30 Facts That You Probably Never Knew: No. 10 Will Shock You
One of the best things about learning something new is being able to share that knowledge with others. And while some facts are weird and wonderful and others are totally useless, there's a whole category of trivia that is just so incredible you can't resist asking everyone you meet "Did you know this?!" well, these are the facts that will fascinate you and your friends. And for more facts that might shock you, check out these 30 Facts That Will Blow Your Mind.
1
Grapes light on fire in the microwave.
Back in 2011, a physicist at the University of Sydney went viral after he placed a grape in the microwave and filmed the fiery aftermath. And oddly enough, scientists couldn't explain the phenomenon until quite recently. A March 2019 study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reported that the fruity fireball occurs as a result of the loose electrons and ions that cluster to form plasma when grapes get hot. And here are more of the 100 Fascinating Facts You'll Want to Share with Everyone You Know.
2
Chewing gum is banned in Singapore.
Along with having laws against spitting and urinating anywhere but in a toilet (which you're then legally obligated to flush if it's a public washroom), Singapore has also banned chewing gum in an effort to keep the city clean and orderly. The ban was established in 1992. In 2004, exceptions were made for therapeutic, dental, or nicotine gums. And for more trivia tidbits, check out 55 Facts So Interesting You'll Kick Yourself for Not Knowing Them.
3
The 1939 novel Gadsby is the longest book ever published that doesn't contain the letter 'e.'
Back in 1939, American author Ernest Vincent Wright published Gadsby, a 50,000-word novel that doesn't use the letter 'e' once. What's more, it's not the only novel that ditched the letter. Author Georges Perec also wrote the French-language book La Disparition without the letter 'e' in 1969. That's even more astounding when you consider that 'e' is the most commonly used letter in the English (and French!) language. And these are the 23 Words You Need to Stop Mispronouncing.
4
Japan is suffering from a ninja shortage.
If you ever dreamed of being a ninja, now might be the time to make it a reality. The Japanese city of Iga, which has a rich history of martial arts masters and claims to be the birthplace of the ninja, suffered from a ninja shortage in 2018, despite the fact that they're willing to pay salaries as high as $85,000 for the performative ninjas willing to take on the job of staffing their annual ninja festival.
5
The longest place name in the world is 85 letters long.
Unfortunately, this is one of the facts you probably can't repeat to your friends—and that's because it's nearly impossible to pronounce. Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu is in New Zealand and is 85 letters long. And when it comes to other super long place names, it's followed by Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch in Wales, Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg in the U.S., Tweebuffelsmeteenskootmorsdoodgeskietfontein in South Africa, and Azpilicuetagaraycosaroyarenberecolarre in Spain.
6
There was a prehistoric dragonfly that's wings spanned more than two feet.
More than 300 million years ago, the Meganeura established itself as the largest known flying insect to ever exist on Earth. The dragonfly-like creature had a wingspan that stretched around 2.5 feet. The bugs were also big enough to hunt prey like frogs and newts, which it could eat with its teeth-like mandibles.
7
Bubble wrap was originally invented as wallpaper.
If you can't wait to pop every air-filled pocket the minute you pull a piece of bubble wrap out of a package, can you imagine how irresistible it would be if it were covering your walls? Engineer Al Fielding and Swiss inventor Marc Chavannes probably didn't consider that when, in 1957, they invented bubble wrap while trying to create a textured wallpaper by sealing two shower curtains together to trap air bubbles.
8
Shakespeare invented more than 1,700 words.
Shakespeare wrote some of the most beloved and revered pieces of literature the world has ever known, but in order to craft his plays and poems, he sometimes resorted to making up his own words. In fact, The Bard is said to have come up with more than 1,700 words including moonbeam, laughable, eyeball, bump, puking, champion, bedroom, excitement, and zany.
9
Santa Claus was given an official pilot's license in 1927.
When Santa Claus makes his trip around the world on Christmas Eve, you can rest assured that he's legally allowed to drive his sleigh—at least in the United States. In 1927, the jolly man in the red suit was given a pilot's license from the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Aeronautics William P. MacCracken.
