JFK's Dumb Nuclear Missiles Password

    • kumar.saurav2@timesgroup.com
    • Publish Date: Jun 27 2016 4:10PM
    • |
    • Updated Date: Aug 22 2016 1:51PM
JFK's Dumb Nuclear Missiles Password
In this Jan. 20, 1961 file photo, President John F. Kennedy and first lady Jacqueline Kennedy are seated as they attend one of five inaugural balls in Washington, DC.

Exploding ants, Dumb launch codes and the basketball player who gave the twitter bird its name

Launch code for us nuclear missiles was this dumb: What’s your password? You don’t need to tell us but we are sure that it must be something intelligent – not Batman, Superman, Password or the name of you friend, family or pets! Just imagine, the password for the launch of US nuclear missiles was 00000000, and this password was in use from 1962 to 1977. Can it get any dumber than this? CAN IT? The password was assigned after John F Kennedy instituted PAL encoding on nuclear weapons. Apparently, the forces wanted the password to be extremely easy to remember and quick to use. No!


Universe has a colour, it’s beige: If the astronomers at the Johns Hopkins University are to be believed, the colour of the universe is beige. Until now, because of the vastness and the darkness of the space, everyone assumed that the universe was either black or a shade of it. The team of researchers zeroed down on the colour after surveying the hues emitted by over 2,00,000 galaxies. When asked to suggest the name colour of the universe, some people suggested nomenclatures like skyvory and univeige. Interestingly, the colour of the universe keeps changing, so may be, by the time the dead in the graves turn into fossil, the colour of the universe might be pink. You never know! 


Twitter Bird is called Larry: Our world revolves around 140 characters, doesn’t it? But it hit us big time when we read that the blue bird actually has a name. It looks like the name is inspired by Larry Joe Bird, the 59-year-old retired American basketball player who once represented the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association. In 2012, Ryan Sarver, a Twitter employee, tweeted about a meeting in which Twitter’s creative director, Doug Bowman, was explaining the evolution of the Twitter logo.


Mouse was invented thrice: Even though Douglas Engelbart is known as the inventor and developer of the mouse (he named it so because the wire coming out of the back of the device reminded him of the rodent), his version never clicked. Also, at the same time, there were several other similar devices in use. For example, a Brit engineer, Professor Ralph Benjamin, was also working on a mouse-like device, though under a secret project.



Not kidding, some animals can explode: Ants can explode on their own when they fear that someone is trying to breach into their territory, some birds also explode to save their nests, frogs have been known to explode in self-defence. Whales explode quite often. In 2004, a dead whale had exploded in Taiwan. There have also been reports about toads swelling up purposely to look so big that they can scare away the crows who try to attack them. In fact, toads can swell up to three times their size and live on for a while after exploding. Have you read about bat bomb used by the US Army during WW II? Read it now. It’s so interesting!  

More From SCI-TECH...

Comments

Matilde Ribeiro BALDWIN GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL

Cool facts!

POST YOUR OWN ARTICLE, PHOTO & VIDEO

SIMPLY FILL DETAILS & POST


 
SIGN UP & EXPLORE MORE...
*


*
* *
* *
img
REGISTRATION SUCCESSFUL...
THANK YOU FOR REGISTERING
  • About Us

Times Newspaper in Education (Times NIE) is a novel program that helps students ‘Stay Ahead’ and aims at making ‘Learning Fun’. It introduces concepts that help individual growth and development beyond school curriculum.

A brainchild of The Times of India, the world’s leading English newspapers, Times NIE nurtures progress and innovation. Adapted from the international concept, Times Newspaper in Education program (Times NIE) was initiated in India in 1985.

Today we have over 3000 schools and over 9 lac students subscribing to the programme, spanning 16 cities viz. Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Kochi, Lucknow, Coimbatore, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, and Jaipur.

The Times of India Student edition, a customized student newspaper exclusively for the students, packs a powerful punch in terms of content that leads to a smarter and superior learning experience. The information is crafted such that it finds use in classroom discussions, thus making it relevant and current. It truly gives education a new dimension by fostering the simple habit of reading which in turn paves the way for a confident, informed and aware individual. A newspaper that inspires young minds and equips them to face challenges of today’s world, making way for global citizens.

Empowering students with new cutting-edge knowledge through various educative and informative activities is a commitment and tradition of Times NIE. The programme serves as a catalyst of education and interaction, as well as a window into the minds of the quintessential Indian youth. On a significant scale Times NIE comprises diverse interesting activities and events that boost the child’s passion for learning, while revealing hidden talent.

While you are aware that The Times of India is among the leading English Newspapers across the world, it has consummated its position as an everlasting winner. With several international awards and recognitions to its credit, The Times of India and Times NIE have validated an enduring tradition of setting the highest benchmarks in every respect. We have been awarded with the two most prestigious awards, Times NIE - World’s No.1 NIE program and The Times of India, Student Edition - World’s No.1 Newspaper for the youth in 2006 by the celebrated World Association of Newspapers (WAN). In 2008 we were honoured by the International Newspaper Marketing Association (INMA), yet another international recognition for ‘Youth Audience Development’. In 2013 we were again honoured by the celebrated World Association of Newspapers (WAN) as the ‘Times NIE - World’s Best Youth Engagement Program’.

Times NIE has grown remarkably over the last three and a half decades, touching millions of children across more than 16 Indian cities. Our absolute commitment towards the fledgling generation remains undiluted and our greatest strength lies in the school partnership and commitment.

  • Times NIE World Awards
EDIT STUDENT PROFILE...



img

JOIN NOW !!!

Create or join groups, share your views, ideas through posts (Text, Pictures & Videos)

GOT A QUERY?

FEEL FREE TO ASK HERE. GET IT ANSWERED BY EXPERTS

CLICK HERE TO SEE YOUR PREVIOUS QUERIES

win

Why You Think India Is Great....