Welcome back to Trivia Waves, where we broadcast the most surprising facts to fuel your curiosity! Today, we’re diving into the world of tech with a fact that’s as literal as it gets: did you know the first computer bug was an actual insect? Tune in as we uncover the quirky origin of a term we all use today.

On September 9, 1947, a team of computer scientists at Harvard University was working on the Mark II computer, a massive machine used for military calculations. The computer kept malfunctioning, and after hours of troubleshooting, they found the culprit: a moth trapped between the relays, causing a short circuit. Grace Hopper, a pioneering computer scientist on the team, taped the moth into the logbook with the note, “First actual case of bug being found.” That’s right—the term “computer bug,” now used for any software glitch, started with a real insect!

The logbook, complete with the moth, is now preserved at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, and Grace Hopper’s story has become tech legend. She later popularized the term “debugging” for fixing computer errors, a phrase we still use today. This quirky piece of history shows how even the smallest things can leave a big mark, and we’re loving it here at Trivia Waves.

What’s the strangest tech fact you’ve come across? Drop us a line at contact@triviaradio.com—we’d love to hear from you! If you enjoyed this trivia, share it with your fellow fact fans and stay tuned for more waves of knowledge that’ll surprise you.