Charles Martel Grandfather of Charlemagne

In a quirky twist of dynastic history, Charles Martel- Leader of the Franks and victor at Tours- was the grandfather of Charlemagne-the father of Europe, and as legend holds it, probably an ancestor to anyone who has European familial history.

The Vacuum of Space

Next time you enter interstellar space exposed, just remember you have around 10 seconds of consciousness to get back inside the ship.  This highly pertinent information comes from the fine people at NASA who wrote "Barometric pressure in Bioastronautics Data Book, Second edition, SP-3006"  Other key points to remember, or notes that may assuage some fears: 1) Your blood wont boil; 2) You wont freeze upon contact.  This is due to the fact that space has no real temperature because there's nothing there-- but I wouldn't want to be exposed to those Gamma, IV Rays or anything like that from the Sun.

http://io9.com/5709637/what-would-really-happen-if-you-were-exposed-to-vacuum

The Markhor

If someone gave me this picture and asked me to guess if this creature was real or mythical 10 minutes ago, I would have probably chose the latter.  Apparently this 'wild goat' is the national animal of Pakistan and naturally, as most national animals of South Asian countries, it is endangered.  I just hope that we are able to save this animal and its habitat so future generations will be amazed that this stranger than fiction creature is in fact a reality.

Gravity is strangely weak on Earth

I watched "A Conversation about Physics with Lisa Randall" on Charlie Rose today.  She makes the (obvious) point that gravity on Earth, the incredible force holding everything together, is rather weak.  Just jump, your breaking gravity.  Physicists realized this and using string and m-theory concluded that this is the result of the 11th Dimension, that our gravity is seeping (see video for correct terminology) into parallel dimensions which are hypothetically right next to us, but in another dimension.  

http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/90