... that for over 20 years after his posthumous execution in 1661, Oliver Cromwell's head (pictured) stood on a spike outside Westminster Hall?

... that after Wild West outlaw Big Nose George (pictured) was hanged by a lynch mob, he was made into a pair of shoes?

... that John 3:7, once flung from a train window, made the news again in 2009 after going missing on a train?

... that film director Quentin Tarantino encouraged Omar Doom to become an actor, and cast Doom in Inglourious Basterds two weeks before filming began?

... that the Austrian town of Fucking installed theft-resistant road signs in 2005 because the signs were frequently stolen by tourists?

... that How Am I Supposed to Kill You If You Have All the Guns? was described as "disgusting" by the parents of one of its creators?

... that the Fossil Cabin in Wyoming was built of dinosaur bones and was billed by its builder as "the building that used to walk"?

... that rapper Lil Wayne is said to have brought the phrase "no homo" into the mainstream of hip hop?

... that the chicken tax led to Ford importing light trucks to the United States from Turkey and immediately shredding portions of their interiors in Baltimore?

... that nurses have been alarmed by brain-dead patients moving their arms in front of their faces, a phenomenon named the Lazarus sign after the biblical character resurrected by Jesus?

... that grunting in tennis has been labelled as cheating by former player Martina Navratilova?

... that actress Charlene McKenna was pleased that her full-frontal nude scene in the television series Raw attracted few complaints?

... that the Solway Firth Spaceman is a photograph taken in 1964 in Cumbria, England, which appears to show a background figure in a white space suit?

...

... that despite being a clone of the Apple II, the Soviet Agat computer cost as much as twenty times the average monthly Soviet salary?

... that in England until the early 20th century, a man wishing to separate from his wife could lead her to market by a halter and sell her (process pictured) to the highest bidder?

... that Peter Wolf Toth created a Trail of the Whispering Giants (giant pictured) that winds through every U.S. state, two Canadian provinces, and even Hungary?

... that on 12 December 2009, Kaiane Aldorino (pictured) became the first Miss World from Gibraltar?

... that neocatastrophism is the theory that life-exterminating events such as gamma-ray bursts (pictured) in the Milky Way have stopped the advent of complex life elsewhere in its Galactic Habitable Zone?

... that the Romanov Tercentenary Fabergé egg (pictured) was made to celebrate 300 years of Romanov rule in Russia only four years before the end of the monarchy?

... that because of the Bambi effect, some people will not eat a whole fish?

... that "the longest retreat of the U.S. Army" was 120 miles (190 km)?

... that future Confederate President Jefferson Davis (pictured) was among the participants in the Eggnog Riot at the United States Military Academy on 24–25 December 1826, but escaped court-martial?

... that the broadside of the 14-gun brig HMS Speedy was so slight, Commander Lord Thomas Cochrane was able to put it all in his pockets?

... that 76-year-old Cookie (pictured) is believed to be the oldest Major Mitchell's Cockatoo in any zoo?

... that the 2009 Norwegian spiral anomaly was later confirmed to be a failed launch of a Bulava missile from a Russian submarine?

... that the term "Obama Doctrine" was used more than a year before Barack Obama (pictured) became president?

... that Schwa, an upscale restaurant in Chicago, employs no receptionist, waiters, or other support staff?

... that infamous bank robber John Dillinger (pictured) studied the techniques of modern bank robbery developed by Herman Lamm?

... that the RQ-170 Sentinel unmanned aerial vehicle was dubbed the "Beast of Kandahar" by an aviation expert before its existence was officially confirmed by the United States Air Force?

... that although holding a handgun sideways makes aiming very hard, it has become popular in movies and rap culture?

... that SS President (pictured) became the first transatlantic steamship to founder when she disappeared in 1841 en route from New York to Liverpool with 136 people on board?

... that during the invasion of Normandy, more than a million Rommelspargel poles (pictured) placed to injure Allied paratroopers and glider infantry proved ineffective?

... that the former Smallpox Hospital (pictured) on Roosevelt Island is New York City's only landmarked ruins?

... that the carnivorous plant Drosera regia (pictured, with prey) is one of the most imperiled Drosera species, with a single small population estimated to consist of only 50 mature plants?

... that in Nazi Germany, Christmas featured decorating Christmas trees with swastikas, Germanic "sun wheels" and SS-style Nordic sig runes?

... that at the Tzintzuntzan pyramids (pictured) huge fires were lit to signal the P'urhépecha kingdom that it was time to go to war?

... that by kneeling before a cross the renowned 16th-century English performing horse Marocco (pictured) saved his master from death by burning as a witch?

... that the Federal Triangle building complex in Washington, D.C. (construction pictured) has been called "one of the most important design and construction projects" in American history?

... that, in 1965, Eastern Air Lines Flight 663 crashed into the Atlantic Ocean while attempting to avoid a collision with an oncoming Pan American Airways Boeing 707?

... that despite the Allied siege, La Rochelle was the last French city to be liberated from German occupation in 1945?

