August by the Numbers
12. The number of lighthouses in the United States in 1776. Aug. 7 is National Lighthouse Day, when many of the approximately
700 lighthouses standing today are open for tours.
135. Chapters in "Moby-Dick," the epic novel by Herman Melville, who was born Aug. 1, 1819.
Arthritis Relief With Coconut Oil
Using coconut oil as a lotion can soothe dry skin, and it may also help relieve joint pain related to arthritis. Coconut oil contains
anti-inflammatory properties, and some research shows that massaging the oil into the skin can increase circulation to the area.
Games Are Good for Your Gray Matter
Research shows that these classic games support specific cognitive functions.
One player. Playing cards, including one-player games like solitaire, is linked to better focus and memory, according to research.
Winning, even against yourself, triggers a small release of dopamine, a natural mood-boosting brain chemical.
Two players. Studies indicate that playing two-person strategy board games like chess and checkers improves problem solving and
empathy, since these games require planning moves and anticipating an opponent's moves.
Three to four players. Games like mahjong and dominoes exercise both pattern recognition and memory; they also can be played
with three or four players.
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Historical Highlights
- 1926: Nineteen-year-old Gertrude Ederle becomes the first woman to successfully swim the English Channel. Her time of 14 hours and 31 minutes beat the existing men's world record by nearly two hours.
- 1938: Hollywood dance duo Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers are featured on the cover of Life magazine.
- 1964: "A Hard Day's Night," the Beatles' first feature movie, debuts in the U.S.
- 1962: Little Eva travels to the top of the pop music chart with the hit song "Loco-Motion," and inspires a dance craze.
- 1975: The first nighttime match is played under lights at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York City.
- 1990: The largest and best-preserved Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton ever found is discovered in South Dakota. The 65 million-year-old dinosaur specimen is on display at Chicago's Field Museum.
- 2015: Facebook hits a milestone, reporting that 1 billion people logged on to the social networking website in a single day. As of August 2025, more than 2 billion people use Facebook daily.
