The first email was sent in 1971 by Ray Tomlinson — he chose the @ symbol

The first text message said 'Merry Christmas' — sent December 3, 1992

"First text message: 'Merry Christmas', December 3, 1992."

The first computer bug was an actual bug — a moth found in a Harvard Mark II relay in 1947

A moth caused a malfunction in the Harvard Mark II computer in 1947

The first alarm clock could only ring at 4 AM — invented by Levi Hutchins in 1787

Levi Hutchins created the first alarm clock in 1787, set to ring at 4 AM

The first stock exchange opened in Amsterdam in 1602 — to trade Dutch East India Company shares

Amsterdam's first stock exchange, 1602, facilitated Dutch East India Company trading

Velcro was inspired by burrs sticking to a dog's fur — invented by George de Mestral in 1941

George de Mestral's 1941 invention: Velcro, inspired by burrs and dog fur

There are more possible arrangements of a deck of cards than atoms on Earth — 52! ≈ 8 × 10^67

Card arrangements vastly exceed Earth's atoms: 52! ≈ 8 × 10^67