51 Items Tagged

Strange Maps

A New and Correct Map of AMERICA (London, 1752).

For Hundreds of Years, People Thought California Was an Island

Dozens of maps show cartography's most persistent mistake.

Frank Jacobs, Big Think February 16, 2024

Gudrid the Far-Traveled even walked to Rome.

The First Viking Woman to Sail to America Was a Legendary Traveler

Back when the Icelanders called a part of Canada the “land of grapes.”

Frank Jacobs, Big Think February 9, 2024

Lava from Mount Etna could hit 10 different municipalities.

Europe’s Most Active Volcano Is Also the World’s Only Decipoint

The many eruptions isn't the only reason Mount Etna is unique.

Frank Jacobs, Big Think February 2, 2024

The Dutch National Archives releases documents every new year, sometimes after their confidentiality term has expired.

The WWII Treasure Map That Caused A Modern Day Hunt

The question remains: Where is the loot?

Frank Jacobs, Big Think January 26, 2024

Old maps of Lemuria show how science can sometimes go really wrong.

The Frenzy About the Weirdest Continent That Never Existed

Forget Atlantis, the lost land of lemurs had people in a tizzy.

Frank Jacobs, Big Think January 19, 2024

Behold the first satellite-like image drawn from observation.

Flying Circuses Led to the First Aerial Maps of Earth

There was vomiting, crashes, fire, and an abandoned cat.

Frank Jacobs, Big Think January 12, 2024

The data from every state forms a map of the U.S.

A Map of Which States People Want to Stay In, Move To, or Leave

The population data of locals versus new comers is more easy to see than ever.

Frank Jacobs, Big Think January 5, 2024

Does the early bird actually get the worm?

Most States Start School Too Early in the Morning

This map shows which parts of the U.S. ignore the science.

Frank Jacobs, Big Think December 29, 2023

A rare counter-example to the flood of Temperance maps.

This Prohibition-Era Map Is a Love Letter to Alcohol

See dozens of 1920s cocktails from a time when alcohol was illegal in the U.S.

Frank Jacobs, Big Think December 22, 2023

London is at odds with the rest of the country—but not the way you might think.

Christianity Is Disappearing in England, As Seen in These Maps

See what's taking its place for the first time in almost 1,500 years.

Frank Jacobs, Big Think December 15, 2023

Most Canadians Live South of Seattle and Other Map Surprises

We're wrong about directions and locations of many countries.

Frank Jacobs, Big Think December 8, 2023

And you thought yellow snow was bad.

The Strange Case of Antarctica’s Red and Green Snow

It’s not a Christmas trick, but the colorful effect could change everything.

Frank Jacobs, Big Think December 1, 2023

The flavor is everywhere, though for years people didn't have a specific word for it.

Why We Couldn’t Describe a Flavor We Taste Every Day

The human tongue detected it long before it could say it.

Frank Jacobs, Big Think November 24, 2023

Do Colder or Warmer Places Eat More Spicy or Bland Food?

The correlation between temperature and flavor is obvious across the U.S., Europe, and Asia.

Frank Jacobs, Big Think November 17, 2023

Midwestern nice? Southern charm? Grumpy New England?

Your Personality Depends on Which U.S. State You Live In

A map of confidence and kindness from California to New York.

Frank Jacobs, Big Think November 10, 2023

The piece of sunken ocean is the size of India.

geological oddities

The Mystery of the World’s Largest and Deepest Gravity Hole

The sea level here is hundreds of feet lower than the rest of the ocean.

Frank Jacobs, Big Think November 3, 2023

The City of Light has a city of darkness underground.

The Fight Between Cataphiles and Underground Police in the Paris Catacombs

Will the tunnels, host to many illegal parties, get filled with concrete?

Frank Jacobs, Big Think October 27, 2023

Which States Have the Most Dead Presidents?

The answer reveals grave robbing problems for America’s deceased leaders.

Frank Jacobs, Big Think October 20, 2023