Let’s go back to March 13, 1781, when William Herschel, a music teacher turned stargazer, spotted something new in the night sky—Uranus. Peering through a homemade telescope in his backyard in Bath, England, he noticed a faint dot that wasn’t twinkling like a star. At first, he thought it might be a comet, but after some number-crunching with his astronomer pals, it hit him: he’d found a whole new planet! It was the first one discovered with a telescope, and suddenly, the solar system got a little roomier.

Herschel wasn’t your typical scientist—he went from conducting symphonies to scanning the cosmos, even building his own gear because store-bought just wouldn’t do. His telescope had a 6.2-inch (15.8 cm) aperture and a 7-foot (2.1 m) focal length.That night, he caught Uranus, about 1.8 billion miles away, minding its own business. Word spread fast, and after some debate, it got dubbed Uranus, after the Greek sky god. Fun fact: he wanted to name it “George’s Star” for King George III—talk about sucking up!

The discovery was a big deal—until then, everyone thought Saturn was the edge of the planetary neighborhood. Herschel became a rockstar in science circles, even snagging a gig as the king’s astronomer. It opened the door to finding more cosmic surprises, proving there was more out there than old maps showed. Plus, it gave schoolkids everywhere a planet name that’s still good for a giggle—sorry, Uranus.

March 13, 1781, is when the solar system got a surprise guest, thanks to Herschel’s sharp eyes and DIY spirit. It’s a fun little tale of how one guy with a telescope stretched our view of the universe. So next time you’re stargazing, tip your hat to William—he made space a little less lonely, one planet at a time.

Now we jump to March 13th 1905, when Margaretha Zelle—better known as Mata Hari—kicked off a secret life that’d land her in history books as a legendary spy. This Dutch woman had already reinvented herself as an exotic dancer, but around this time, she started mingling with Europe’s elite—military men, politicians, and shady types. World War I was still years away, but her charm and travels laid the groundwork for a double life. By 1917, she’d be accused of spying for Germany, though 1905 marks the start of the path that got her there.

Before the spy gig, Mata Hari’s life was a whirlwind—marriage to a Dutch officer, a period of time in Indonesia, and a messy divorce left her broke. She hit Paris in 1905, dazzling crowds with her “oriental” act, but it was her knack for cozying up to powerful guys that caught bigger eyes. As war loomed, French and German intelligence started whispering her name. Was she a mastermind or just a flirt caught in the crossfire? In 1916, she took a deal to spy for France, but the French later claimed she’d double-crossed them for the Kaiser.

Her spy story ended grimly. Arrested in 1917, Mata Hari faced a French trial where they pinned thousands of Allied deaths on her—probably a stretch, since evidence was thin (some coded messages and a lot of gossip). She swore she was only playing the game, not running it, but the firing squad didn’t buy it—she was executed that October. Historians still argue: was she a cunning agent or a scapegoat for wartime panic?

This 1905 chapter—tied to her early networking—launched Mata Hari into espionage lore. It’s a twisty tale of how a dancer stumbled into a web of secrets, real or not. She didn’t win the spy game, but she sure made it unforgettable. Next time you’re keeping a secret, think of Mata Hari—hers came with a bigger spotlight than most.

Ancient A/C💨
Long before modern A/C units, the Persians in 3,000 BCE developed a genius way to cool their buildings—using wind towers called badgirs. These tall, chimney-like structures captured cool breezes and directed them into buildings while pushing hot air out. Some were even combined with underground water reservoirs to create natural air conditioning in the desert heat. This eco-friendly cooling system kept Persian cities comfortable centuries before electricity, proving that smart engineering is timeless.

Ben Franklins Turkey🦃
While the bald eagle became the official bird of the United States, Benjamin Franklin thought the honor should go to… the turkey. In a 1784 letter to his daughter, Franklin criticized the eagle as "a bird of bad moral character", saying it was lazy and a thief (since eagles often steal food from other birds). The turkey, on the other hand, he called "a much more respectable bird", describing it as "brave" and uniquely American. Thankfully (for the turkey), Franklin’s idea never took off—or Thanksgiving might look very different today.

Disney’s Land of Oz🌈
Before Disneyland became the Happiest Place on Earth, Walt Disney considered adding a "Land of Oz" attraction, inspired by The Wizard of Oz. In the 1950s, Disney acquired the rights to L. Frank Baum’s Oz books and planned an Oz-themed area with attractions based on the Yellow Brick Road, Emerald City, and the Wicked Witch. However, the idea was shelved in favor of other projects, and Disneyland opened in 1955 without Oz. Decades later, Disney tried again with an Oz the Great and Powerful attraction at Epcot’s Flower & Garden Festival, but the full "Land of Oz" never materialized. So while Mickey never made it to Emerald City, the dream of an Oz theme park remains one of Disney’s biggest "what-ifs."

Aztecs Mythical Horses🐴
When the Spanish conquistadors arrived in 1519, the Aztecs had never seen horses before—leading to shock, awe, and even fear. To the Aztecs, these massive, fast-moving creatures, ridden by armored men, seemed almost mythical—like gods or supernatural beasts. Some even believed the horse and rider were one single being. This confusion initially gave the Spanish an intimidating advantage in battle. Of course, the Aztecs quickly realized horses weren’t divine, but by then, the Spanish conquest was well underway.

We hope your enjoying these fun daily newsletters, we LOVE being able to get you started with a boost of knowledge to start your day! If you have ANYTHING you’d like to ask us or let us know, just REPLY to this email! Until next time, stay curious, question everything, and keep uncovering the mysteries of the past. - Zach⛺️