.
Read more »
Katie Lee Wore Danielle Frankel at Her Dreamy Wedding on the Amalfi CoastKatie Lee and Ryan Biegel wanted their wedding location to shine, so they planned a sailboat ride, a pizza party on the beach, and a ceremony on a dock at sunset.
Read more »
'Intolerance has no place in Arizona': Drag show-related bills vetoed by Gov. Katie HobbsFour bills passed by the Arizona State Legislature that either directly targets drag shows, or is interpreted by some as being crafted against drag shows, have been vetoed by Governor Katie Hobbs on June 16.
Read more »
Vanderpump Rules' Ariana and Katie’s Best BFF Moments Through the YearsAriana Madix and Katie Maloney have been close pals since their 2013 debut on Bravo’s ‘Vanderpump Rules — see their best friendship moments
Read more »
Arizona governor vetoes 4 bills targeting 'drag' shows, performersFor Star subscribers: 'Intolerance has no place in Arizona despite the Legislature's frequent attempts to pass legislation that says otherwise,'' Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs said.
Read more »