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The Trial of a Dead Pope
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History
The Trial of a Dead Pope: The Cadaver Synod
In the year 897 AD, the Catholic Church held one of the most bizarre trials in history. The event, known as the Cadaver Synod, involved the posthumous trial of Pope Formosus, who had died several months earlier.
His successor, Pope Stephen VI, had his embalmed corpse exhumed, dressed in papal robes, and propped up on a throne in a courtroom. A deacon was appointed to speak on behalf of the corpse while Stephen angrily accused Formosus of illegally claiming the papacy. Unsurprisingly, the corpse was found guilty. His papal acts were annulled, his blessing fingers were cut off, and his body was thrown into the Tiber River.
The aftermath was chaotic. Public outrage forced Stephen VI from power, and he was later imprisoned and strangled to death. Pope Formosus' reputation was later restored by future popes, and the Cadaver Synod was officially declared null and void.
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Science
Which metal melts in your hands?
Gallium — it melts at about 29.76 °C (85.57 °F), so if you hold a small chunk in your palm, your body heat will make it turn into a silvery liquid.
Tech & Engineering
Java
Java was originally called “Oak,” but the name was changed after a trademark issue — the team picked “Java” because they were avid fans of strong coffee from the Indonesian island of the same name.
The iconic steaming coffee cup logo became a perfect match for a language designed to be simple, energising, and powerful.
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Sport
Jim Thorpe
In the 1912 Stockholm Olympics, Jim Thorpe stunned the world by winning gold in both the pentathlon1 and decathlon2, cementing himself as one of the greatest athletes of all time. Months later, he was stripped of his medals after it was revealed he had briefly played semi-professional baseball — a violation of strict amateur rules then in place; his medals were finally restored in 1983, decades after his death.
1: Is an athletic contest made up of five events. 2: Is an athletic contest made up of 10 events
Nature & Geography
What type of eagle is the national symbol of the United States?
The national symbol of the United States is the Bald Eagle.
* This topic has been previously featured. Spaced repetition improves your learning by helping you retain information for longer.
Business & Politics
Lobbying
Lobbying gets its name from the lobbies of parliament buildings and hotels, where advocates would wait to approach lawmakers and press their case. The term has been used in politics since at least the 19th century to describe influencing decisions from just outside the chamber.
Arts & Literature
Than or Then?
"Than" and "then" are both commonly used words in English, but they serve different purposes.
"Than" is a conjunction used to make comparisons between two things. For example: "She is taller than her brother."
"Then" is an adverb or an adjective that refers to a specific time in the past or future, or it can indicate what happens next in a sequence of events. For example: "We went to dinner, and then we saw a movie."
So, in summary:
"Than" is used for comparisons.
"Then" is used to refer to time or sequence.
* This topic has been previously featured. Spaced repetition improves your learning by helping you retain information for longer.
Entertainment
Casablanca
Released in 1942, Casablanca is a timeless wartime romance about love, sacrifice, and intrigue in Nazi-occupied Morocco, starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. Contrary to popular belief, the famous line “Play it again, Sam” is never actually said in the film — Bergman’s Ilsa says, “Play it, Sam. Play ‘As Time Goes By,’” and Bogart’s Rick later adds, “You played it for her, you can play it for me.” The misquote became iconic through parodies, pop culture references, and even a 1969 Woody Allen play, making it one of Hollywood’s best-known examples of the Mandela Effect.
Test your knowledge
If you have been following us for longer then a week, then it is time to find out how much you remember 😄 Answer these multi choice questions below! (Answers below)
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When did the great fire of London occur?
A - 1678
B - 1702
C - 1666
What is the only letter not used in the periodic table?
A - J
B - Z
C - X
Green Eggs and Ham was written by?
A - Roald Dahl
B - Dr. Seuss
C - Beatrix Potter
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C (1666)
A (J)
B (Dr. Seuss)