As
an international student in the United States, I have been fascinated by the amount of bizarre and interesting knowledge that Americans seem to possess. From fun facts about Hollywood to the history of baseball, I am always fascinated by the stories that people tell me. However, one type of knowledge that always seems to grab my attention is what people refer to as "cold knowledge." Cold knowledge, as I have come to understand it, is that type of information that is so obscure that most people are unlikely to know it. Whether it is details about an obscure historical event or the scientific name of a particular species, cold knowledge is the type of information that is esoteric, yet fascinating. One cold knowledge story that has always fascinated me came from a friend of mine who is a history buff. He told me about the time when the Ottoman Empire and the Habsburg Empire went to war in the 16th century. During this conflict, which lasted from 1593 to 1606, the Ottomans had a secret weapon that they used to intimidate their enemies. The Ottoman army would attach copper wires to the horns of their artillery pieces, and then charge the wires with electricity. This created a stunning light show as the electric sparks danced across the wires, and it was both terrifying and mesmerizing to watch. When the Habsburg soldiers saw this, they believed that the Ottomans had some sort of supernatural force on their side and were too afraid to engage in battle. This is a great example of cold knowledge, because it is not something that most people would know or even think about. It is not something that is taught in school or that you would read about in a history book. However, it is a fascinating and memorable detail that adds depth and richness to our understanding of history. Another cold knowledge story that I find fascinating comes from the world of science. Most people have heard of Albert Einstein and are familiar with his famous equation, E=mc². However, what many people don't know is that this equation was not actually invented by Einstein. In fact, the equation was developed by another physicist, named Henri Poincaré, several years before Einstein. Poincaré was a brilliant mathematician and physicist, but he did not receive the credit that he deserved for his work on relativity. Einstein, on the other hand, was a master at public relations and was able to convince the scientific community and the public that he was the one who discovered the equation. This is a classic example of how a well-told story can shape our understanding of history and science. In conclusion, cold knowledge is an important part of our cultural heritage. It is the type of information that helps to make history and science more interesting and memorable. As an international student, I am always fascinated by the stories that people tell me, and I am grateful for the opportunity to learn about these obscure yet fascinating details.