Moby-Dick was a commercial failure when published in 1851 — its literary reputation grew only after Melville's death.

The Portuguese word 'saudade' describes a nostalgic longing for something loved and lost — it has no direct English equivalent.

Impressionism, initially mocked as unfinished and messy, transformed into one of the most celebrated art movements in history.

The word 'nerd' was first coined by Dr. Seuss in 'If I Ran the Zoo' in 1950.

The vuvuzela, an African horn, produces sound at about 127 decibels — louder than a chainsaw.

Poverty traps occur when poverty itself prevents people from acquiring the resources to escape it.

The fastest recorded tennis serve exceeded 150 miles per hour.

Chocolate was consumed as a bitter beverage by the Aztecs long before it was made into solid bars.

Extreme sports athlete Travis Pastrana became the first person to land a double backflip on a motorcycle at X Games 2006.