According to the Library of Congress, "The old saint called at the Commerce Department in Washington" and when he arrived, his picture was taken as he was given his license, airway maps, "and the assurance that the lights would be burning on the airways on Christmas Eve."
10
Einstein's brain was stolen when he died.
When Nobel Prize-winning physicist Albert Einstein passed away on April 18, 1955, he left behind specific instructions when it came to the disposal of his body, according to one National Geographic investigation. Einstein didn't want his corpse to be worshiped or his brain to be studied, so he instructed those who were responsible for his remains to "cremate them, and scatter the ashes secretly in order to discourage idolaters."
However, Thomas Harvey, the pathologist on call when Einstein died at New Jersey's Princeton Hospital, didn't quite follow those instructions. Instead, he stole Einstein's brain. From there, things got even weirder. When Einstein's family found out, his son apparently didn't object to the theft and Harvey was able to keep the brain in two jars in his basement before moving it to "a cider box stashed under a beer cooler."
11
A single watermelon once sold for $6,125.
In 2008, a man in Japan bought a nearly black Densuke watermelon for ¥650,000 or $6,125. The specialty fruit is only grown on the island of Hokkaido and, according to a Japanese agricultural expert in the Los Angeles Times, is crisp and hard with "a different level of sweetness" than the watermelon we're used to eating.
12
Antarctica is covered in a sheet of ice that's 7,000 feet thick.
For reference, that's about 19 football fields. The U.S. Antarctic Program also notes that if the ice sheet ever suddenly melted, it would raise the sea level worldwide an estimated 200 feet and submerge much of the Gulf and Atlantic coastal areas of the U.S.
13
There's a Guinness World Record for the stretchiest skin.
Garry Turner from the U.K. holds the Guinness World Record for the stretchiest skin thanks to the fact that he can extend the skin on his stomach 15.8 centimeters. Turner is capable of such an elastic-like feat thanks to a collagen-defective condition called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. The Good Place actress Jameela Jamil recently confirmed that she also has Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, even demonstrating the stretchiness of her skin on social media.
14
Birds in Minnesota get drunk off of berries.
In October 2018, the Gilbert Minnesota Police Department issued a public notice about birds that appeared to be "under the influence." It turns out that the airborne animals were apparently eating berries that had fermented due to early frost, which was making them "tipsy." Unfortunately, this meant that the buzzed birds were acting confused and flying into windows. Hopefully, they were able to sleep it off.
15
It's illegal to own just one guinea pig in Switzerland.
Guinea pigs are social animals that prefer the companionship of another guinea pig. That's why it's illegal to own just one of the little critters in Switzerland. Thankfully, if one of your fuzzy pets passes away and you're not ready to commit to another, Switzerland also allows you to rent a guinea pig for your remaining pet.
16
Potato Chips Cause More Weight Gain Than Any Other Food
A Harvard University study of more than 120,000 people found that potato chips were to blame for the gain of an average of 1.69 pounds per person over four years. Other fatteners: potatoes (1.28 pounds), sugar-sweetened beverages (1.00 pounds), and unprocessed red meats (0.95 pounds). And for more crazy facts about food, here's Why Health Experts Want You to Avoid Lettuce in 2018.
17
It's Impossible to Hum While You Hold Your Nose
For the same reason you can't exhale while holding your nose and closing your mouth—to make the humming noise you have to pass air through your larynx. You can't do that when no air can be exhaled. Still, seems pretty weird.
18
Chewing Gum After a Meal Reduces Heartburn
It turns out the saliva that's stimulated by chewing gum becomes more alkaline, effectively neutralizes the acid reflux that creates heartburn while soothing your esophagus.
19
Dogs Can Smell Cancer
They don't call them "man's best friend" for nothing. Researchers have found that dogs are able to pick up on a specific scent that cancer produces in a person—which is undetectable to humans. So if your dog is acting strange around you, it may be you who needs to get checked out by a physician. And if you're looking to repay your canine's kindness, Meet the Former Model Who Wants to Save Your Dog's Life.
