1

Duct tape

Image: Lucas van Oort

One of the most useful things to have around is, without a doubt, duct tape. This product can help fix an endless number of everyday problems in virtually any environment.

This adhesive tape was invented during World War II by a division of Johnson & Johnson called Revolite. It was initially used to seal ammunition cases because of its water-resistant properties.

2

GPS

Image: henry perks

The GPS technology we all use daily on our smartphones to navigate from point A to point B was originally developed by the U.S. military. It was designed to track the position of military units and help them find their way efficiently across any terrain —much like how we use it today for civilian purposes.

3

Internet

Image: Glenn Carstens-Peters

Few technologies have become such a big part of our lives in just a couple of decades as the Internet. Its origins trace back to the 1970s, when the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) created an interconnected network linking military centers to enable resource sharing.

The connection of commercial networks and enterprises by the early 1990s, along with the advent of the World Wide Web, marked the beginning of the transition to the modern Internet.

4

Walkie-talkie

Image: garrett parker

From children’s toys to invaluable communication devices used in critical situations, walkie-talkies are a common fixture in modern life. Their development during World War II has been variously credited to Donald Hings, radio engineer Alfred J. Gross, Henryk Magnuski, and engineering teams at Motorola.

Initially used by infantry, similar designs were created for field artillery and tank units. After the war, walkie-talkies spread to public safety and eventually commercial use.

5

Microwave oven

Image: Erik Mclean

Believe it or not, microwave cooking was accidentally discovered during a military-related project just after World War II.

In 1946, Percy Spencer, a scientist working on a magnetron at Raytheon, noticed that a peanut cluster candy bar in his pocket had melted from the magnetron’s microwave radiation. Curious to experiment further, he brought in some kernels of corn and made the first-ever microwave popcorn—leading to the invention of the microwave oven.

6

Super glue

Image: Scott Sanker

In 1942, a research chemist working for a defense contractor was developing a high-precision targeting sight for weapons. Although the project didn’t produce the expected results, the resulting product was incredibly sticky , leading to the creation of the now-famous Super Glue.

7

Aviator sunglasses

Image: Griffin Wooldridge

Aviator sunglasses were developed in the 1930s as a lighter alternative to the bulky goggles worn by pilots during the early years of aviation. Those goggles were heavy, uncomfortable to wear, and prone to fogging up mid-flight.

Colonel John Macready of the U.S. Army Air Corps helped develop the first set of aviator sunglasses, which became known as Ray-Bans—named for their purpose: banning the sun’s rays from a pilot’s eyes.

8

Packaged salad mixes

Image: Nathenia Landers

The bags of packaged salad mixes found at any local supermarket use "modified atmosphere packaging" to delay ripening and spoilage.

This technology was developed in the 1960s through a collaboration between Whirlpool Corp. and the U.S. Navy to send fresh lettuce and celery to troops in Vietnam .

9

Bug spray

Image: Wolfgang Hasselmann

The active ingredient in most insect repellents, known as DEET, was developed by the U.S. Army in 1946 for use by military personnel operating in insect-infested areas . The product’s success led to its commercial release.

10

Disposable sanitary pads

Image: Annika Gordon

During World War I, Kimberly-Clark invented Cellucotton, a wood pulp–based material designed to be more absorbent and cost-effective for use in bandages.

After the war, the company discovered that Army nurses had repurposed Cellucotton as sanitary napkins , which inspired the creation of Kotex—the first disposable sanitary pads.

11

Frozen juice concentrate

Image: Fotografía de Alimentos

In 1942, USDA scientists developed frozen concentrated orange juice during World War II to help provide soldiers with sufficient Vitamin C . Although it was never distributed to the military, the product was later introduced to consumers by Minute Maid.

12

WD-40

Image: Daniel Campbell

WD-40, now a common household product, was originally developed in 1953 to prevent rust and corrosion on the outer shell of the Atlas missile . Created by the Rocket Chemical Company, the name WD-40 stands for "water displacement," with the "40" representing the number of attempts it took to perfect the formula.

1

10/12

Image: Sue Winston

We know that the Bill of Rights consists of the first 10 amendments to the Constitution, but did you know that Congress originally proposed 12 amendments? That's right! Yet, the states ratified only 10, leaving two out.

But here's the interesting part: One of these unratified amendments —the one concerning congressional compensation— was ratified more than 200 years later! In 1992, it became the 27th Amendment, which is also the last one.

2

World record

Image: Pierre Bamin

Our Constitution was signed in the 18th century, and while we know it's been a long time, what you might not know is that it is considered the world's oldest written national constitution still in effect today.

With various changes and amendments added over the years, this document not only defined the ideals of our nation but also earned us a world record!

3

The youngest

Image: MJ S

The men who signed this historic document were of varying ages. In fact, the age difference between the youngest and oldest signer was a remarkable 55 years!

The youngest to sign was attorney Jonathan Dayton of New Jersey, who was 26 years old at the time. Do you want to know who was the oldest? Keep reading!

4

The oldest

Image: Adam Nir

Well, as we mentioned, there was a 55-year age gap between the youngest and oldest signers of the US Constitution.

Do you know who the oldest was? That's right, Benjamin Franklin! He was a distinguished 81 years old when he signed this historic document.

5

500 copies

Image: Christa Dodoo

The original Constitution had 500 copies printed for distribution, made by the Founding Fathers themselves. They distributed those copies to members of Congress and state legislatures. Of those 500 original copies, however, only 13 are known to exist today. We have to say that, given that more than 230 years have passed, it's impressive that so many have survived!

6

How much?

