Fortunately, we did. Celsius, from Sweden, wanted to be able to measure frigid temperatures without using negative numbers, because the minus sign could be overlooked, resulting in errors.

Many attribute the reversal to Carl Linnaeus, known as the father of taxonomy. Also a Swede, he ordered a thermometer in the 1740s using Celsius gradations, but with calibration shifted to move in the same direction as Fahrenheit’s.

Know of any other facts that are so counter to conventional understanding that they sound wrong? Email us, with “Odd fact” in the subject line.

That’s it for this briefing. A programming note: The Morning Briefing will be off on Monday for Presidents’ Day. We’ll return on Tuesday. — Chris

Thank you

To the usual suspects, including Andrea Kannapell, who wrote today’s Back Story. We also want to especially thank Anne-Sophie Bolon, a longtime editor of this briefing who’s leaving The Times. You don't see her name very often, but you see her work every day, and we're going to miss her very much. You can reach the team at briefing@nytimes.com.

P.S.

• We’re listening to “The Daily.” Today’s episode is about President Trump’s plan to declare a national emergency.

• Here’s today’s mini crossword puzzle, and a clue: Things checked at nice restaurants ( 5 letters). You can find all our puzzles here.

• The Times building in New York City was completed in 2007 and has an outer layer of ceramic rods that the architect, Renzo Piano, designed for energy efficiency. A few feet of the rods were removed after three people in five weeks used them to climb the building.