How Did Benjamin Gompertz Predict Our Deaths?

Plus, freezing waterfalls, dark matter and dumplings in honor of Lunar New Year. 

It's the Weekend! Frederick Douglass, the father of the civil rights movement, didn't know his true birthdate, so he picked one: Feb. 14. Douglass Day is just one of the reasons that Black history month is celebrated in February. Learn more about him in our article.   Did Benjamin Gompertz Predict Our Deaths? Almost 200 years ago, this actuary formulated the "mortality equation." And what that equation tells us is just as chilling today as it was then. Read more >> 10 of History's Most Torrid Love Affairs In honor of Valentine's Day of course. Read more >> How in the World Does a Waterfall Freeze? Hell might freeze over someday, but Niagara Falls probably won't. What about the other waterfalls out there? Read more >> Do You Have to Pay Income Tax on Stuff Sold on eBay? Afraid you might not like the answer on this one. Read more >> 10 Chinese New Year Food Superstitions Happy Lunar New Year! We hope you're celebrating by eating lots of delicious dumplings. Read more >> Search for Dark Matter Boosted by Quantum Tech Scientists at Yale are using "quantum squeezing" to reduce "noise" in their search for dark matter. Read more >> Test Your Knowledge   If you've been reading our emails this week, you might get these questions right! What century was mac and cheese invented in? a) 13th b) 17th c) 20th In a lab test with dummies that were both wearing tightly fitted masks, exposure to potentially infectious aerosols decreased by about 95%. (True/False) Defamation occurs when an individual makes an oral or written statement that causes injury to someone else's reputation. True statements can't be considered defamatory. (True/False) A German study from 1996 showed that using diluted peppermint oil to treat headaches was not as effective as common pain relievers. (True/False) As many as 1 in 10 persons with autism have some kind of enhanced "Savant" ability or talent (like memorization). (True/False) This famous dam sits along the Nevada and Arizona borders and harnesses the power of the Colorado River. a) Roosevelt Dam b) Glen Canyon Dam c) Hoover Dam Check Your Answers Copyright © 2021 HowStuffWorks, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in at our website howstuffworks.com Our mailing address is: HowStuffWorks 1501 Main St Suite 101 Venice, CA 90291 Want to change how you receive these promotional emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list