/oss/taxonomy/term/1247/all en /oss/article/history-general-science-reviews/pick-card-any-card <p>The curtain went up in “Heller’s Wonder Theatre” on Broadway to reveal a blindfolded lady comfortably seated center stage. A volunteer from the audience was solicited to “pick a card, any card!” She did so, thinking of course that it was a free choice. It wasn’t. Robert Heller, the premier American magician of the mid 19th century, was highly skilled at “forcing” a card. There was nothing really novel about that, but his revelation of the selected card was truly innovative. Heller resorted to chemical magic!</p> Wed, 26 Jun 2024 22:59:16 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 9988 at /oss /oss/article/history-did-you-know/houdini-low-point <p>National Magic Day is celebrated annually on October 31<sup>st</sup> in memory of Harry Houdini who passed away on that day in 1926.</p> Fri, 27 Oct 2023 13:53:20 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 9704 at /oss /oss/article/history-general-science/how-come-you-never-see-baby-housefly <p>Simple. Because baby houseflies don’t exist. A little backgrounder on the flies’ reproductive cycle can clear up this apparent conundrum. Within a week of mating, a doggie-style activity lasting from a few seconds to several minutes, not unlike humans, a female fly will lay an average of 120 eggs. Nice warm manure is preferred. Then in roughly 12 days, the eggs develop into larvae, then into maggots, and then into pupae from which flies emerge fully grown. That’s why you will never see a baby fly!</p> Fri, 16 Jul 2021 22:03:34 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 8787 at /oss /oss/article/history/celebrating-life-harry-houdini-who-died-october-31-1926 <p><span>For many years members of the American Society of Magicians gathered on October 31 at Machpelah Cemetery in New York to break a magic wand over the grave of the man whose name is synonymous with magic.  They came to pay homage to Harry Houdini, performer extraordinaire, who passed away on Halloween in 1926, but never really left us.  His exploits spawned numerous books, movies and plays and inspired countless youngsters to take up the engaging hobby of prestidigitation.  I wish I could tell you that the “Ritual of the Broken Wand” will be performed tomorrow as tradition dictates, but </span></p> Thu, 31 Oct 2013 14:00:58 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 2024 at /oss /oss/article/controversial-science/bending-spoons-and-bending-minds <p>Everyone has skeletons in their closet. There’s at least one in mine. A couple of years ago while on a cruise I pinched a spoon from the dining room. It wasn’t because of any lack of spoons at home, it was because no matter how hard I tried I could not bend this one. I tried with two hands, I tried by pushing against the table, I even tried placing the handle under my heel and tugging on the head. No give at all. I had to have that spoon!</p> Tue, 14 Jun 2016 01:40:42 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 2341 at /oss