Yucky Royals, Space Sausages & The Power of a Good Nap

A king who insisted on being licked, a sausage that touched the stratosphere, and the 10-minute nap that could make you a genius—let’s dive in.

Some people are born to be normal. Others? Not so much. From a monarch with truly bizarre hygiene preferences to a bratwurst that defied gravity, and a sleep trick that might unlock superhuman creativity, today’s newsletter is full of surprises.

👑 The King Who Wanted to Be Licked Clean

• History is full of eccentric royals, but King James VI of Scotland (who later became James I of England) took things to a whole new level—specifically, his approach to hygiene.

  James hated bathing. So much so that he bragged about never washing his hands. His reasoning? It is rumored, he believed that being licked clean by other people was just as effective as soap and water. (Spoiler: It was not.)

  His other hygiene habits included refusing to change his clothes for months at a time and supposedly letting his toenails grow until they curled. His courtiers were not thrilled, but when you’re the king, who's going to argue?

  🔹 Takeaway: If you think your hygiene standards are questionable, at least you don’t rely on human tongue baths.

🌭 The Sausage That Broke the Sound Barrier

• You might not think of a bratwurst as a speed demon, but in 2012, an engineering student in the UK managed to launch a sausage into space.

  Using a weather balloon and some engineering wizardry, he sent the sausage 20 miles up into the stratosphere. It survived extreme cold, atmospheric pressure changes, and cosmic radiation before parachuting back to Earth—because even physics respects a good breakfast.

  The best part? The spacefaring sausage was later eaten, proving that sometimes, science is just delicious.

  🔹 Takeaway: When life gets tough, remember—a sausage has traveled farther than most of us ever will.

😴 The 10-Minute Nap That Supercharges Your Brain

• If you ever feel guilty about nodding off, good news: science is on your side.

  Studies show that even a 10-minute nap can improve cognitive function, making you more alert and mentally sharp. The "hypnagogic state" (that dreamy in-between moment when you're dozing off) is when your brain makes its most creative connections. In fact, famous geniuses like Salvador Dalí and Thomas Edison used micro-naps to boost their creativity.

  Their trick? Holding an object in their hand while falling asleep. The moment they drifted off, the object would drop, waking them up just as their brain hit peak inspiration.

  🔹 Takeaway: If anyone catches you dozing, just say you’re "tapping into creative genius."

From kings with questionable hygiene to interstellar sausages and genius-level naps, today’s newsletter proves that history and science are equally bizarre.

Stay curious—and if someone suggests licking you clean, maybe just say no.

Yours in delightful discovery,

— Max Whitt🎩👑🌭😴

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