Mental Floss: Instant Knowledge (18 page)

(and that whole potato famine)

USEFUL FOR:
barroom banter, impressing your econ professor, and chatting up anyone in the baked potato fix-it line

KEYWORDS:
potatoes, blarney, or luck of the Irish

THE FACT:
You might think of the potato crisis as a punch line, but due to its effects, only half as many people live in Ireland as did before the famine.

Until the late 1800s, economic crisis usually meant agricultural crisis, with famine a not-so-infrequent consequence. Before the advent of industrial agricultural methods, weather conditions and infestations of various kinds had the power to hold the economy hostage. In 1845 a new fungus that isn’t really a fungus,
Phytophthora infestans
, struck the potato—the mainstay of Ireland’s food supply. Although the blight lasted only a few years, its effects were far-reaching. As many as 1.5 million died as a direct result of the famine, and many more emigrated in the second half of the 19th century. And like we said, even today only half as many people live in the nation as did before the great potato crisis.

(for putting on the pounds)

USEFUL FOR:
barroom banter, impressing wrestlers and giving carb counters nightmares

KEYWORDS:
sumo, diet, fat, or Weight Watchers

THE FACT:
Like nearly every aspect of sumo life, the famed Japanese wrestlers’ diet is based on centuries of tradition. So what exactly makes up this traditional chow?

Oddly enough, sumos put on their enormous weight—700 pounds and more—mostly by consuming a simple diet of
chankonabe
, a thick boiled stew containing tofu, carrots, cabbages, leeks, potatoes, lotus roots, daikon radishes, shiitake mushrooms, and giant burdock in chicken broth. Some recipes call for shrimp, noodles, raw eggs, or beer. Doesn’t sound particularly fattening, does it? In fact,
chankonabe
is quite healthy, high in both protein and vitamins. But three factors play into the whole weight-gaining aspect of it for sumo: 1) they eat a lot of it—an
awful
lot of it, 2) sumo traditionally skip breakfast, consuming most of their calories at an enormous midday meal, after which 3) they immediately take a three- or four-hour nap. As most nutritionists will tell you, skipping breakfast and then sleeping immediately after a meal is a guaranteed way to pack on the pounds.

(and the ladies)

USEFUL FOR:
making small talk at reenactments and political fund-raisers, and helping debunk anyone who talks reverently about the Founding Fathers

KEYWORDS:
Sally Hemings, the Constitution, presidential affairs

THE FACT:
Known for his extreme intellect and skills at diplomacy, Thomas Jefferson is truly one of America’s Founding Fathers, but in more ways than for his patriotism.

Considered a loving and faithful husband to Martha during their ten years of marriage before her death, Tom Jefferson was actually a bit of a tom cat. While on a trip to New York in 1768, John Walker asked Tom to look after his wife and that he did, literally. Later in 1786 as ambassador to France, Jefferson fell deeply in love with Maria Conway, the wife of portraitist Richard Conway. Legend has it that one day, while walking through the countryside, Tom tried to show off for the blushing (Conway) bride and fell while jumping a fence only to break his wrist. But Tom’s best-known relationship was with Sally Hemings, his slave and his late wife’s half sister. Their relationship went on for 35 years and provided Jefferson a number of heirs. Ironically, Jefferson detested interracial relationships and never gave Sally her freedom.

(and its long war)

USEFUL FOR:
impressing biology teachers, six-year-olds, and Grandma

KEYWORDS:
Jell-O mold, pineapples, or Bill Cosby

THE FACT:
We’ve seen the end of a cold war, Republicans dance with Democrats, little black and white kids walk hand in hand…so why is it that Jell-O and pineapples still won’t get along?

If Jell-O ads and 1950s cookbooks are to be believed, you can mix almost
anything
with gelatin and have it come out tasty. Ham? Absolutely. Carrots? Sure thing. Tomato soup? Mm, mm good. The only ingredient that seems to be taboo is one that actually sounds delicious: fresh pineapple. Unfortunately, the tropical treat works like kryptonite on Jell-O because it contains an enzyme called bromelain, which prevents gelatin from forming into a solid. But fret not, congealed salad fans:
Canned
pineapple doesn’t contain bromelain. The canning process heats the pineapple to a temperature sufficient to break the enzyme down, making it oh so Jell-O friendly.

USEFUL FOR:
questioning your pastor, Sunday school debate, taunting your younger sibling into believing they’ll be similarly forgotten

KEYWORDS:
sibling rivalry, Virgin Mary, or Son of God

THE FACT:
The New Testament mentions brothers (
adelphoi
in Greek) of Jesus and even names them. Yet somehow history still depicts him as an only child.

Most historians would go so far as to say the
adelphoi
James, Simon, Judas (different from apostles James, Simon, and Judas), and Joseph were Jesus’ cousins. And it’s true, according to Catholic theology: Jesus’ mother, Mary, never had sexual intercourse and never bore a child other than the Messiah, so the
adelphoi
couldn’t have been his brothers. Other lines of thought, though, tell it a little differently, claiming that the Gospel writers used
adelphoi
literally and that Mary was a virgin only until after the birth of J.C. We don’t want to take sides, but if these four guys really were Jesus’ brothers, they got the seriously short end of the sibling stick. Imagine! Not only is your brother God Almighty, he’s also the most famous man in history. Meanwhile, scholars are sitting around arguing about whether you ever even existed.