London Uncovered
Book I in the series “Feeding the Curious Mind” is called “London Uncovered.” But what is there to uncover from one of the best-known cities in the world? Every place has secrets, things that have been forgotten either through the influence of history, events that may have been covered up to protect the guilty or just incidents or locations that have some weird or quirky side to them.
And if we consider London, with over two thousand years of history behind it, we can find a great treasure trove of the unlikely or amazing hiding around the corner, above you or often, below the ground you are standing on. Some involve famous people and memorable events, but many are about lesser-known individuals and places you may not have heard of. But after reading about them, you will find it difficult to forget them.
So, whether you are an armchair historian, a collector of the strange and macabre or just want to be entertained and mildly surprised at what you read, then sit back and enjoy a journey through London’s murky, but utterly interesting past.
Unexplained World
Book II in the series “Feeding the Curious Mind” takes us into the world of the unexplained, including mysteries, both well-known and obscure, as well as murders and other crimes from history and recent ones which are still unsolved.
In addition, there are stories of the uncanny. These are not about skeletons rattling their chains but well-documented cases which raises the question of what is really happening. I do not believe in ghosts as such and in most of the cases, I set out the evidence and give you my opinion. But at end, it is you, the reader, who will make your own judgement. And in some of the examples, you may find that your conclusion will surprise you.
So, if your hunger for knowledge stretches to a large asteroid strike in the twentieth century, spontaneous human combustion, lost aircraft, disappearing towns, lost treasures which are almost certainly still undiscovered, a family of serial killers, a witch who sent the US Army retreating, the remotest place on Earth where you will likely be murdered by the inhabitants and a secret nuclear explosion which still defies explanation, then this book will give you the facts as we know them and feed your imagination.
Secret Universe
It has been famously said that Space is the Final Frontier. And the more we penetrate it, the stranger and more amazing it becomes. We are finding the planets and moons in our solar system hold many secrets. Oceans of subterranean water, worlds of ice and great geysers bursting up from the surface into space all appear to be part of our family of planets.
And as we move further out into the galaxy and then into the universe, even stranger objects and phenomena are waiting for us. Giant black holes seem to be at the centre of every galaxy and their presence may even hold one of the secrets of why the universe is the way it is.
In this Book III of Feeding the Curious Mind, we will travel back in time to see how the universe could have come into existence and how it might all end. But that is only half the story. It is also about the special breed of men and women who first imagined being able to go into space and to those who are now the new pioneers and explorers of the “undiscovered country.” From the earliest flights to space stations and moon landings, the successes, the failures and the tragedies are all here. And where we have not yet travelled, space probes and robot rovers are leading the way.
One of the big questions is, “Are we alone in the universe?” The evidence coming back to us is saying that life may very well exist on other worlds. We are discovering new evidence which points to it. The latest space probes are actively looking for it. Humans are at heart, explorers. We have mapped our own planet and now we are on our way to exploring new worlds. It’s an exciting universe, you can start your exploration of it here.
OMG! I Didn’t Know That Book I
Book IV is the series of “Feeding the Curious Mind” is dedicated to either correcting many long-held beliefs that turn out not to be true or stories which at first glance are true, but upon delving deeper, we find that there is an alternative “truth” to them.
The choice in subjects is both wide and eclectic, covering the worlds of astronomy, nature, geography, geology, history, medicine, the human body and culture to name but a few. So, if you’d like to know what the Moon smells and tastes of, find out that a beach could be higher than Mount Everest, the driest place on Earth may not be a desert, the deadliest creature on the planet, the largest living thing on Earth (and it’s not a whale), the true number of Henry VIII’s wives, where to find a diamond that is 2,500 miles across to name but a few, then “OMG! I Didn’t Know That” will let you into their secrets.
OMG! I Didn’t Know That Book II
Book V in the series of “Feeding the Curious Mind” takes “OMG! I Didn’t Know That” even further. It too, is dedicated to either correcting many long-held beliefs that turn out not to be true or stories which at first glance are true, but upon delving deeper, we find that there is an alternative “truth” to them.
Once again, the choice in subjects is both wide and eclectic, covering the worlds of astronomy, nature, geography, geology, history, medicine, the human body and culture to name but a few. So, this time, if you’d like to know how to go faster than the speed of light in your car, the real colour of your brain, the coldest place in the universe, what Thomas Crapper really did, a gaol for polar bears and the first real computer bug along with many others, then “OMG! I Didn’t Know That II” will let you into their secrets.
OMG! I Didn’t Know That Book III
Book VI in the series “Feeding the Curios Mind” has another collection of stories which in most cases, blows away any preconceived you may have about the subject. Even when the original tale is ostensibly true, it is often the case that an alternative “truth” may also be found to be accurate.
