9 Facts That Will Mess With Your Perception Of Time!
Time is one of the most fascinating and mysterious concepts we deal with every day. It governs our lives, yet it’s something we can’t see or touch. Here are nine mind-blowing facts that will completely change the way you think about time!
1. The Fax Machine is as Old as A Christmas Carol
It might sound unbelievable, but the fax machine was invented in 1843, the same year Charles Dickens published “A Christmas Carol.” While we’re used to thinking of the fax machine as a relatively modern office device, it’s actually been around for over 180 years!
2. Cleopatra Lived Closer in Time to the Moon Landing than to the Building of the Great Pyramid
The Great Pyramid of Giza was completed around 2560 BC, while Cleopatra ruled Egypt around 30 BC. This means that Cleopatra lived closer in time to the 1969 moon landing than to the construction of the pyramid.
History has a way of compressing ancient events into a distant past, but in reality, they are spread over vast periods.
3. Harvard University is Older Than Calculus
Harvard University was established in 1636, making it one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in the United States. Calculus, however, was developed by Isaac Newton and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz in the late 17th century. So, there was a time when Harvard existed without the benefit of calculus.
4. Oxford University is Older Than the Aztec Empire
Teaching existed at Oxford University as early as 1096, whereas the Aztec Empire was founded in 1428. This means Oxford was a thriving educational institution hundreds of years before the Aztec civilization came into being.
5. The Eiffel Tower and Nintendo are the Same Age
The Eiffel Tower was completed in 1889, the same year that Nintendo was founded. While one symbolizes architectural innovation and the other represents gaming evolution, both have stood the test of time and continue to be iconic in their respective fields.
6. Mammoths Were Still Alive When the Pyramids Were Being Built
Woolly mammoths went extinct around 1650 BC, while the Great Pyramid of Giza was completed around 2560 BC. This means that there were still mammoths roaming the Earth while the ancient Egyptians were building their pyramids.
7. The Last Known Widow of a Civil War Veteran Died in 2020
The American Civil War ended in 1865, but the last known widow of a Civil War veteran, Helen Viola Jackson, died in December 2020. She had married a much older veteran when she was a teenager, and their union extended the living legacy of the Civil War into the 21st century.
8. The Stegosaurus Lived Closer in Time to Humans Than to the T-Rex
The Stegosaurus roamed the Earth around 150 million years ago, while the T-Rex lived about 65 million years ago. This means there is a greater time gap between the Stegosaurus and the T-Rex than between the T-Rex and humans.
9. The University of Bologna is the Oldest University in the World
Founded in 1088, the University of Bologna in Italy is the oldest university in continuous operation. It predates the founding of the Mongol Empire, the signing of the Magna Carta, and even the Crusades.
Time is a strange and wonderful thing. These facts highlight just how complex and surprising our understanding of time can be. From ancient inventions to living legacies, the way we perceive time can shift dramatically when we look at it from different angles.
Keep these facts in mind next time you ponder the passage of time, and let them reshape your understanding of history and the present moment.
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