Image: Jp Valery

Logically, since so few original copies remain, they ' re incredibly rare and valuable. In fact, one of these original documents was sold in 2021, and you won't believe its price!

You might have imagined it was sold for $5 million, maybe $10 million. But no, this invaluable copy went for $43.2 million. With that sale, it also became the most expensive historical document ever sold at an auction.

7

30 bucks

Image: Barry A

The person who transcribed the original US Constitution signed in 1787 had an important job, didn't he? The man who accomplished this major deed was Jacob Shallus, a clerk of the Pennsylvania General Assembly at the time. He was responsible for taking the text drafted by the Founding Fathers and transcribing it onto parchment: over 4,000 words scribbled down entirely by hand! Surprisingly, he was paid just $30 for this task.

8

Let's celebrate

Image: Kelly Sikkema

In 1789, long before Thanksgiving became an official national holiday, President George Washington issued a proclamation declaring November 26 as a day to give thanks. As it was an occasion for national gratitude, he also encouraged citizens to celebrate the birth of the new nation and the recently established Constitution.

9

A spelling issue

Image: Katherine McAdoo

Being a text from so long ago, some words —particularly proper nouns— may have changed slightly since the Constitution was first drafted. This was the case for the state of Pennsylvania, which is spelled as "Pensylvania" in the original document. However, while some may consider it a misspelling today, it was actually an accepted spelling for the state's name in the 18th century.

Fun fact: You can also find "Pensylvania" engraved on the Liberty Bell!

10

The Father of the Constitution

Image: Richard Hedrick

"The Father of the Constitution" is one of the nicknames given to James Madison, one of our Founding Fathers. And it's these very words that appear on the rare $5,000 bill.

Although this bill is no longer in circulation, if you are lucky enough to get your hands on one, you'll read "James Madison, The Father of the Constitution" next to the portrait of the 4th U.S. President.

1

Christian Bale

Image: Avel Chuklanov

Christian Bale began acting at a young age, landing a role in a TV miniseries when he was ten. This led to his big break at age 13, starring in Steven Spielberg’s Empire of the Sun .

Known for his intense dedication, Bale earned critical praise early on and later won an Academy Award in 2011 for his performance in The Fighter , solidifying his status as one of the top actors of his generation.

2

Michael Jackson

Image: Mathew Browne

Michael Jackson rose to fame in the 1960s as the lead singer of the Jackson 5 , performing with his brothers and gaining significant TV exposure by the age of 11 .

By the age of 14, he had launched a solo career, and his talent and charisma quickly made him a global icon, leaving a lasting impact that extended far beyond his childhood success.

3

Drew Barrymore

Image: Rick L

Drew Barrymore rose to fame as a child star in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial in 1982 . As a member of the legendary Barrymore acting family, she quickly became a household name.

Over the years, she has earned a Golden Globe, received multiple Emmy nominations, and in 2023, was named one of TIME ’s 100 most influential people.

4

Britney Spears

Image: Mathew Browne

Before topping charts at 17 with ...Baby One More Time , Britney Spears had already starred on The All-New Mickey Mouse Club at age 11 .

After the show ended, she signed with Jive Records and quickly rose to fame, winning big at the 1999 Billboard Music Awards, where she claimed multiple honors, including Top New Artist and Top Female Artist. She became a defining figure in the teen-pop wave, alongside fellow MMC alumni.

5

Elijah Wood

Image: Thomas Schweighofer

Elijah Wood got his start in film with a small part in Back to the Future Part II and became a familiar face in ‘90s films like The Good Son and Flipper .

His biggest role came when he portrayed Frodo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Since then, he has taken on a variety of unique roles, particularly in horror and indie films.

6

Miley Cyrus

Image: Masoud Razeghi

Miley Cyrus shot to fame as Hannah Montana from 2006 to 2011 , becoming a teen favorite on the Disney Channel.

She later broke out of her Disney image and built a music career following in her father’s footsteps, Billy Ray Cyrus. In 2024, she won her first Grammy Award for her hit song "Flowers."

7

Jodie Foster

Image: Jakob Owens

Jodie Foster began acting at age 3 , first in commercials and then on television shows such as Mayberry R.F.D.

She rose to fame with standout roles in Taxi Driver and Bugsy Malone , both released in 1976. Foster later built a long and successful career in both film and television.

8

Kirsten Dunst

Image: William Bayreuther

Kirsten Dunst landed her first film role in Bonfire of the Vanities at just 8 years old . Before she even finished high school, she had already built an impressive résumé with standout roles in films like Little Women , Jumanji , The Virgin Suicides , and Bring It On .

9

Stevie Wonder

Image: Gabriel Gurrola

Born in 1950 in Michigan, Stevie Wonder was blind from infancy and showed remarkable musical talent early on, joining a church choir in Detroit.

By age 11, he’d mastered several instruments and signed with Motown as "Little Stevie Wonder." He went on to become one of the most celebrated musicians in history, earning 25 Grammy Awards over his career.

10

Christina Ricci

Image: JOHN BEARBY IMAGES

Christina Ricci made her film debut at age 9 in Mermaids , but it was her role as Wednesday Addams in The Addams Family that made her a star.

She continued her success with family favorites like Casper and Now and Then before transitioning into acclaimed mature roles in films such as Buffalo ’66 and The Opposite of Sex .

11

Kurt Russell

Image: Julia Vivcharyk

Kurt Russell began acting in the early 1960s , with roles in Dennis the Menace and It Happened at the World’s Fair . By the mid-1960s, he was a Disney star under a ten-year contract.

After a brief baseball stint, he returned to acting, landing major roles in films such as The Thing , Escape from New York , and Overboard . He has appeared in over 100 films and TV shows, including Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 .