Ever wonder what happens to ripped bank notes or dented coins? Everyday the US destroys approximately 5 million unfit bills which adds up to 7,000 tons of material a year. The reasons for their destruction range from simply wearing out to being contaminated with a hazardous substance. Roughly 45% of all notes replaced are $1 bills, which have a life expectancy of 21 months. Other denominations remain in circulation longer. A $100 bill usually lasts seven years.

During the 1950's, the Coldwar between the US and the Soviets was well underway with much of the "battle" taking place in the Arctic. Operating in the Arctic posed unique problems for the US when it came to moving soldiers in and out. Ships could not be depended on to break through the ice, aircraft runways were hard to maintain, and the area was beyond the range of helicopters. The CIA enlisted the help of a creative inventor, who had a strangely unique solution: the skyhook.

At some point in their life most people have made the mistake of brushing their teeth in the morning and following it up with a glass of fresh orange juice for their daily dose of Vitamin C. Assuming you’ve made that mistake, there's no reason to explain anymore. But if you've somehow gone through life without making that grave mistake: congratulations. The taste is vile. The reason for this is a simple lesson in chemistry, and the effect of Sodium Laureth Sulfate on our taste buds.

The Chinese are responsible for some of the most prolific inventions in all of history. The aptly named Four Great Inventions of Ancient China: paper, the compass, gunpowder, and printing have contributed a great deal to society. But other great innovations have come from China over the years. Some are surprising, some are odd, and some are just plain cool.

During the Second World War, the Germans possessed a tool that gave them a huge advantage over the Allied forces: the Enigma Machine. Although it was available commercially, its biggest adopters were the German Military. It allowed them to encrypt and decrypt communications much to the frustration of their enemies. Once the Allied forces figured out how to break the cipher, the messages they decrypted became known as Ultra intelligence.