February 21, 1947: Edwin Land demonstrated the very first "instant camera" at a meeting of the Optical Society of America in New York City. His invention, the Polaroid Land Camera, could produce a finished black-and-white photograph in just 60 seconds, completely revolutionizing how the world captured memories.

February 21, 1948: The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) was officially incorporated in Daytona Beach, Florida. It started as a way to standardize rules for moonshine runners who raced their souped-up cars on dirt tracks to escape the police during Prohibition—a truly wild origin story!

October 17, 1814 (Bonus Fact): In one of the most bizarre industrial accidents in history, a massive vat containing over 135,000 gallons of beer ruptured at the Meux and Company Brewery in London. The ensuing "Great London Beer Flood" sent a 15-foot wave of beer crashing through the streets.

Astronauts lose their fingerprints in space. Due to the harsh conditions, constant contact with rough materials, and the dry environment inside the spacecraft and spacesuits, astronauts' fingertips can become so worn down that their fingerprints temporarily disappear. Don't worry, they grow back after they return to Earth!

Roman concrete was superior to modern concrete, and it could self-heal. Ancient Roman engineers added volcanic ash to their concrete mixture. This created a chemical reaction that allowed the material to become stronger over time and actually repair its own small cracks when exposed to seawater. It's why structures like the Pantheon are still standing 2,000 years later.