As with the other books in this series, it covers a wide range of subjects including history, space travel, medicine, strange creatures, science and zombies! So, if the idea of finding out the truth behind relativity, living with a tiger, why submarines love shrimps, the most dangerous job in the world undertaken by millions, the real shape of water, why prime minister is really a term of abuse and many others, then “OMG! I Didn’t Know That III” will answer them.
OMG! I Didn’t Know That Book IV
Book VII is the latest in the series “Feeding the Curios Mind” and it once again contains another assortment of stories which in most cases, will force you to rethink what you originally believed about them. Even if there is a lot of truth to the original tale, it is often the case that an alternative “truth” may also be found to be more accurate.
As with the other books in this series, it covers a wide range of subjects including astronomy, people, animals, the world, the mind and body and science and technology. So, if the idea of finding out the truth about the most fearless animal in the world, the place which attracts the most germs in your home, how to weigh a cloud, how to survive a plane crash, the most dangerous sport in the world, along with many others, then “OMG! I Didn’t Know That IV” will answer them.
OMG! I Didn’t Know That Book V
This latest volume in the series “Feeding the Curious Mind” and “Omg! I Didn’t Know That” aims to do what the other books have done. But, this time it will stretch your mind and beliefs to new limits. What you may have always believed to be a true fact, may not be quite accurate. And in some cases, a whole new viewpoint will open your mind to new possibilities, or in this case, new probabilities. Once more, there is a wide and eclectic range of subjects and stories including history, people, strange animals, medical marvels and the world at large, to name but a few.
So, if you would like to think again or for the first time, consider what the most alcoholic animal in the world is, the truth about leprosy, how Houdini really died, why you might sneeze whilst having sex, the fastest sprinter the world has ever known or not known and which part of England was going to be blown up with an atomic bomb, then these questions and much more will all be answered.
Stories from a Strange World
There cannot be many of us who do not find strange and sometimes amazing occurrences both fascinating and a bit frightening. It can be even more disconcerting to know that the event is either true or is a mystery with more than one possible answer. Many of these happened years ago and this could mean that details may have been lost or distorted. However, there are lots more that are more recent and we have much evidence to support the uncanny and mysterious circumstances surrounding them.
And then there are strange stories of dying. But there are many kinds of departing and in a number of cases, maybe not quite departing. There are tales where we still have no idea whether they were natural, suicide or murder. Through all of these stories I will present the evidence for and against and in most cases I will give you my personal thoughts about what might have happened. But at the end it will be up to you to decide.
So, if you’d like to hear about the villagers who could not stop dancing until they dropped down dead, the number of cosmonauts who secretly died going into space, the screaming Egyptian mummy, the many severed feet that kept washing ashore in Canada, the mysterious death of Pope John-Paul I, who killed Superman, the road to Atlantis, the truth about Butch and Sundance as well as many more, then these and many others will make you think.
It might sound like a gore-fest. It is not. But, it is a fascinating journey into the unknown.
Your Place in the Universe and How to Survive It
None of us chose to be here. But, here we are, a unique set of chemicals and other substances, living a life in one way or another and sometimes asking ourselves, “Who am I?” “What am I Doing Here?” and “What the Hell is it all About?”
We are a particular gender (or not), a certain age, we may have a current job, a career or be retired. Perhaps we have a belief system which satisfies our worries for the future and if we are lucky, we can enjoy regular social connections.
But if you still have questions, this book may answer some of them. What it will certainly do is open your eyes to an amazing world, an incredible universe and a journey into who we really are, what part we play in the universe and once taking part, how to survive everything life and death throws at us.
I can promise you an amazing journey through time, space and your mind and body. And don’t worry, there will be laughs on the way too.
The Edge of Knowledge
How much do we really know about ourselves, the world around us, and the very far reaches of the universe? Today, we can answer many such questions, and as our knowledge increases, how much more can there be left to understand?
The answer is there are many unanswered questions. As we delve deeper into sub-atomic particles and the world of quantum mechanics in which they exist or look further out into space and back in time, more questions present themselves.
But is there a limit to our knowledge? Are there some questions which will remain impossible to answer? That in itself, is an impossible question. And many of the remaining puzzles could be described as the Big Questions. These are the ones which could radically change our view on the way we look upon ourselves and our place in the universe.
How did the universe begin? How will it end? Is there a single equation to explain everything? Will we ever be able to cure all cancers? Is time travel possible? Will climate change lead to the next mass extinction?
These and many other Big Questions can be found in this book. The author, a science writer and programme maker, takes us to the edge of our present knowledge and then takes a peek into the future to see where the latest research is heading.
The Truth About Conspiracy Theories
A Conspiracy has been defined as a “Secret plan by a group of at least two people to do something unlawful or harmful.” It can occur in many walks of life. Many people believe it is a relatively modern concept. However, it has a long history. The assassination of Julius Caesar in the Roman Senate was not a spur-of-the-moment decision.
