In 1989, the Soviet Union, under President Mikhail Gorbachev, wanted to ensure the soft drink Pepsi kept flowing to the empire. Unfortunately, the USSR lacked the money or goods to realistically trade with PepsiCo, so instead they swapped 17 submarines and three warships in exchange for the syrup. This, according to legend, made Pepsi the commander of the world's 6th largest navy.

Sources

https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/11/27/pepsi-navy-soviet-ussr/

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When Europeans first came to North America, it is estimated that anywhere from 30-60 million bison roamed throughout he continent. And the great beast was the lifeblood of many of the Native American tribes. Yet within a few hundred years, the bison numbered barely 1000 - and the species was on the brink of extinction. This is the story of the near destruction - and comeback - of the North American Bison.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservation_of_American_bison

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_bison

Image: by Matt Breen

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In February of 1797, 1400 French troops landed in Pembrokeshire, Wales, as part of the War of the First Coalition. What was meant to stir up rebellion on the British Isles ended in complete disaster, with one Welsh woman single-handedly arresting a dozen of the Frenchmen. The invasion would last a total of three days, and mark the last the time Britain was invaded.

Sources

https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofWales/The-Last-Invasion-of-Britain/

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/battle-fishguard---one-wales-1834451

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Goodwick_sands.jpeg

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In 1869, workers digging a well at a farm in Cardiff, New York, uncovered what appeared to be the body of an ancient, 10-foot-tall petrified man. The discovery was a world-wide sensation. However, within the year, the Cardiff Giant - as it was called - would be revealed as one of the greatest archeological hoaxes in history.

Sources

https://www.history.com/articles/7-historical-hoaxes

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardiff_Giant

Image: https://www.stalbansraid.com/wp-content/gallery/illustrated-raid-events/illustrated-raid-6.jpg

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In October of 1864, the northernmost land battle of the American Civil War took place. Not in Pennsylvania, or New York, but in Vermont, just 18 miles from the Canadian border. 20 Confederate soldiers slipped south and proceeded to rob three banks in the small town of St. Albans, Vermont, before escaping back to the Great White North.

Sources

https://www.stalbansraid.com/

https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/st-albans-raid

Image: https://www.stalbansraid.com/wp-content/gallery/illustrated-raid-events/illustrated-raid-6.jpg

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In Northwest Wyoming a vertical stone tower sprouts up a thousand feet out of the landscape. The site is so unique and so stunning - it is held as sacred by many Native American tribes, and would become the very first national monument in the United States. This is the story of Devils Tower.

Sources

https://www.nps.gov/deto/index.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devils_Tower

Image: @ Matt Breen

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For 335 years the Netherlands - maybe - fought a long, protracted war against the Isles of Scilly, in the English Channel. It would drag on and on, costing a grand total of zero lives, and only ended when someone bothered to figure out if they were actually still at war. The is the story of the 335 Year War.

Sources

https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/The-335-Year-War-the-Longest-War-in-History/ ; Scilly at War by R. L. Bowley

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Abraham_Willaerts,_First_Dutch_War.jpeg

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At the age of 18, Peter I of Russia - aka - Peter the Great - formed a social club to celebrate the fun things in life - especially drinking. This group would last until Peter’s death - 34 years later. However, the club would become more than just a drinking gang. It became a way to thumb one's nose at convention, the church and the establishment. This is the story of the All-Joking, All-Drunken Synod of Fools and Jesters.

Sources

https://spiritedla.com/drunk-role-models-peter-the-great-edition/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_All-Joking,_All-Drunken_Synod_of_Fools_and_Jesters

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Peter_I_by_Kneller.jpg

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In the summer of 1928 one of the happiest accidents in history occurred. Scottish Professor of Bacteriology Alexander Fleming returned from holiday to find bacteria samples had been left out, and one of them grew mold killing the bacteria. The mold was Penicillium Notatum, and it would save millions of lives. This is the story of the discovery of Penicillin.

Sources

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5403050/#sec6

https://www.acs.org/content/dam/acsorg/education/whatischemistry/landmarks/flemingpenicillin/the-discovery-and-development-of-penicillin-commemorative-booklet.pdf

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sample_of_penicillin_mould_presented_by_Alexander_Fleming_to_Douglas_Macleod,_1935_(9672239344).jpg

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In April of 1862, Union forces began the siege of Fort Pulaski - which guarded the port of Savannah. The fort was seen as impregnable - with walls more than 10 feet thick. But the Union had some new weapons to deploy - rifled cannons. 30 hours after opening fire - entire sections of Fort Pulaski were reduced to rubble - forcing the Confederate defenders to surrender. This is the story of the Siege of Fort Pulaski.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Pulaski_National_Monument

https://www.nps.gov/fopu/index.htm

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:FTPulaski1862a01.jpg

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