Did You Know? The Food and Drug Administration announcee it would approve birth control as an additional indication for Searle’s Enovid on May 9, 1960, making Enovid the world’s first approved oral contraceptive pill. LEARN MORE.
Category: +Did You Know?
The Pause that Refreshes
Did You Know? Pharmacist John Styth Pemberton first sold a carbonated beverage named “Coca-Cola” as a patent medicine on May 8, 1886. It really did contain cocaine back thing. And way too many carbs (just like today). LEARN MORE.
Pulling an Arrow from Her Own Shoulder? YEOW!
Did You Know? Joan of Arc ended the Siege of Orléans on May 7, 1429, pulling an arrow from her own shoulder and returning, wounded, to lead the final charge. The victory marks a turning point in the Hundred Years’ War. LEARN MORE.
Pope on the Run!
Did You Know? Spanish and German troops sacked Rome on May 6, 1527. Some consider this the end of the Renaissance. 147 Swiss Guards, including their commander, died fighting the forces of Charles V in order to allow Pope Clement VII to escape into Castel Sant’Angelo. LEARN MORE.
As Frequently Happens, This Was Anticipated Over 10 Years Earlier in a Work of Fiction: Mark Twain’s Novel Pudd’nhead Wilson
Did You Know? The trial in the Stratton Brothers case began in London, England on May 5, 1905; it marked the first time that fingerprint evidence is used to gain a conviction for murder. LEARN MORE.
So This Is Why They Speak Portugese Rather Than Spanish in Brazil
Did You Know? Pope Alexander VI divided the New World between Spain and Portugal along the Line of Demarcation on May 4, 1493. LEARN MORE.
Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam! Wonderful Spam! Wonderful Spam!
Did You Know? The first unsolicited bulk commercial e-mail (which would later become known as “spam”) was sent May 3, 1978 by a Digital Equipment Corporation marketing representative to every ARPANET address on the west coast of the United States. LEARN MORE.
Still Forcing Bible-as-Literature Students to Expand Their Vocabularies After 400 Years
Did You Know? King James Bible was published for the first time in London, England, by printer Robert Barker on May 2, 1611–about two years after the Catholic Douay-Rheims version was published. LEARN MORE.
Illumination!
Did You Know? The secret society known as the Illuminati was founded by Adam Weishaupt on May 1, 1776. This original organization served as the basis for innumerable later conspiracy theories, which held false and far-fetched ideas about it and similarly-named organizations. LEARN MORE.
Yeah, Well, Good Riddance to This Guy
Did You Know? Adolph Hitler committed suicide in the Fuhrerbunker on Apr. 30, 1945 after making himself one of the worst villains of the 20th century. Oh yeah, and–despite rumors to the contrary–he’s not only *really* dead, he’s *really most sincerely* dead. LEARN MORE.
