21 Fascinating Photos With Interesting Backstories

1.

When the Maldivian president held the world’s first underwater cabinet meeting to sign a climate change SOS. In 2009 the Maldavian president and 11 ministers held the world’s first underwater cabinet meeting. They did so to to sign a SOS to raise awareness for the country’s crisis concerning the rising sea levels.

2.

A Rainbow Cloud. Cloud iridescence, also know as “fire clouds” or “rainbow clouds” are caused by water droplets in the atmosphere diffracting off of sunlight. This is similar to normal rainbows, only they take the shape of the cloud.

3.

The Old Faithful Inn – Yellowstone National Park. Built in 1904 from local lumber and stone, the Inn is considered the largest log structure in the world with over 327 rooms. If you’ve never been to Yellowstone National Park, I cannot reccomend enough that you go.

4.

A Highland New Guinean. A Highland New Guinean man is shocked to see a white person for the first time in his life. Before 1930, Highlanders thought they were the only living people in the world.

5.

The small details: In the forearms, there is one very small muscle that contracts only when lifting the pinky, otherwise it is invisible. Michelangelo’s Moses is lifting the pinky, therefore that tiny muscle is contracted – a small part of the many details of this masterpiece. Renaissance sculpters had a precise knowledge of human anatomy. In the early 1400s the disection of human bodies was highly restricted, but as time passed restrictions lifted and artists like Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci could show off their amazingly detailed work.

6.

Pythagoras’ Cup. Pythagoras created this drinking cup as a practical joke. When it is filled beyond a certain point, a siphoning effect causes the cup to drain its entire contents through the base.

7.

A loggerhead turtle got into a boating accident, resulting in the loss of a majority of its lower beak. Scientists gave it a new 3D printed titanium beak. It looks so badass. He is now a cyborg turtle. The relatively new technology of 3D printing is saving the lives of injured pets and wildlife. While there are only about 10 animal orthodists in the world, it is becoming a great way to rehabilitate animals.

8.

The Northern Japan Rice Harvest. To celebrate the rice harvest, artists in Northern Japan create giant animal sculptures from leftover rice straw.

9.

The blizzard of North Dakota 1966. This historic blizzard took place over 60 years ago from March 2nd-5th. Constant snowfall and winds over 70 mph quickly made travel imposible, closing down schools and businesses. Snowfall totals reached up to 38 inches with drifts up to 40 feet high.

10.

Dad created plasma in the basement. Apparently, it is the 4th state of matter and is created under a vacuum with high voltage. He’s been working on it for a while and is quite proud of himself. Along with solid, liquid, and gas, plasma is often refered to as “the fourth state of matter.” Much like you would boil liquid to create a gas, that gas is heated to create plasma. Plasma is like a stew comprised of positively charged particles (ions) and negatively charged particles (electrons).

11.

No-nos for Simpsons animators. Around 120 Korean technitions and animators work on The Simpsons. These are some of the notes early on.

12.

An antique pocket shopping list. From the early 1900s made of wood and brass. You gotta love that cake is on there. Some things never change.

13.

Reindeer Eyes. Reindeer eyes turn blue in winter, which makes them see better in the dark due to the scattering of light on the retina. The summer eyes reflect 95% of the light out of the eye, whereas winter eyes only 40%.

14.

An 8-mile long “canvas” filled with ice age drawings of extinct animals has been discovered in the Amazon rainforest. What might seem like the world’s largest wild rainforest is now thought to be a result of 8,000 years of indigenous agriculture. There were cities, crops, and an even more diverse array of wildlife. We should probably stop cutting it down.

15.

Famous Austrian village finally change its name. This year the council of Tarsdorf voted to change the name of one of its villages from Fucking to Fugging. Although it is still pronouced “fucking” maybe now kids will stop stealing the sign.

16.

Faye Schulman. Faye Schulman (1940s), member and main photographer of the Jewish resistance to the Holocaust. “I want people to know that there was resistance. Jews did not go like sheep to the slaughter,” she said. “I have pictures. I have proof.” She is 101 today.

17.

These divers found a massive squid egg. Giant squids stick mostly to deep sea and can grow up to 40 feet long. Not sure who this dude works for but I’d get the heck out of there ASAP. Ain’t worth it.

18.

Stairs on the Great Wall of China. The Great Wall of China was built in 221 B.C. and stretches over 4000 miles. Every year it gets over 10 million tourists. These stairs have gotten some work.

19.

Virga. This is a meteorological phenomenon known as a Virga; a shaft of rain that evaporates before reaching the ground. This one, photographed in NYC yesterday, is also being backlit by the sunrise.

20.

The Mendez Brothers Spending Spree. The Mendez Brothers Spending Spree, after murdering their parents they attend a basketball game, which would feature a card with the brothers in the “rich” front row.

21.

Queen Elizabeth and Marilyn Monroe. Queen Elizabeth and Marilyn Monroe were born in the same year. This is them meeting at a movie premiere in London 1956, both at the age of 30.