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The world's first capsule hotel, the Capsule Inn Osaka, opened in 1979 in Osaka's Umeda district. Architect Kisho Kurokawa designed its bed-sized pods, meant for office workers who had missed the last train home.
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📍 London, UK
The world's first underground railway opened in London on 10 January 1863, between Paddington and Farringdon. Steam locomotives pulled gas-lit wooden carriages through the tunnels, and 38,000 people rode it on the first day.
📍 East London, South Africa
These giant concrete 'jacks' that lock together to tame waves were designed in 1963 for the harbour of East London, South Africa. Their Afrikaans name refers to knucklebones, and they now guard coasts around the world.
📍 Halifax, England
Cat's eyes were invented by Percy Shaw of Halifax, England, who patented them in 1934 and named them after a cat's eyeshine. Wartime blackouts showed their value and helped spread them across British roads.
📍 NE India, Bangladesh & Myanmar
Mangoes originated in the region between northeastern India, Bangladesh and northwestern Myanmar. The English word came via Portuguese from Malayalam “manga”.
📍 Near Aleppo, Syria
In 1930 zoologist Israel Aharoni caught a mother hamster and her litter near Aleppo, Syria. DNA studies show all domestic golden hamsters descend from one female, probably that very mother.
📍 Malay Archipelago (Java, Borneo & Sumatra)
Orangutan is Malay orang 'person' + hutan 'forest': the person of the forest. A Dutch physician first printed it for the ape in 1631. Wild orangutans now live only on Borneo and Sumatra.