1

$125 million for a Grade-school math error

Image: Aaron Lefler

Imagine losing a hugely expensive spacecraft due to a simple mix-up between English and metric measurements . That is exactly what happened to NASA in 1999 when a Mars orbiter designed by Lockheed Martin was lost in space.

The confusion caused a malfunction on the $125 million craft, resulting in the probe’s loss. Although it was unusual for Lockheed to use English measurements for a NASA design (since NASA had stipulated using metric measurements for many years), there were still several instances where the error should have been caught but wasn’t.

2

Toys ‘R’ Us blunder

Image: Taylor Heery

If you think an action figure of a drug dealer isn’t the best idea for a toy store , you’re not alone. Yet, for some reason, Toys "R" Us decided otherwise in October 2014, possibly hoping to cash in on the massive success of the Breaking Bad TV series.

Unsurprisingly, the giant toy retailer was forced to pull from its shelves four collectible dolls based on characters from the AMC hit show, each doll featuring a detachable sack of cash and a bag of meth.

3

Apple Maps' rocky beginnings

Image: CardMapr.nl

When Apple decided to launch its own map application on iOS devices after a conflict with Google in 2012, users quickly realized that the Apple app was not nearly as launch-ready as it should have been .

Locations were mislabeled, roads were missing, and it occasionally steered people in entirely the wrong direction. The problem was eventually, though largely, resolved, but it was an embarrassing misstep for a company known for never launching a product before it was as near-perfect as possible.

4

Bank of America debit card fee

Image: Ali Mkumbwa

Back in 2011, when the backlash against the banking industry had not yet reached its boiling point, Bank of America announced it would charge customers $5 per month to use their debit cards .

It was a bad business decision. More than 300,000 people signed an online petition, and Fox Business Network’s Gerri Willis cut up her debit card on air. The bank pointed to federal regulations as the reason for the charge but ultimately capitulated to consumer demand after a month before the fees went into effect.

5

$33 airline tickets from Toronto to Cyprus

Image: Miguel Ángel Sanz

If buying a business class ticket regularly priced at $2,558 for just $33 sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Except in 2006, when an Alitalia employee accidentally forgot to input two extra zeros when pricing business-class tickets from Toronto to Cyprus.

Due to the exchange rate on that day and the blunder, hundreds of buyers managed to snag fares for just $33. The airline honored those deals, accepting the heavily discounted price for the 509 people who purchased tickets before the error was detected.

6

A $70 million comma

Image: Nattipat Vesvarute

As the folks at NASA and Alitalia have shown us, small errors can lead to costly mistakes. The following blunder comes courtesy of Lockheed Martin , which issued a contract to a customer with a missing comma in the sale price .

The astute customer held the aerospace company to the contract, costing Lockheed Martin $70 million for a C-130J Hercules aircraft in June 1999.

7

Sears misses the ship

Image: Estefania Cortes

A retail giant that faced a situation similar to the one Kodak faced—embrace the new and unknown or cling to the old, successful recipe—Sears sold everything from socks to tires via mail order, shipping across the U.S.

Choosing to stick with the old method, the company ended its catalog and delivery business in 1993 . In 1994, Amazon was founded , filling the business void that Sears had just created. The rest is history.

8

Passing on Microsoft

Image: Jaime Marrero

$60 million might seem like a lot of money to us regular folks, but for someone with very deep pockets like Texas businessman and two-time U.S. presidential candidate Ross Perot, it wasn’t all that much.

In 1979, he was offered the chance to buy Microsoft for that sum. However, his final offer to the tech company was just $15 million, and as a result, the Texan missed out on the opportunity to own what would become one of the biggest companies in the world .

9

Blackberry sticks with the old

Image: Thai Nguyen

Another case of a brand sticking with the old instead of embracing the new, BlackBerry was all the rage at the start of the 21st century— until Steve Jobs came along with the Apple iPhone .

While BlackBerry Messenger was extremely popular, with over 80 million users worldwide, the device lacked the new touchscreen functionality and sleek design of the Apple product. From being a market leader, BlackBerry’s market share plummeted to 0.2% by 2016.

10

RadioShack’s downfall

Image: Jelleke Vanooteghem

Not so long ago, RadioShack was a familiar presence on the streets and the go-to place for buying batteries and electronics. But it was that same brick-and-mortar presence, coupled with a reluctance to embrace e-commerce , that ultimately led to its demise .

Eventually, poor profit margins on what they could sell, combined with a loan they couldn’t repay, brought down what was once the go-to place for electronics.

1

John F. Kennedy’s favorite

Image: Florida Memory

We all have our favorite movie or book, and JFK was no exception. America’s 35th president had a clear literary favorite : Ian Fleming’s James Bond series .

In fact, some credit President Kennedy with boosting Fleming’s popularity in the American market. Shortly after taking office, JFK hosted a dinner with several notable figures—including the creator of Bond. Following that meeting, sales of Fleming’s books skyrocketed in the US, eventually leading to the famous film adaptations!

