Quirky pursuits

10 surprising hobbies of historical figures

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What would life be like without hobbies? Even the most brilliant minds and influential figures throughout history found time to pursue personal passions, some of which even intertwined with their main work, leading to groundbreaking discoveries. From gardening to pigeon collecting and dwarfs, here are 10 fascinating hobbies that shaped history's greatest personalities and helped fuel their success.

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Winston Churchill, known for his leadership during WWII, was also an avid painter. He took up painting later in life, at the age of 40, as a way to relax and express his admiration for impressionists like Édouard Manet, Claude Monet, and Paul Cézanne.

His paintings, mostly landscapes, were showcased at various exhibitions, and some were even sold to raise money for charity.

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Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, was passionate about gardening and horticulture. He meticulously planned and cultivated his extensive gardens at Monticello.

Jefferson's love for gardening went beyond leisure; he used it as a scientific experiment to test new crops and plant varieties.

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Albert Einstein, one of the most brilliant minds in science, was also an accomplished violinist. He began playing at the age of six and continued throughout his life, often performing for friends and family.

Einstein found music to be a source of relaxation and inspiration, and he believed it enhanced his creativity. He even stated that if he weren't a physicist, he would have been a musician.

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Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States, was a passionate hiker and adventurer. He often explored the rugged wilderness of the American West, particularly the Badlands of North Dakota, where he developed a deep connection with nature.

His personal experiences in the wild fueled his dedication to preserving natural landscapes, ultimately leading to the establishment of many national parks and natural monuments during his presidency.

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Beyond the passion for nature and biology that led him to his theory of evolution, Charles Darwin was also an enthusiastic birdwatcher in his spare time.

In fact, his observations of various bird species, particularly in the Galápagos Islands, played a pivotal role in the development of his theories and led to groundbreaking insights into the process of natural selection.

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Not surprisingly, Napoleon Bonaparte, one of history’s most renowned military leaders, was also a skilled chess player. His approach to the game mirrored his battlefield strategy, with a focus on intense, calculated moves.

For Napoleon, chess was both a mental challenge and a form of relaxation. His strategic thinking, sharpened on the chessboard, likely played a role in his success during military campaigns.

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Mark Twain, the celebrated American author best known for The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and other works that captured the essence of American rural life, had a lifelong passion for fishing.

Just like his characters, he spent considerable time along the Mississippi River, where he enjoyed fishing as both a relaxing and philosophical activity.

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Nikola Tesla, the brilliant inventor known for his contributions to electrical engineering, had a uniquely unusual hobby—keeping and caring for pigeons. He developed a particular attachment to a white pigeon he often referred to as his "greatest companion."

A solitary—and often misunderstood—man, Tesla's affinity for pigeons gave him a sense of companionship in his later years.

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The surrealist artist Salvador Dalí had a complicated relationship with insects. He felt both repelled and inexplicably fascinated by these creatures, using them as inspiration in some of his paintings, particularly ants, which he associated with death and decay.

Dalí’s obsession with insects extended beyond art; he kept live specimens in his home and often used them for bizarre experiments.

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Edgar Allan Poe, the master of macabre literature, had a secret passion for cryptography. He enjoyed creating and solving complex ciphers and was one of the early proponents of the use of codes and ciphers in literature.

Poe even published an essay on cryptography, calling it the "art of secret writing."

BUZZING TRIVIA

Summer Chorus: 10 Noisy Facts About Cicadas

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Cicadas are fascinating living beings. They spend years slowly developing underground, only to die shortly after emerging. They sing loud and mesmerizing summer symphonies that can be heard from miles away.

Join us as we unravel the many mysteries of cicadas!

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Cicadas have one of the longest lifespans among insects, with certain broods surviving up to 17 years underground before emerging as adults.

This extended period spent feeding on sap from tree roots allows them to develop slowly, conserving energy for their brief life above ground.

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Cicada nymphs are adept tunnelers, using their strong front legs to burrow through the soil in search of tree roots to feed on. They construct vertical tunnels that can extend as much as 2 feet underground, where they remain until it's time to emerge as adults.

This subterranean lifestyle protects them from predators and environmental fluctuations until their time to emerge to the surface comes. While tunneling out, they produce chemicals that act as a sort of glue, holding the tunnel’s shape for long periods of time.

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Cicadas feed primarily on xylem sap, the nutrient-rich fluid found in plant vascular systems. Using their specialized mouthparts, they tap into tree roots (or branches during adulthood) to access this vital sustenance.

While their feeding habits may cause minor damage to trees, cicadas more than make up for it by helping aerate the soil with their tunnels and contributing nitrogen to the soil after they die.

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North American periodical cicadas have a unique lifecycle, spending either 13 or 17 years underground before emerging. This lengthy span isn't random, it's thought to be an evolutionary strategy to avoid synchronization with predator populations.

Emerging in prime-numbered cycles makes it difficult for predators to anticipate their arrival.

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If you are a fan of cicadas, this year you might have the chance to witness a very rare phenomenon. Periodical cicadas are classified into groups called broods according to the length of their cycles and their location.

Sometimes, two or more broods synchronize and emerge all at once in the same year, swarming wooded areas with billions of the chanting insects. In 2024, Brood XIX and Brood XIII will emerge at the same time in the Midwest, something we have not seen since Thomas Jefferson was president!

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Mass emergences of cicadas can sometimes coincide with the outbreak of a fungal pathogen known as Massospora cicadina. This fungus infects cicadas, causing them to lose control of their bodies and engage in bizarre behaviors.

Infected cicadas are often noticeable because they lose part of their abdomen to a soft mass of fungal spores. Despite these gruesome effects, the fungus only affects a small percentage of the total population.

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Like all insects, cicadas undergo ecdysis, the process of shedding their exoskeletons as they grow. However, cicadas take this to the extreme, shedding their nymphal exoskeletons en masse once they emerge as adults.

This transformation process, known as molting, leaves behind the ghostly exoskeletons of their nymphal stages clinging to trees and other surfaces.

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Once above ground, adult cicadas spend their short-lived adulthood focused on one mission: reproduction. Males produce their characteristic buzzing calls to attract mates, with some species capable of reaching volumes exceeding 100 decibels.

Unlike crickets, which rub their legs together to make noise, cicadas repeatedly expand and contract a membrane called a tymbal. Their cacophonous chorus serves as a mating call that can be heard from miles away.

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On top of their lengthy cycles and simultaneous hatching, cicadas have evolved various adaptations to survive predation. From cryptic coloration to mimicry of toxic species, they employ a range of strategies to evade hungry predators.

Males soften or stop their singing altogether when a predator approaches so that their attention goes to nearby louder singers. Some species even display bright colors on their wings when threatened.

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Celebrated for their crunchy texture and nutty flavor, in many cultures cicadas are considered prized delicacies. Among Native Americans, specimens from the 17-year brood were highly sought after, while in South Asia, they are often eaten deep-fried, or in a similar fashion to shellfish and other crustaceans.

Rich in protein and low in fat, cicadas can be a healthy and sustainable food source.