But over recent decades the world has been subjected to Conspiracy Theories. These have been defined as “An explanation for an event or situation that asserts the existence of a conspiracy by powerful and sinister groups, often political in motivation when other explanations are more probable.”
The growth of such theories and their authors has been magnified with the introduction of social media. It has been the case on many occasions that anyone in any part of the world can say what they like to a huge audience.
This book shows the magnitude of conspiracy theories, explains what might be behind them and then offers a logical answer to the actual event. If you want to find out the accepted truth and conspiracy theories about the JFK assassination, the truth about UFOs, what happened to Flight MH17, who was behind 9/11, was Pope John-Paul I murdered, the real Knights Templar, the president and QAnon and many others. However, some conspiracy theories might have more than a ring of truth. And that can be thought-provoking as well as shocking.
The Strange World of Cults
Most of us are aware of cults, even if we cannot name many. Usually, we hear about them in the media when something terrible happens such as a mass suicide, murder, abuse or large-scale fraud. But why do they arise and why do many followers allow themselves to be controlled and to do things they might never have contemplated before joining the cult?
There are those who associate cults with religious institutions. This is not surprising as many often mirror some of the teachings and stories from the Bible, but then put their own interpretation on them and suddenly the cult enters a very dark place.
This book in the series “Feeding the Curious Mind” investigates many of the famous and infamous cults over the last century, although cults have been around for millennia. We look deeply into the characters and motives of the various cult leaders and uncover some very disturbing ideas and practices. In parts, it is a tough read, but by lifting the lid on the psychology of those leaders and how they prey on the vulnerable nature of its followers, coercing them into committing vile offences and the taking of lives or their own, it will impart valuable knowledge in understanding cults and how to protect yourself or others around you from them.
But not all cults are bad. The final case discusses a cult that focuses on a very famous person. It will bring a smile to your face.
Famous Women Inventors
Think of some of the famous inventors and their inventions for a moment. Many of them will be men, and this should not be surprising. The further we go back into history, women were considered by men to be inferior in ways that stopped them from gaining higher education degrees and taking part in business at a management level. This book aims to redress this situation.
From the work of Aglaonice over two thousand years ago, who was able to predict solar and lunar eclipses, women have been at the forefront in many areas of science and industry. It is just that it has never really been publicised. Women inventors have struggled against these challenges for centuries, but many of them beat the odds and shaped the world in ways that improved the lot of people everywhere.
Tabitha Babbitt made the lives of everyone working in wood much easier. Until her invention, trees were cut down with axes and manual saws. She invented the circular saw, which is still in use today in modern form. Martha Coston saved the lives of countless seamen with her invention of the signalling flare. More sailors and passengers were saved from drowning by Maria Beasley, who invented the lifeboat.
Other inventions credited to women include car heating, windscreen wipers, the first dishwasher, the Hoover Dam in the USA, filter coffee, fire protection, Kevlar clothing, the first word processor, miniature lithium batteries, shielding for spacecraft and the International Space Station. These and many more stories about these creative inventors, their lives and inventions, are here to impress how women have shaped our world.
Famous Women Explorers
Ask most people to name any famous explorers, and you are likely to discover that most, if not all of them, are men. And it does not matter where in the world you pose this question, as you are likely to receive a male explorer native to their region of the world. So, are there any women explorers, and if there are, what, if anything, have they explored or discovered?
The answer is probably the opposite of what you may have supposed. There are dozens of female explorers and adventurers, some going back over a thousand years.
If we take the first of them in this book, Gudrid Thorbjarnardottir, she was born in Iceland, but during her life, she travelled to Norway, Greenland and Canada. Even after reaching forty years of age, she crossed the Atlantic Ocean another eight times and made a pilgrimage to Rome on foot.
Many other daring and courageous women explorers and adventurers are featured in this book, with photographs and illustrations mapping out their explorations and discoveries. As you can imagine, it was difficult and dangerous for women to travel to many of these new places, so several of them dressed and acted as men in order to be accepted.
This book traces the journeys of women explorers over one thousand years, and many of their discoveries will make you think and realise that we owe a great deal to the ordeals they went through. But, although many believe that there is nothing new left to discover and explore, the latter part of this book delves into the lives of the modern women explorers who have journeyed into space, commanded missions and the International Space Station. There is also another frontier, and that is something which still holds many mysteries. The bottom of the oceans is a dangerous place, but women explorers and scientists have plunged to the very deepest underwater chasms.
This book is not just an appreciation of women who rightly deserve to be as heralded as their male counterparts, but also acts as a beacon to other women and girls that they, too, can go “where no man has gone before”.
John Pullen 