2

Jefferson and speeches

Image: J. Amill Santiago

Thomas Jefferson was one of the great political figures who helped shape this country. And with such talent—along with his political and diplomatic skills—you might not expect that the Sage of Monticello had a hard time speaking in public. But it’s true! According to historical records, Jefferson preferred writing, as public speaking made him uneasy—even panicky at times. So much so that he delivered only two public speeches during his time in office!

3

Adams and Jefferson's caper

Image: sq lim

Before becoming rivals, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were very good friends. In fact, they shared not only political ideals but also everyday adventures. In 1786, while traveling in England, the two—both devoted fans of Shakespeare —visited the house where the playwright was born. Legend has it that before they left, they decided to take a souvenir: a small piece of the wooden chair said to be where Shakespeare once sat while writing!

4

William McKinley's lucky charm

Image: Library of Congress

President William McKinley was known for the red carnation he often wore in his suit lapel—a flower many said he considered a good luck charm . Once, during the 1901 Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York, a little girl approached him to say hello, and the president handed her his signature flower. Strangely, just moments later, he was shot by a man in the crowd. McKinley died eight days later from his wounds.

5

Andrew Jackson's temper

Image: Giorgio Trovato

President Andrew Jackson was famously a hot-tempered man. It's believed that the 7th president fought in more than 100 duels!

According to a well-known story, in 1806, Jackson challenged a man to a duel after the man insulted his wife, Rachel. The opponent fired first and struck Jackson in the chest. But the bullet didn’t stop him —Jackson stood his ground and returned fire, mortally wounding the man. Though he survived, the bullet seriously injured Jackson, and some say it remained lodged in his chest for the rest of his life.

6

Ulysses S. Grant's last-minute decision

Image: Library of Congress

Ulysses S. Grant, commanding general of the Union Army during the Civil War and later the 18th president, was also invited to attend Ford’s Theatre with President Abraham Lincoln on the night of Lincoln's assassination. But at the last minute, Grant declined the invitation in order to visit his grandchildren. That decision may very well have saved his life.

7

Washington's teeth

Image: Ryan Quintal

Contrary to the popular myth, our first president’s teeth were not made of wood. However, it’s true that George Washington suffered from serious dental problems . In fact, he began losing his teeth before the age of 30. While his dentures weren’t wooden, they were made from a mix of materials—including ivory, copper, silver, and even animal and human teeth!

8

James A. Garfield's skills

Image: Sean Foster

President James A. Garfield was well known for his impressive oratory and writing abilities. But his talents didn’t stop with English—he was also fluent in Greek and Latin. In addition, Garfield was reportedly ambidextrous: he could write with both hands , even simultaneously. Surprisingly, he allegedly could write in two different languages at the same time—one with each hand! Hats off to him.

9

Andrew Johnson's childhood

Image: Yasamine June

Andrew Johnson didn't have an easy childhood. In fact, he started working at a very young age —when he was just 10 years old, his mother sent him and his brother to apprentice as tailors. They ran away two years later, but Johnson’s skill with fabrics stayed with him well into adulthood. It’s said he designed and sewed his own suits while in office.

10

Abraham Lincoln's hobbies

Image: Jacob Thorson

Abraham Lincoln wasn't just the leader who guided the country through the Civil War and became the 16th president—he was also a regular person, just like us, with a wide range of passions and hobbies (many, many hobbies!).

President Lincoln had a curious mind and surprisingly varied interests. He loved reading (especially Shakespeare), exploring logic and mathematics, playing chess and the violin, caring for animals (especially cats), and even had a talent for mimicking voices. In addition, he was a skilled wrestler in his youth, reportedly competing in around 300 matches and losing only once!

1

Grizzly Bear

Image: Joshua J. Cotten

Grizzly bears ( Ursus arctos horribilis ) are one of the most famous North American mammals, but do you know why they are called that? The grizzly bear is a subspecies of the brown bear. However, although grizzlies are mostly brown, their fur can appear white-tipped or grizzled , which explains their name.

The grizzly bear once lived throughout much of the North American West. Unfortunately, the arrival of Europeans gradually drove it from its original habitat, considerably reducing its population. In 1975, they were listed as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, and much has been done since then to protect the species. Today, grizzlies can still be found in parts of Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Washington, and the Alaskan wilderness. They are also one of the most iconic residents of Yellowstone National Park.

2

Gray Wolf

Image: Yannick Menard

We all know that wolves are legendary for their eerie howl, but there are many other interesting facts about this peculiar animal. Gray wolves ( Canis lupus ) are the largest members of the dog family and are native to North America and Eurasia. The size of an adult gray wolf is similar to that of an average dog and it can weigh up to 145 pounds. However, their tracks would outshine those of any dog, as they measure about 5 inches long by 4 inches wide.

Wolves live and hunt in packs of 6 to 10 animals. They are known to travel great distances, even covering 30 miles in a single day. In the United States, gray wolves were hunted to near extinction, although some populations survived and others have since been reintroduced. Today gray wolves can be found in areas such as the Great Lakes states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan, the northern Rocky Mountains region, and the northwest.

