Back in 1498, during the Ming Dynasty in China, someone came up with a simple but brilliant invention: the first modern toothbrush. It wasn’t made of plastic, and it definitely didn’t have electric settings. Instead, they used a bamboo or bone handle and tied on stiff boar bristles — yep, actual pig hair — to scrub their teeth. Sounds rough, but at the time, it was a major upgrade from just chewing on sticks or rubbing your teeth with cloth.

People in China were already way ahead when it came to personal hygiene. They understood that cleaning your teeth mattered, and the boar bristles did a better job than anything else out there. They even picked bristles from pigs in colder regions because the hair was tougher and held up longer. This version of the toothbrush was so effective, it became a blueprint for the ones we use today — just with a few material upgrades.

Eventually, the idea made its way to Europe, but it took a while for it to catch on. Europeans didn’t love the idea of putting pig hair in their mouths (understandable), so they tried horsehair, feathers, or even just rags. But nothing really worked as well as the Chinese version. It wasn’t until the 1930s that nylon bristles were invented, making toothbrushes cleaner, softer, and not made from farm animals.

So while it might seem like no big deal now, the toothbrush you use every day has roots going back over 500 years — and it started with a pretty smart fix from someone who just wanted cleaner teeth. That little invention from 1498? It ended up changing how the whole world takes care of their smile.

On June 26, 1977, Elvis Presley stepped onstage for the very last time at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis, Indiana. At 42 years old, Elvis wasn’t the high-energy rockstar from his early days — he was heavier, tired, and dealing with serious health issues. But the crowd didn’t care. Thousands of fans still showed up, just happy to see the King of Rock and Roll one more time.

That night, Elvis gave them a mix of old hits and fan favorites. He performed songs like “Jailhouse Rock,” “Hound Dog,” and ended the show with “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” His voice wasn’t what it used to be, but the charm was still there. He cracked jokes between songs, thanked the crowd, and even told them he’d be back in a few weeks for another tour.

Unfortunately, that next tour never happened. Just eight weeks later, on August 16, 1977, Elvis was found dead at Graceland, his home in Memphis. The official cause was heart failure, but it was no secret that he’d been struggling with addiction and exhaustion for years. His sudden death shocked fans around the world and turned that Indianapolis show into a piece of music history.

So on June 26, 1977, Elvis didn’t just wrap up another tour stop — he unknowingly gave his final performance. It wasn’t perfect, but it was heartfelt. And for the fans in the crowd that night, it was one last glimpse of a music legend who changed the world with a guitar, a voice, and a whole lot of swagger.

Watch Elvis’s final performance here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61-RycNKdJk&list=RD61-RycNKdJk&start_radio=1

Napoleon Cannons🚽
Napoleonic soldiers didn’t always have proper tools for the battlefield, so when it came time to clean their cannons after firing, they sometimes used the only liquid around — urine. After each blast, the barrel was packed with sulfur, gunpowder residue, and blazing heat, all of which needed to be cooled and cleared fast before reloading. Without water nearby, soldiers turned to the next best thing. It wasn’t glamorous, but when you’re fighting a war with flintlocks and grit, sanitation gets creative. 💥🧨🚽

Illegal Singing🎶
In 17th-century London, it was actually illegal for women to sing in public — unless they were in church. Outside of religious settings, female singing was considered morally suspect, often associated with sex work or scandalous behavior. Women who performed in taverns or on the street risked fines, harassment, or worse. It wasn’t just censorship — it was social control, where even a voice in the air could be treated like rebellion. 🎶🚫🎭

The Mayan Colors🏛️
When you think of Mayan temples, you probably picture gray stone ruins — but originally, they were painted in vivid colors like red, green, blue, and even bright yellow. These structures were never meant to look plain; they were bold, ceremonial, and alive with color. Over time, weather, sun, and jungle erosion stripped the pigments away, leaving behind what we see today. So those ancient temples weren’t quiet monuments — they were screaming in technicolor. 🏛️🌈🌿

Tunguska Event☄️
In 1908, a meteor exploded in the sky over Tunguska, Siberia, unleashing a blast so massive it flattened over 800 square miles of forest — and left no visible crater. Known as the Tunguska Event, it released energy equivalent to 1,000 Hiroshima bombs, all from a cosmic airburst high above the ground. Trees were scorched and snapped like matchsticks, and the shockwave was felt for miles. It’s still the largest recorded impact event in human history — and a fiery reminder that space doesn’t need to land to leave a mark. ☄️🌲

If you enjoy this edition of Today In History be sure to send it to a friend and force them to sign up because that’s what good friends do. Until next time, stay curious, question everything, and keep uncovering the mysteries of the past.