... that Prince George Washington (pictured) was Front Palace and Vice King of Siam from 1868 to 1885?

... that the Army of Flanders (Siege of Breda (1624) pictured) was the longest standing army in early modern history, operating from 1567 to 1706?

... that rapper Lil Jon, porn star Savanna Samson, football coach Mike Ditka, actor Antonio Banderas and US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (pictured) are among celebrities who own wineries and vineyards?

... that the Hawa Mahal (pictured) in Jaipur, India, has 953 small windows (jharokhas) which were built with the intention to allow royal ladies to view the street below without being seen?

... that Australian aviator Captain Thomas Baker (pictured) was credited with the destruction of 12 German aircraft between July and October 1918, before he was shot down and killed?

... that the Vegreville egg (pictured), a giant egg sculpture in Vegreville, Alberta, rotates on its axis to the wind like a weather vane?

... that ESPN The Magazine's October 9, 2009, Body Issue sold more issues at the news stand than any other issue of the magazine in the prior two years?

... that hippalectryons (pictured) are mythological half-horse, half-rooster creatures which were probably thought to confer magical protection?

... that, according to the pizza theorem, a circular pizza that is sliced off-center into eight equal-angled wedges can still be divided equally between two people?

... that chemist Lester Shubin has been credited with saving the lives of thousands of police officers?

... that the Atlantic torpedo can produce an electric shock of up to 220 volts, and was the namesake of the naval weapon?

... that the January 1985 Arctic outbreak delayed the inauguration of President Ronald Reagan by an entire day and led to the ceremony being held indoors?

... that the Super Falcon Submersible, which cost $1.5 million, is the world's fastest personal submarine?

... that the German armored cruiser SMS Scharnhorst (pictured) sank with all hands, including Admiral von Spee, at the Battle of the Falkland Islands in 1914?

... that after the Swedes twice failed to take Bremen, they founded a new town nearby?

... that the world's most expensive ice cream treat, the Golden Opulence Sundae, is covered in gold?

... that the video game, Gears of War, revolutionized the cover system?

... that forests can migrate over the landscape?

... that the defense of Allenstein (Olsztyn) (castle pictured) in 1521 against a siege by the Teutonic Knights was successfully organized by the Catholic cleric and astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus?

... that the 1905 silent film Rescued by Rover was so popular that it had to be re-shot twice because the negatives wore out in order to meet the demand for prints?

... that Bush vs. Kerry Boxing features Ralph Nader as a ring girl and Hillary Clinton as a referee?

... that for her debut wine, American porn actress Savanna Samson (pictured) decided to use a blend based primarily on the rare Lazio grape Cesanese?

... that in the 1849 Dutch intervention in Bali, the defeated Balinese court committed mass suicide (pictured), traditionally known as a Puputan?}}

... that the Battle of Wawon is considered to be Turkey's first real combat action since the end of World War I?

... that the song "Speechless", by Lady Gaga, was written as a plea to her father to receive the open-heart surgery he needed for a bad aortic valve?

... that the German Seenotdienst (early aircraft pictured) was the first air-sea rescue service?

... that opponents of Hans Feibusch's "violently masculine and brutal" Christ in Majesty mural at St Mary's Church, Goring-by-Sea took their case to a consistory court?

... that Hugh Grosvenor, 1st Duke of Westminster persuaded architect John Douglas to add half-timbering to his stone and brick design for 2–18 St Werburgh Street, Chester (pictured)?

... that the nudibranch Murphydoris has a penis armed with spines?

... that TiME (artist's rendering pictured) is a boat that is not designed to sail on any water on this planet?

... that experiments with modern aircraft camouflage (pictured) have used panels that emit light?

... that a cult in Mexico venerates "Santa Muerte" (pictured), who is condemned by the local Catholic Church?

... that the Austrian town of Fucking installed theft-resistant road signs in 2005 because the signs were frequently stolen by tourists?

... that after ramming U-405, crewmen of USS Borie (DD-215) (pictured) fought the sub's crewmen with Tommy guns, rifles, pistols, shotguns and a flare pistol, and even by throwing a knife and an empty shell casing?

• ... that Brazil's Aquidabã (pictured) was sunk twice in twelve years?

... that when Sabi (pictured), the Australian Special Forces detection dog, was found after 14 months missing in action in Afghanistan, a journalist joked that she may have been on a spying mission?

... that since 1988 All Nippon Airways has operated Pokémon Jets (pictured)?

... that the Solway Firth Spaceman is a photograph taken in 1964 in Cumbria, England, which appears to show a background figure in a white space suit?

... that the Great Copper Mountain (pictured) in Sweden was mined for a millennium, and at one time produced two-thirds of Europe's copper?

... that Argleton appears on Google Maps as a settlement in West Lancashire, England, even though no such place exists?

... that at 21 years old, Joe Cada (pictured) is the youngest person to win the World Series of Poker main event?

... that "Charlie Bit My Finger" is the most viewed video of all time on YouTube, with over 130 million hits?

