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

Why are elections held on a Tuesday?

Election Day is always on a Tuesday because of 1800s rural life . Most Americans were farmers who needed a full day to travel to polling places, often by horse. Sunday was reserved for church, and Wednesday was typically market day.

Tuesday became the most practical option: travel on Monday, vote on Tuesday, return on Wednesday. November was chosen because the harvest season had ended, but winter had not yet made travel difficult.

2

Why do voters register in advance to participate?

Voter registration exists because the U.S. has no single national voter list . Since elections are run locally, authorities need a system to confirm identity, residency, and eligibility before Election Day.

The practice expanded in the 1800s as cities grew, helping manage large populations and reduce fraud. Today, it remains a key administrative step in a decentralized system.

3

Why does the Electoral College decide presidential elections?

The Electoral College was created as a compromise between letting Congress choose the president and allowing a direct popular vote, which proved logistically challenging at the time . The founders were concerned about balancing power and limiting centralized control.

It also gave smaller states more influence against larger states with more population, and reflected the challenges of communication in the 1700s. The system remains as part of the original constitutional design.

4

Does each state run its own election system?

The Constitution gives states the authority to manage elections , reflecting the country’s federal structure. The founders wanted states to retain power rather than create a single national system.

This allowed flexibility based on local conditions like geography and population. Today, it explains why voting rules and procedures differ widely across states. These differences range from voter registration policies to the types of documents required for voting to whether prison inmates are allowed to vote, among many other variations.

5

How are party candidates determined?

Primaries were introduced in the early 1900s to reduce the influence of party insiders . Before that, candidates were often chosen behind closed doors by political leaders.

The reform movement aimed to give voters more control. Primaries shifted decision-making power from party elites to the public, making the process more democratic.

6

What is early voting?

Early voting developed to address the limitations of a single Election Day . As work schedules became less flexible, states began offering additional in-person voting days.

These days, most states offer early voting, with examples like Minnesota, South Dakota, or Virginia, extending that period to over 40 days prior to the official election. This change helps reduce long lines and increase participation. It reflects an effort to adapt an old system to modern time constraints. And, judging by the 60% of votes being cast before Election Day, it works.

7

What about mail-in voting?

Mail-in voting began during the Civil War, allowing soldiers to vote while away from home . Over time, it expanded to include civilians who could not easily reach polling places.

Its broader use today reflects convenience and accessibility, especially in a large country where distance and mobility can be barriers to in-person voting.

8

What can a ballot include?

F ederal, state, and local referendums are often combined into a single election . This means that American ballots can include several voting points.

Studies indicate that this approach saves money by avoiding multiple referendums and increases participation by attracting individuals interested in voting on those topics. It also allows voters to decide on laws and policies directly through referendums and ballot measures.

9

Who are the poll workers?

Poll workers are typically local citizens because elections are run at the community level. Instead of a national workforce, local governments recruit and train temporary staff.

Most poll workers are community members who apply directly through their local election office. Also, in many states, local chapters of political parties submit lists of recommended workers to election boards. Officials often prioritize these nominees to meet legal requirements for partisan balance.

10

Why is Election Day not a federal holiday?

Election Day was never made a federal holiday because early lawmakers assumed rural voters had flexible schedules. Travel time, not work obligations, was the main concern .

Today, this decision is often debated. Modern work patterns make weekday voting less convenient, leading to calls for reform or expanded voting options.

11

Why do results take so long?

Final results can take time because ballots must be carefully verified before counting . This includes checking signatures, eligibility, and processing mail-in and provisional votes.

While early results are reported quickly, official certification happens later. The delay reflects a priority on accuracy and legitimacy over speed.

1

Bell-Bottom Pants

Image: Annie Spratt

If you're attending a 1970s-themed costume party, what would you wear? Beyond your personal style, no '70s wardrobe could be complete without a good pair of bell-bottom pants.

These pants were everywhere back then. Available in all colors and styles, they were worn by young and old alike. While their stardom spanned from the late 1960s to the early 1980s, bell-bottoms actually emerged much earlier. When? In the 19th century!

The first to wear this style of pants were American sailors in the 1800s. But their purpose wasn't to look trendy. Sailors implemented them because the wide design made it easy to roll them up when it was time to get their feet in the water.

2

Polaroid Cameras

Image: Josh Carter

Your current cell phone camera is probably better than the analog cameras of the 20th century. But let's be honest—there's nothing quite like holding a physical photo you just took, right?

Okay, we admit it: nostalgia is kicking in. But still, who can deny that a picture is a beautiful memory that gives a sweet, homey touch to your house? Thanks to Polaroid cameras, those of us who grew up in the 1970s and 1980s know this all too well.

