Neomano · est. 2014
Stories of science, the past, electronics and other curiosities.
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News · AI · Audio
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160 articles
Serendipity: The Word Born in a Letter From 1754
Few words have an exact birth certificate. Serendipity was born on January 28th, 1754, in a private letter — and its root is the old name of Sri Lanka.
Vikings Never Wore Horned Helmets
Not a single horned Viking helmet exists in all of archaeology. The myth was invented by the costume designer of a Wagner opera in 1876.
The Doctor Who Toasted With Bacteria and Won a Nobel
Nobody believed a bacterium caused ulcers. Fed up, Barry Marshall drank a culture of it, made himself sick on purpose, and changed medicine.
Spam: The First Junk Email in History
On May 3rd, 1978, a salesman sent the first unsolicited mass email to 400 people. That we call it “spam” is the fault of a can of ham.
“Bizarro” Doesn't Mean What You Think
For centuries, the Spanish word “bizarro” meant brave and gallant. How a false friend stole a word's meaning — and how the dictionary surrendered.
Narcissus Didn't Fall in Love With Himself: The Myth Behind “Narcissist”
Half the internet wants to know what a narcissist is. The Greek myth that named the word doesn't tell the story you think — and it's far better.
The War of the Worlds Panic Never Happened
The night Orson Welles terrified America is a myth manufactured by the press. The real panic came eleven years later — in Quito, Ecuador.
The Curse of Tutankhamun: The Numbers Don't Add Up
Of those present at the tomb's opening in 1922, the vast majority lived for decades. The pharaoh's curse was real — but the press invented it.
Does the Word “Travel” Really Come From a Torture Device?
Viral etymology says “travel” (and Spanish “trabajo”) comes from the tripalium, a Roman torture device. Short answer: sort of. The long one is better.
The Programmers Who Gave Away Empires
Torvalds, Bellard, Hipp: they wrote the software the modern world runs on, it was worth trillions, and they chose to give it away for free.
The Man Who Has Edited a Third of Wikipedia
Steven Pruitt has made nearly 7 million Wikipedia edits without earning a cent. The story of the most generous obsession on the internet.
Why Is the Panama Hat Called Panama If It Was Born in Ecuador?
The world's most famous hat is woven in Montecristi and Cuenca, yet it bears another country's name. The story of a stylish injustice.