Date: 26 May 2026
Topic: History
Codebreakers are a fun way to build numeracy skills.
During the early stages of WWII, specifically the 1940 Blitz, Germany had conquered most of Europe and was occupying France. With the United States yet to enter the war and the USSR in a non-aggression pact with Hitler, Britain stood nearly alone. After the RAF successfully held off daytime attacks, the Luftwaffe switched tactics to night raids.
However, the British had recently developed Airborne Interception Radar, which gave them a massive advantage as it allowed pilots to detect and target enemy planes in total darkness. To keep this secret technology out of German hands, the British military spread the rumor that their pilots had developed "night vision" thanks to a diet heavy in carrots. This propaganda was so effective that it led to the long-standing global misbelief that eating carrots improves your ability to see in the dark.