Although Polaroid cameras first emerged in the late 1940s , it wasn’t until 3 decades later that they reached their peak popularity, becoming an unmistakable symbol of the era.

3

Music videos

Image: Jakob Owens

While music videos existed before the 1980s, that decade turned them into a global sensation.

One song marked a major turning point in the world of music videos. You probably already guessed it: we’re talking about Michael Jackson’s "Thriller." Released in 1983, this was one of the first music videos to feature substantial production value and investment, making it worldwide famous and setting a trend that would influence the industry for decades. Other unforgettable examples from the era include the animated masterpiece "Take On Me" by A-ha (1985) and the vibrant aerobic-themed "Physical" by Olivia Newton-John (1981).

While music videos remain a key part of the music industry today, they’ve evolved to be shorter and more dynamic, often prioritizing quick impact over storytelling.

4

Synthesizer Sound

Image: Orkun Azap

One of the most iconic and recognizable features of '70s and '80s music is the use of synthesizers.

First introduced in the 1960s, synthesizers grew in popularity over the following decades, until they became part of nearly every sound of the era—from rock and funk to pop, disco, and electronic music.

A great '70s example is Stevie Wonder 's "Superstition," which showcases the innovative use of synthesizers. By the '80s, the synthesizer sound had reached new heights, thanks to bands like Depeche Mode and Duran Duran , who helped define the decade's musical identity.

5

Disco Balls

Image: Greyson Joralemon

If there's one thing that screams 1970s, that's undoubtedly disco music. With icons like the Bee Gees, KC The Sunshine Band, and Donna Summer, disco emerged in America and quickly got the whole world onto the dance floor.

In addition to platform shoes and satin shirts, one of the objects that went hand in hand with this type of music was the famous mirror ball, also called the disco ball. Discotheques often showcased spectacular disco balls, and famous artists included them in their music videos, making those shiny spheres the stars of the era.

6

Roller Skates

Image: Nick Fewings

Disco wasn’t the only sensation of the era—roller skates were a big deal, too. In fact, the two often combined: during the '70s and '80s, roller discos became a hit, where people danced on wheels!

Roller skates were so popular at the time that they made their way into films and music videos, including the 1980 cult classic Xanadu and Cher’s iconic 1979 music video for "Hell on Wheels."

Although roller skates were invented in the 18th century, it was the 20th century that catapulted them to the height of their fame. Were you lucky enough to strap on a pair and join the fun?

7

Arcade

Image: Carl Raw

If you were young in the '80s, you probably had a joystick or an arcade token in your hands, as arcades were the ultimate hangout spots for teenagers back then.

We bet you remember titles such as "Space Invaders," released in 1978, or the legendary "Pac-Man," which arrived to revolutionize the entire industry in 1980. Other unforgettable classics included "Donkey Kong" and "Frogger," both released in 1981.

So, what was your high score? Did you dominate the leaderboard or keep coming back for just one more game?

8

Atari 2600

Image: Senad Palic

What do you usually do when you're bored at home? For most of us, it's watching a movie or scrolling through our phone screens. But a few decades ago, the entertainment industry looked entirely different.

In 1977, home recreation changed forever with the arrival of the Atari 2600, one of the first home gaming consoles. From that moment on, gamers could enjoy their favorite games without ever leaving the comfort of their homes.

9

Slang

Image: Buse Doga Ay

But it wasn't just about fashion, music, and games. We can't forget the prominence of slang during these two emblematic decades.

One of the first terms that comes to mind is "groovy," remember that one? It was used to describe something cool or excellent. Maybe you remember a friend saying, "I love your outfit, super groovy!" Another memorable expression from the era was "Gag me with a spoon," used to convey disgust or displeasure, as in "That's so cheesy! Gag me with a spoon!"

Other unforgettable slang words included "bummer," "rad," "hip," and "tubular," each capturing the spirit of the '70s and '80s in its own unique way.

10

Cabbage Patch Dolls

Image: silvia trigo

If you didn't have one at home, you probably knew someone who did—or maybe even had more than one. We're referring to the famous Cabbage Patch Dolls, the toy that caused a sensation during the early 1980s.

Launched in 1982, the Cabbage Patch Dolls quickly made their way into most American homes. Their popularity was so massive and abrupt that they are remembered as one of the most iconic trend crazes of the 20th century. People would form long lines outside toy stores just to hug one of these dolls. In fact, the craze was so intense that the media dubbed it the "Cabbage Patch Kid Frenzy."