The butterfly effect is a funny thing. You never know where one discovery will lead. Take the automobile: It changed the world, transforming cities and small towns. And it also led to raccoons leaving America—and, possibly, taking over Europe.
In the 1910s and 1920s, the automobile was taking off both as a practical invention and as a symbol of youth, freedom, and rebellion. While it had many advantages, warmth wasn’t one of them. The whistling wind and the lack of enclosure, along with the occasional breakdown due to unpaved roads or faulty equipment, meant any driver had to wear warm clothing. The people who bought the first cars could have chosen any coats they wanted, but being kids, naturally chose the equivalent of ripped jeans, cowboy boots, or a battered leather jacket—the raccoon-skin coat.
via Gizmodo
