A list of intriguing things 

One: Researchers at the Sydney Zoo introduced its residents to a robot dog named Sparky. Let’s just say the lions were a wee bit too intrigued with him. Don’t worry: No AI pooches were hurt in the course of this experiment.

Two: A tiny book created by Charlotte Brontë worth $1.25 million is among the fascinating items for sale at the New York International Antiquarian Book Fair. Written when she was just 13 in 1829, this is its first public showing since 1916. If it sells at the asking price, it will be the highest ever for a female author. See it in the Al Jazeera report below—which also has Amy Winehouse’s book collection—which she often used to write her lyrics.

Three: The Science Museum in London is home to this “male anti-masturbation device”—which dates back to… You’re thinking ‘medieval era’, right? Nope, this one was made somewhere between 1871 and 1930. We like that the museum helpfully provides a visual of it placed on a pair of jeans—so you can really appreciate its true horror. 

Four: In the interest of gender equality, we offer you the chopines—a 16th-century form of footwear favoured by upper class women and elite courtesans. 

So how did they get around in these contraptions?

It’s important to remember that Venetian upper-class women were sequestered and hidden from view most of the time, and only put on view certain times of the year… Sometimes these women were put out like parade floats, mounted on very high chopines in splendid dresses… They had to walk very slowly and required the aid of two servants to navigate whatever space they were moving through.

Collectors Weekly has lots more on the fascinating history of high heels.