Large Hadron Collider at Cern, Send back our Socks!, Espl. des Particules 1, 1211, Meyrin (2026)

02/04/2026

Science?? Oooo, must check it out...

02/04/2026

Is this correct? We exist on a quantum level but sadly do not share common sense, only our senses.

14/03/2026

The idea that one of the world’s most famous restaurant rating systems was created by a tire company sounds strange, but that is exactly how the Michelin Guide began.

At the start of the 20th century cars were still rare and driving long distances was not very common. In 1900 the French company Michelin was trying to sell more tires, but there was a simple problem. People were not driving enough. If cars stayed parked most of the time, tires did not wear out and customers had no reason to buy new ones.

Michelin’s founders realized that if they wanted to sell more tires they first had to convince people to drive more often and travel farther. Instead of traditional advertising, they came up with a creative idea. They created a travel guide designed specifically for motorists.

The guide included maps, instructions on how to repair a car, locations of mechanics, gas stations, hotels, and places to eat. The goal was simple. Give people reasons to go on road trips.

The first Michelin Guide was published in France in 1900 and around thirty five thousand copies were distributed for free. The company believed that if drivers had a helpful guide in their car, they would be more likely to explore new places and take longer journeys.

More driving meant tires would wear out faster, which meant more tire sales.

Over time something interesting happened. Travelers became especially interested in the restaurant recommendations inside the guide. As the guide grew in popularity Michelin began paying more attention to evaluating restaurants and eventually introduced a star rating system.

Restaurants could receive one, two, or three stars depending on the quality of the food and the overall experience. Today a Michelin star is considered one of the most prestigious awards a restaurant can receive.

What began as a clever marketing idea to sell more tires eventually became the most influential restaurant rating system in the world. Michelin may have started as a tire company, but its guide ended up shaping global culinary culture for more than a century.