We see them all the time on movie out-takes, but what's the actual purpose of the clapperboard (sometimes called a slate), and why is it clapped together? The main function of a clapper board is to allow the video and audio, which are recorded separately, to be synced during editing. The "clap" noise registers on the audio recording and which can then be timed to match the physical closure of the clapperboard on film, insuring the rest of the take is synced.

In 1901 construction was started on a tower in Long Island like no other. Designed to send transatlantic radio signals and provide power to nearby businesses without the use of copper lines, the 55 foot tower loomed ominously.  The dream of Nicola Tesla to provide free power with no lines by harnessing the ionosphere would be demonstrated with this project and backed by notable investors such as J. P. Morgan himself.

Slated to be the third largest bridge in the world, the Tacoma Narrows Bridge was plagued with issues before ground was even broken. Scale models showed it was unstable even in moderate winds. Nevertheless, construction started and the bridge was completed as planned. The bridge deck would shift up and down a staggering 10 feet with only a slight breeze. Construction workers needed to chew on lemon slices to attempt to avoid motion sickness while working.

Appealing to our comedic side, the thought of an exploding whale paints an entertaining picture. The picture is not as absurd as you might think, this very thing has occurred more than once. The reasons behind the events are both natural, and by the hand of man. The first recorded incident was the 1970 explosion of a whale in Oregon. More recently, in 2004 a dead whale spontaneously exploded while on the back of a truck in a Taiwanese City covering the street with whale guts.

A childhood wouldn't be complete without at least one encounter with a Ouija Board. Our skepticism for it makes any messages from supposed spirits seem laughable, after all, how can a commercial board game be a portal to another dimension? Originally referred to as a talking board, the first example is dated to 540 B.C. and it was far removed from the entertaining game it is today.