In 1906, a famed explorer saw something on the horizon that would lead an expedition of men to search for a magnificent land they hoped would be full of new and undiscovered treasures for science.

One famous dolphin lived near the shores of New Zealand in the late 1800s, and swam alongside hundreds of ships, becoming a beloved figure to locals and foreigners alike, and described as ”the best known fish in the world.”

It was relatively common in the middle ages for Kings, royals, and various other titled men to die in combat, and they were at least usually expected to fight personally. Despite the dangers of medieval combat and the expectations of nobility, however, many at the highest levels of aristocracy died in less than noble mundane accidents, and even in embarrassing circumstances.

In 1911 John Mahoney, a freight handler at Chicago’s South Walker Street terminal, was overcome by heat prostration. That isn’t in itself unusual, heat stroke is not uncommon in Chicago’s hot and humid summers. What was unique about Mr. Mahoney is that he was overcome while working on November 11. His was, newspapers reported, the first incidence of heat prostration ever recorded in Chicago in the month of November. What is, perhaps, even more bizarre, the very next day two men were found in the city frozen to death.

The American taste for the avocado has skyrocketed in the 21st century, with the US Department of agriculture noting the annual per capita avocado demand tripling to 8 pounds between 2000 and 2021. Whether for trendy toast or for football party guacamole, the story behind the evergreen fruit is a spicy addition to the mix.

Along with expedition leaders Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, was the corps of discovery, a specialty established unit of the United States Army. It was a diverse group. Many had previously served in the army, and a handful had valuable experience as boatmen. But only one, perhaps the most unique of the lot, was called Seaman.