In 1930, a patent was issued to Helene Shelby for a giant, glowing-eyed skeleton that was designed to make criminals confess.  The idea was for police to scare suspects into telling all by sitting them in a dark room, raising a curtain to reveal the device, and questioning them through a megaphone in the skeleton’s skull – which contained a camera to record their statements for use in court.  (, )

Breaking eye contact makes you a better conversationalist.  Studies show people who are forced to maintain eye contact take longer to recall words than those who are allowed to take a break from the mental stimulation of staring into someone else’s eyes. Though maintaining eye contact is important for building emotional connections, looking away is key for having focused and productive conversations.  (, )