January 27, 2024
In 1897 Catholic priest Casimir Zeglen developed a bulletproof vest made from tightly sewn silk, linen, and wool. He tested it publicly on himself, and it worked. The product cost about $6,000 (adjusted for inflation), making it impractical for most people, but bulletproof silk did save the life of King Alfonso XIII of Spain during an assassination attempt. Within a few decades, advancements in weapon technology rendered the silk bulletproof vest useless.
Get One Good Fact delivered to your inbox every day.
-
Apr 21
Which huge nation has only one time zone? -
Apr 22
Why is a zero score in tennis called “love”? -
Apr 23
What country beat the U.S. to the Moon? -
Apr 24
What other mammal has a sense of rhythm? -
Apr 25
Which country produces the most oil? -
Apr 26
When did Europeans really arrive in North America? -
Apr 27
What’s the best-selling novel of all time? -
Apr 28
How did the Mona Lisa get so famous? -
Apr 29
Where is the world’s longest tunnel? -
Apr 30
What makes strawberries so unusual?