🤯 NASA’s Space Pen LIE?! + Rubber Duck Secrets & Mother’s Day Drama! | Have YOU Heard?
“Have YOU heard? NASA once spent millions developing a pen that could write in space while the Russians just used pencils! …STAY TUNED!”
Our feature story today tackles one of the most persistent myths about the space race. You’ve probably heard that NASA spent millions developing a fancy space pen while the practical Russians just used pencils. It’s a great story, but completely false!
The truth is both Americans and Soviets initially used pencils in space, but they were actually dangerous! Broken pencil tips could float around, causing damage to equipment or even be inhaled by astronauts. Plus, the wood and graphite were flammable in the oxygen-rich environment of early spacecraft.
The Fisher Space Pen was privately developed by Paul Fisher of the Fisher Pen Company without NASA funding. He invested around $1 million of his own money before NASA purchased the pens at $2.95 each in 1967. The Soviets liked the pens so much, they started buying them too!
So next time someone tells you this “wasteful spending” story, you can set the record straight faster than a rocket to the moon!
[SOURCE: NASA History Office, “Common Space Myths Debunked”]
May 5th marks Cinco de Mayo, but did you know it’s NOT Mexican Independence Day? It actually commemorates the Mexican army’s victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862!
While it’s a relatively minor holiday in Mexico, primarily celebrated in the state of Puebla, it’s become a major celebration of Mexican culture in the United States. The first American Cinco de Mayo celebrations began in California in the 1860s as a show of solidarity with Mexico against French occupation.
The holiday gained widespread popularity in the U.S. during the 1980s when beer companies began promoting it as a marketing opportunity. Now you know the real story behind your tacos and margaritas!
[SOURCE: National Day Calendar, “Cinco de Mayo History and Celebrations”]
May 9th marks the birthday of the rubber duck! On this day in 1949, sculptor Peter Ganine patented the design for the now-iconic bathtub toy.
Originally intended as a floating art piece, Ganine’s creation became wildly popular, with over 50 million sold. The rubber duck gained international fame when it appeared on Sesame Street in 1970, with Ernie singing “Rubber Duckie, you’re the one” while taking a bath.
In 2013, the rubber duck was inducted into the Toy Hall of Fame, cementing its place in bathroom history. That’s something to quack about!
[SOURCE: OnThisDay.com, “Innovation and Invention History”]
May 11th is Mother’s Day this year, but did you know this holiday has a somewhat controversial origin? Anna Jarvis founded Mother’s Day in 1908 to honor her own mother, but later spent years fighting against its commercialization!
When Jarvis saw how florists, card companies, and confectioners were profiting from the holiday, she actually filed lawsuits to stop them and was even arrested for disturbing the peace at a Mother’s Day event. She ultimately depleted her personal fortune fighting against the very holiday she created!
Today, Mother’s Day is the third-largest card-sending holiday in the United States and one of the biggest days for restaurant sales. Sorry, Anna!
[SOURCE: TodayIFoundOut.com, “The Founder of Mother’s Day Later Fought to Have It Abolished”]
On May 6, 1954, Roger Bannister became the first person to run a mile in under 4 minutes, breaking what many considered an impossible human barrier!
The British medical student completed the mile in 3 minutes and 59.4 seconds at the Iffley Road Track in Oxford. Doctors had previously claimed that the human body was physically incapable of achieving this feat – some even warned that the heart would explode from the effort!
Within just 46 days, Australian John Landy broke Bannister’s record. Today, the world record stands at 3:43.13, set by a Moroccan runner 1999. Talk about raising the bar!
[SOURCE: OnThisDay.com, “Sports History Milestones”]
May 5th is National Hoagie Day! This beloved sandwich, also known as a sub, hero, or grinder depending on where you live, has been filling American bellies since the early 20th century.
The name “hoagie” originated in Philadelphia, where Italian immigrants working at the Hog Island shipyard during World War I would bring massive sandwiches stuffed with meats, cheeses, and vegetables. These became known as “Hog Island sandwiches,” later shortened to “hoggies” and eventually “hoagies.”
In 1992, the hoagie was declared the official sandwich of Philadelphia. Now that’s a designation you can really sink your teeth into!
[SOURCE: National Day Calendar, “National Hoagie Day – May 5”]
Look up at the night sky on May 10th for the spectacular “Flower Moon”! Native American tribes named the May full moon after the abundant flowers that bloom this time of year.
This year’s Flower Moon coincides with a celestial event known as “lunar perigee” – when the moon is closest to Earth in its orbit – making it appear slightly larger than usual. Astronomers call this a “supermoon,” though they often roll their eyes at the term.
Last year’s Flower Moon viewing party in Central Park had an unexpected visitor when a local florist showed up with 500 daisies, saying he “thought it was some kind of flower competition.” When told it was actually about the moon, he replied, “Well, that explains why no one brought vases!” Talk about a blooming misunderstanding!
[SOURCE: Upcoming Astronomy Events Calendar, May 2025]
Watch, Learn and Enjoy!
Troy W. Hudson
💚🎤 #haveyouheard