3

North American River Otter

Image: lovelooking

The North American River Otter ( Lontra canadensis ) is a species of semi-aquatic, carnivorous mammal endemic to the North American continent that can be found along the coasts and rivers of the United States and Canada. Because they are very susceptible to environmental pollution, their population has been reduced considerably in recent years.

It is a mostly nocturnal animal, often seen at dusk or dawn. During the day it takes refuge in burrows with an underwater entrance that leads to a nest chamber lined with plant material and hair. North American River Otters are robust (11 to 31 pounds) and feed on fish and other aquatic prey, such as turtles, frogs, and crabs.

4

Red Fox

Image: Jeremy Hynes

The red fox ( Vulpes vulpes ) is a species of mammal in the canid family. It is the most abundant fox species in the northern hemisphere and can be found in many national parks across the country. As its name suggests, its fur is reddish in color. The tips of the ears and the ends of the legs, however, are black. They have a bushy tail whose tip is usually white, as is their belly.

Although classified as a carnivore, the red fox is actually an omnivore and, above all, a great opportunist. They are astute, have excellent eyesight, and have a keen sense of smell and hearing. They can hunt prey of a wide variety of sizes, from insects and worms to small mammals, birds, and fish. They also feed on certain vegetables, berries, and fruits.

5

Mountain Lion

Image: Robert Sachowski

The cougar ( Puma concolor ), also known as the mountain lion, is a mammal native to the Americas. These large, tan cats are found from the Yukon in Canada to the southern Andes Mountains and Patagonia in South America. In the United States, mountain lions can be found mainly in the western part of the country. However, because of their solitary nature and constant threats from humans, it is difficult to estimate exact population numbers.

Mountain lions are slender and agile felines that can adapt to different conditions and environments. They are strict carnivores and have extraordinary vision and acute hearing, which allows them to capture almost any animal, from insects to squirrels, beavers, elk, and deer.

6

North American Beaver

Image: kidmoses

Beavers are known to be one of the only animals that can affect the ecosystem around them, building watertight dams that help preserve water in streams and rivers. The North American beaver ( Castor canadensis ) is the largest rodent in North America and one of the largest in the world —it can weigh between 24 and 71 pounds! The species is widely distributed throughout the continent, from northern Canada to northern Mexico.

The North American beaver's coat can range from dark brown to reddish brown, and its most distinctive feature, a flattened paddle-shaped tail, allows it to swim. It is perfectly adapted to semi-aquatic life; its ears and nose have valves that close when submerged, and it can close its lips behind its prominent incisors to cut wood underwater.

7

Hawaiian Monk Seal

Image: Sebastian Coman Travel

The Hawaiian Monk Seal ( Neomonachus schauinslandi ) is a species native to the Hawaiian Islands. With its friendly face and long whiskers, it is perhaps one of the most endearing mammals that can be found in our country. Unfortunately, this seal species is endangered because of the large amount of chemical waste produced by the fishing industry on the reefs and beaches of the northern Pacific Ocean.

The Hawaiian Monk Seal is usually solitary but is always seen accompanied by other specimens. It is known to be piscivorous, that is, it feeds mainly on fish and other marine creatures, such as crustaceans and some species of mollusks. Since it is a predator by nature, when hunting it makes the most of its length (approximately 7 feet) and its large body (between 300 to 600 lb) to catch its prey.

8

American Red Squirrel

Image: Rusty Watson

The American red squirrel ( Tamiasciurus hudsonicus ) lives in the United States and much of Canada. It is a rodent mammal easily recognized for its deep reddish fur, long bushy tail, and prominent lower teeth. It can be differentiated from other North American squirrel species because of its smaller size, 11 to 14 inches.

American red squirrels normally live in the shady areas of coniferous forests and are primarily granivores. They feed on seeds, pine cones, nuts, fruit, and occasionally insects, eggs, and birds. It is mainly active in trees but also swims freely, using its tail as a rudder to change its direction.

9

Elk

Image: Judy Beth Morris

Elk ( Cervus canadensis ), also known as wapiti in several Native American cultures, is a species of deer that lives in North America, Central and East Asia. Today, most elk in our country are found primarily in the West, especially in mountainous regions such as Wyoming's National Elk Refuge and Yellowstone National Park. Some eastern states have also reintroduced small herds into natural forest areas.

The most prominent feature of elks is their massive antlers. Each March they shed their antlers, which begin to grow back in May to be ready for the breeding season in late summer. During this time the bellowing of the males echoes through the mountains, announcing the violent battles that serve to decide who mates with whom. The males with the largest antlers, usually the oldest, often win these duels and get to dominate the herd.

10

American Bison

Image: Stephen Leonardi

The American bison is a true symbol of American identity. Not only is it the largest mammal in North America, it is also the national mammal of the United States. In addition, it's one of the greatest conservation success stories of all time.

In prehistoric times, there were millions of specimens of American bison ( Bison bison ) roaming our territory. But by the late 19th century, there were only a few hundred left. Fortunately, thanks to the efforts of several organizations and individuals, the species was reintroduced and today it can be found in a few national parks and reserves as well as in the wild.