These Weird Historical Trends Probably Wouldn't Catch On Today

Trends change over time, and some of the things that people did a few hundred years ago seem pretty unusual by modern standards. From fern collecting to fawning over men's calves, culture has certainly shifted throughout the decades. TikTok and cringy memes don't seem so bad when compared to these wacky fads...

Uranium Glass

Before people knew that uranium was extremely poisonous, it was used in dinnerware for the rich and powerful. The public couldn't get enough of this glow-in-the-dark element and to have some in your dining room cabinet was a huge way to highlight ones wealth. Little did they know they were drinking themselves to death quicker than they thought. 

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The More You Know

  • Commercial flights were allowed to fly any course to their destination and would often detour over points of interest. This ended in 1956 when two planes crashed mid-flight over the Grand Canyon.
  • A group of bunnies is called a "fluffle."
  • The smallest bone in your body is in your ear.
  • In 1923, jockey Frank Hayes won a race at Belmont Park in New York despite being dead — he suffered a heart attack mid-race but his body stayed in the saddle until his horse crossed the line for a 20–1 outsider victory.
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