... that Central Powers combat pilots often painted individual color schemes on their personal aircraft (example pictured) in spite of the factory-applied lozenge camouflage?

... that the South Park episode "Dances with Smurfs" calls out the similarities of the upcoming film Avatar to the 1990 film Dances with Wolves?

... that when a Soviet G-5-class motor torpedo boat (pictured) fired a torpedo from its rear deck, it had to turn immediately to avoid being hit by its own torpedo?

... that the "polygraph" (pictured) was an early 19th century mechanism used to create a duplicate of a handwritten document as it was created, as used by U.S. President Thomas Jefferson?

... that after George III was attacked with an ivory-handled dessert knife by Margaret Nicholson, the number of men guarding him was increased from 4 to 11?

... that the Alexanderplatz demonstration (pictured) was one of the largest demonstrations in East German history?

... that Hiroki Kikuta (pictured), despite composing music for over 20 video games and independent albums, has never received any formal music education?

... that Abraham Lincoln, one of many American politicians known for past use of cannabis, wrote that one of his "favorite things" was "smoking a pipe of sweet hemp"?

... that Islamic influences on Christian art are visible in Christian paintings, cult objects, and most of all architecture (example pictured)?

... that the Gnomon of Saint-Sulpice (pictured) was claimed to be "a pagan astronomical instrument" and "an ancient sundial" in Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code?

... that the exposed flesh of the mushroom Boletus amygdalinus (pictured) will immediately turn blue when cut?

... that the most recent jet blast deflector (example pictured) developed for the USS George H.W. Bush is covered with heat-dissipating ceramic tiles similar to those used on the Space Shuttle?

... that the Suicide Tree flowers only once before dying and falling over, creating a small gap for its seedlings to grow in?

... that the entire Częstochowa massacre, in which hundreds of Poles and Jews were murdered by the Wehrmacht, was captured in narrative form by a German photographer?

... that the sex magic technique of eroto-comatose lucidity can be traced back to the the "sleep of Sialam" described by Paschal Beverly Randolph?

... that Hell Gate, a ghost town in western Montana, was the scene of several notorious lynchings in 1864?

... that a British 18-inch (460 mm) gun (example pictured) made naval history on 28 September 1918 as it fired the heaviest shell from the biggest gun at the longest range in combat to date?

... that Alice is a science fiction reimagining of the classic Alice's Adventures in Wonderland?

... that Charles Kingsley's Great Hippocampus Question satirised debate on ape origins following Charles Darwin's publication of On the Origin of Species (satirical image pictured) ?

... that after World War II, US General Douglas MacArthur placed Sankichi Takahashi on the list of the 59 most wanted Japanese?

... that the Sunda megathrust (pictured) was responsible for the great earthquakes of 1797 and 1861?

... that because of its total lack of anti-tank guns, the Norwegian Army was forced to employ Model 1901 field guns (pictured) against German Panzers during the 1940 Norwegian Campaign?

... that in 1987 the severed hands of former Argentinian President Juan Perón, (pictured), were stolen from his tomb and held for ransom?

... that one of the platoons of the Chrobry II Battalion (badge pictured) was led by Witold Pilecki, who later wrote the first-ever report on the Holocaust?

... that the Indefatigable-class battlecruiser HMAS Australia (pictured) was the first flagship of the Royal Australian Navy?

... that the underwater glue secreted by the sandcastle worm (pictured) is being investigated for potential medical applications, including holding bone fragments together?

... that because of shoddy workmanship, the magazine of the Gorgon-class monitor HMS Glatton (pictured) exploded only a week after the ship was commissioned?

... that the roller coaster Jumbo Jet (pictured) has operated in at least four different amusement parks, in at least three countries, and on two continents?

... that Flight Lieutenant Charles Crombie shot down two Japanese bombers and damaged a third in a single action in 1943 despite his aircraft being ablaze?

... that Titan, a Great Dane, is currently recognised as the world's tallest dog, standing 107.3 cm (42.25 in) high at the shoulders?

... that reports of "lizards with two tails" on Fernando de Noronha in the Atlantic Ocean may have been based on Trachylepis atlantica (pictured)?

... that at Modern Toilet restaurants, the chairs are made out of toilets, dishes are served on plastic miniature toilet bowls, and drinks come in miniature urinals?

... that sappers blew up the Godesburg with mines (pictured), including a 1500 pound bomb, when the large caliber cannons did not damage the walls in the 1583 siege?

... that Jim Sanborn's sculpture Kryptos (pictured), located at the United States CIA headquarters, contains text that remains undeciphered after more than 18 years?

... that with a diameter of 715 km (444 mi), Rembrandt (pictured) is the second largest impact crater on Mercury?

... that the bluespotted ribbontail ray (pictured) is the most commonly found stingray in the home aquarium trade, even though it seldom thrives in captivity?

... that the Israeli ground-based missile-defense radar EL/M-2080 Green Pine (diagram pictured) operates in search, detection, tracking, and missile guidance modes simultaneously?