Cave Selfies, Fiery Fashions & Tomato Drama

Ready to feed your brain with the kind of trivia that’ll make you the life of every awkward elevator ride? Buckle up, because today’s newsletter features a prehistoric selfie king, a royal health hazard, and the surprising story behind the world's most misunderstood fruit. Let’s dive into the fun, shall we?

The Original Selfie: Prehistoric Edition

• Long before Instagram influencers and duck-face poses, prehistoric humans were etching their own versions of selfies into cave walls. Archaeologists have found ancient hand stencils dating back over 40,000 years. Early humans would place their hand on a surface and blow pigment over it, leaving a negative space outline—basically, the OG profile pic.

  Takeaway: Proof that humans have always been obsessed with leaving their mark, even if it involved zero filters and a lot more lung power.

The Deadly Crown: When Fashion Was Literally Painful

• King Charles II of Navarre, also known as “Charles the Bad” (great nickname, right?), met his end in the most bizarre fashion-related mishap. After falling ill, his doctors decided to wrap him in brandy-soaked cloth—because, you know, science. Unfortunately, a careless nurse accidentally set him on fire while trying to secure the bandages with a candle.

  Takeaway: When they say “fashion kills,” they’re not usually this literal.

The Great Tomato Scandal: Feared as Poisonous

• Believe it or not, tomatoes were once considered deadly in Europe. In the 1700s, aristocrats dubbed them “poison apples” because wealthy folks kept mysteriously dying after eating them. The culprit? Their fancy pewter plates. A plausible hypothesis is that the tomato's acidity leached lead from the plates, causing lead poisoning. The poor, who used wooden plates, had no problem munching away.

  Takeaway: Turns out, it wasn’t the tomato's fault. Just another case of rich people being done in by their own bad taste—literally.

From prehistoric hand art to fiery fashion faux pas and misunderstood fruits, today’s trivia proves that history is one big, bizarre, delightful mess. Stay curious, question everything, and remember: the weirdest facts make the best stories.

Yours in delightful discovery,

— Max Whitt🚀🍏🚨

Your feedback matters: what intrigued, what fizzled?

Any curious facts you’re hiding? Reply to this email and let us know.

Don't Be a Twit—Get Your Daily Fix of Fascinating Facts! Subscribe here.

Enjoyed today’s dose of curiosity? Share the wonder! Forward this newsletter to friends and family who love quirky insights as much as you do. And don’t forget to follow us on social media for more daily delights and conversations—because curiosity is even better when it’s shared!