Galileo was threatened with torture for his scientific beliefs.

The color of egg yolks depends entirely on the hen's diet — more carotenoids produce darker yolks.

Coffee is the world's second-most traded commodity after crude oil.

The first junk food, cotton candy, was invented by a dentist in 1897.

The microwave oven was invented accidentally when Percy Spencer noticed a radar magnetron melted a chocolate bar in his pocket.

The Greek Titan Prometheus was punished for giving fire to humans by being chained and having his liver eaten daily by an eagle.

Black pepper was once so valuable it was used as currency and to pay ransoms.

The kiwifruit was originally called the Chinese gooseberry — it was rebranded for Western markets in the 1950s.

Butterflies can see ultraviolet patterns on flowers.