Got your curiosity paddles at the ready?
What up, fact fan! I’m very glad to see you.
This week we’re asking the big questions: Which is better for you, tea or coffee? What turned a 14th-century French noblewoman into a pirate queen? And, perhaps most importantly: who is the fattest bear??
Grab your curiosity paddles, my friend – we’re going on a voyage…
Come dabble with me
Fat bears!
First up – you can rest easy tonight: the winner of Fat Bear Week has been announced. Yep, this is a thing at Alaska's Katmai National Park, where each year people from around the world watch bears eat salmon, and then vote for the fattest. There’s even been a voting scandal this year. Fuck Strictly, eh?
Vengeful noblewomen!
Next, a rip-roaring tale that should definitely be made into a Netflix series starring Jodie Comer: the story of “the Lioness of Brittany” – a French noblewoman who spent a decade pursuing the King of France to avenge the death of her husband.
Tickling queries!
Ugh, tickling. I’m one of those unfortunate people who is a) very ticklish, b) hates it, but c) laughs in such an adorable way that people can’t resist doing it. The struggle is real, man. Thankfully it’s impossible for us to tickle ourselves – but have you ever wondered why this is? These folks have. And before you roll your eyes at the low-brow nature of this question, think on this: Aristotle, Socrates and Francis Bacon pondered on it too.
Hot beverages wrestling!
Do you want to see an animation of a coffee bean and a tea leaf wrestle? YEAH you do. Well that’s just one reason why you should read this piece on coffee vs tea. Which is better for concentration? For your gut microbiome? For preventing stress? ONLY ONE WILL SURVIVE.
Gifs dying!
You read this newsletter. So you can imagine my horror at discovering that my much-used gifs are in fact “on their deathbed”. You always think this stuff will happen to other people, you know?
Word of the week
Saudade (Portuguese): "A pleasure you suffer, an ailment you enjoy."
I can only imagine that’s like having a painful but ultimately satisfying poo.
The question on everyone’s lips:
Can ‘brown noise’ really help you concentrate?
And finally…
See you next Friday!
Know someone who’d like to be 23% smarter*? Who’d like to join us on our quest to be the most interesting person in the room? Then share this newsletter with them – the more, the merrier!
*absolutely zero evidence for this