Latest Stories

Most recently published stories in FYI.

King Charles I
We know Charles I as the King who lost his head (literally), but I wonder how many of us know his life story. What sort of a man was he? How was he raised? Why didn’t he give into Parliament to save his own head? It is true to say, we will never have another King like Charles I!
By Ruth Elizabeth Stiff5 years ago in FYI
The Science of Souls
What if I told you that reincarnation is a real scientific subject of study? Not kidding. Not too long ago, I read a book by Jim. B. Tucker called Return to Life in which he recounted his work, first under Ian Stevenson who died in 2007, and then on his own, to get to the bottom of why so many young children seemed to know things it was impossible for them to know about a past life they insisted they had lived.
By Raistlin Allen5 years ago in FYI
HE IS NOT ALL WET!
HE IS NOT ALL WET! THE LONNIE JOHNSON STORY
By Fabian Ellis5 years ago in FYI
Moving Forward with Sharks
What’s scarier than an ocean with sharks? An ocean without them. Greenpeace During distance learning for elementary students this year, I incorporated a Would you Rather question as an ice-breaker for the start of each class. Soon, a pattern in the student’s choices emerged. Every time there was an option involving water, the students preferred the land activity, and I became curious.
By Jennifer Christiansen5 years ago in FYI
Did You know? - Vicious Venoms
Some animals run fast to catch their prey or escape predators. Some have wings, while others use their sharp claws and teeth to defend or catch their prey. Toxins are no different: they can be used both to subdue prey and to defend themselves.
By Daniel Toth5 years ago in FYI
Hatshepsut, the mysterious Queen of the Nile
When people discover I'm a native Egyptian, they usually bring up the pyramids and pharoahs, especially strong women like Cleopatra. I try not to wince, knowing good old Cleopatra was actually Greek. I know they don't mean any harm by that mistake and probably thought it was a nice icebreaker. I refrain from telling them they're probably just thinking of that iconic scene in the movie "Cleopatra", with Elizabeth Taylor lasciviously posing for Richard Burton.
By Asiya5 years ago in FYI
What's that Australian saying?
We're known for our outdoor lifestyle, beaches, barbeques and the tv show Neighbours.....oh and the Hemsworth brothers. But have you ever wondered what some of those colloquial terms that Australians utter really mean?
By Melanie Charles5 years ago in FYI
Accidental Origins of Four Classic Toys
Wallpaper cleaner or spray-on instant casts for injuries don't sound like loads of fun at a party or in a playroom, but what inventors created with these particular goals turned out to be some of our most classic toys.
By Susan Joy Clark5 years ago in FYI
Show Me the Money
As a child, I remember an older gentleman, a friend of the family, giving me old coins for my birthday. Prior to retiring, he and his wife owned a grocery store. Patrons paid with currency and coins and occasionally an old silver dime or quarter exchanged hands. When he noticed this transaction, he swapped out modern change for the coins with greater value because of their silver content. Over the years, he accumulated quite a collection. Occasionally, I became a beneficiary, as he loved giving the silver away on special days...like celebrating the day of my birth.
By Bryan R..5 years ago in FYI
The First Female Film Director: Alice Guy-Blache
In honor of Women's History Month, I decided to tell the story of an unknown figure in history. That figure is Alice Guy-Blache, the first female film director. The French darling became a pioneer in the film industry. And yet, she's not one of the first names that come to mind when we think of famous directors. More people need to know about Alice so her accomplishments can be remembered.
By Sarah Loyd5 years ago in FYI
The Doorknob
The contributor to a well-known writing hub was outraged. Outraged! He had scored a quickie interview with one of the world’s leading scientists, but he was [darned] if he could come up with the writing hub’s required 600 word-minimum.
By Hamish Alexander5 years ago in FYI
Blame Canada For Ruining Pizza
There are two types of people: those who love pineapples on pizza and those who believe it’s an abomination and representation of all things dark in this world. It‘s an age-old question that has divided the internet and turned friends into enemies, brothers against sisters and has been the subject of numerous virtual battles: does pineapple belong on pizza? On one side, there’s the argument that the sweet, tangy taste of the juicy pineapple balances out the savoury, punchy flavour of the cheese and ham. On the other end, many hold that the addition of the tropical fruit makes a mockery of an already-perfect Italian masterpiece. It's pizza, not a fruit salad!
By Laquesha Bailey5 years ago in FYI