Hi, we're here from Curiosity.com to help you get smarter in just a few minutes.

I'm Cody Gough.

And I'm Ashley Hamer.

Today you learn about the world's first vending machine that was invented nearly 2,000 years

ago, and why you probably don't realize it when your beliefs change.

We'll also answer a listener question about why scratching an itch can make it spread.

Let's spread some curiosity.

The world's first vending machine is 2,000 years old. Care to guess what it dispensed?

M&M's.

So I don't think M&M's were around at the time.

Well, like an early predecessor.

Like Holywater? Oh, like an early predecessor.

Like holy water?

Oh, like, is that what you call energy drinks?

Spiritual energy.

Actually, I really can't confirm the caffeine content in Holy Water 2,000 years ago, but I can tell you that ancient

churches were pretty happy with this invention. The point of origin of the

vending machine I'm talking about is Egypt during the first century CE. Egypt was controlled by Rome at that time and this

vending machine was designed by the Roman Heron of Alexandria. Heron invented a bunch of things back in the day, but this object I am talking about is something that looked like any old pitcher at first glance,

but this pitcher could dispense a set amount of holy water whenever a coin was dropped in this lot at the top.

This strange device solved a major problem that the churches of his town were struggling

with.

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