October 18, 2025
Sections
On This Day
1867 - The U.S. took formal possession of Alaska from Russia. The land was purchased of a total of $7 million.
Fact of the Day
Skywriting was invented by the Royal Air Force in World War I to send messages to troops on the ground. Today it’s rarely performed outside of advertising because of its prohibitive cost (starting at $25,000).
Nature Oddities
The Kiwi bird lays an egg that can weigh up to a quarter of its body mass. Proportionally, that's like a chicken laying a one-pound egg or a human giving birth to a 4-year-old.
Food and Drink
The original food pyramid given to the U.S. government by nutritionists was a scam. It had been altered for the benefit of the food industry and there wasn’t a single clinical trial of the science behind it.