20
Boyfriends Do More Housework Than Husbands
A survey 17,000 people across 28 countries found that after marriage, the amount of time a man spends doing chores on a weekly basis decreases significantly.
21
Newborns Don't Shed Tears
Tear ducts don't fully develop in infants until they are one to three months old, making it impossible for babies to shed actual tears. No wonder they have to express their emotions by crying loudly. And for more facts you might have missed out on, here are the 20 Things Your College Professor Won't Tell You.
22
Almost half the world's population watched both the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cup games.
In 2010, the FIFA World Cup South Africa was shown in every country and territory on Earth, including Antarctica and the Arctic Circle, which meant that a record-breaking 3.2 billion people around the world watched the game in their homes, or 46.4 percent of the global population. Four years later, FIFA World Cup Brazil drew the same staggering number of viewers.
23
There's a planet that's shaped like a potato.
Not every celestial object has a shape that's as perfectly majestic as planet Earth. In fact, some of them are downright hilarious to look at. Take Haumea, for example. This dwarf planet is cool for a number of reasons. About the same size as Pluto, Haumea orbits the sun beyond Neptune and has rings similar to Jupiter. But what makes this object even more interesting is that it's shaped like a potato.
24
It only takes six minutes for alcohol to affect your brain.
Just one drink can quickly go to your head, whether you feel it or not. Researchers at Heidelberg University Hospital found that just six minutes after consuming alcohol, changes are already taking place in the brain. So even if you don't feel tipsy right away, you're definitely not totally sober either.
25
Daniel Radcliffe went through nearly 70 wands and 160 pairs of glasses during the making of the Harry Potter films.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the production team also made 40 versions of Salazar Slytherin's locket, 250 paintings for the Marble Staircase, 900 Memory Vials for the cabinet in Dumbledore's Office, and 210,000 coins for the Gringotts bank scene in the last two films alone. And for more on the wizard phenomenon, check out the 35 Ways Harry Potter Is Still Crazy Relevant.
26
"Strengths" is the longest word in the English language with one vowel.
With nine letters and eight of them being consonants, "strengths" is the longest word in the English language with only one vowel, according to the Guinness World Records. Which, on reflection, makes it a really weird looking word.
27
You can get your eyeballs tattooed.
If you've ever considered getting your entire body tattooed, be sure not to forget about your eyeballs. Hardcore body-art fans have started inking their eyes all kinds of colors, from purple to green. But beware of the risks that come along with such an extreme modification.
28
Three U.S. presidents—Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and Jimmy Carter—have won Grammys.
Jimmy Carter won three Grammy Awards in the Best Spoken Word Album category for Our Endangered Values: America's Moral Crisis in 2007, A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety in 2016, and finally Faith: A Journey For All in 2019.
In 2004, Bill Clinton won Best Spoken Word Album for My Life, just a year after he earned the Best Spoken Word Album for Children thanks to Prokofiev: Peter And The Wolf/Beintus: Wolf Tracks.
Barack Obama has won two Grammys, including Best Spoken Word Album in 2006 for the Dreams from My Father audiobook and another in 2008 when he took home the Best Spoken Word Album Grammy for the audiobook version of The Audacity of Hope.
29
There's a toilet museum.
The Sulabh International Museum Of Toilets in New Delhi, India, features a rare collection of objects "detailing the historic evolution of toilets" from 2500 BCE to right up until today. Learn about the toilet systems of ancient societies, the elaborately decorated toilets of 18th- and 19th-century Europe, and even a toilet from Austria that's shaped like a lion so that you can feel like you're riding the wild beast while doing your business.
30
It's against the law to feed pigeons on the streets or sidewalks of San Francisco.
You might think that throwing a little bread to the birds is a nice thing to do, but in San Francisco, it could get you into trouble. That's because it's illegal to feed pigeons in the streets or on the sidewalks of the California city. San Francisco's Public Works Department explains that there "are dozens of reasons why" you shouldn't feed our flying friends, "but mainly: feeding pigeons harms our neighborhoods and also harms the birds." And for more crazy facts check out these 35 Fascinating Fast Facts for When You're Bored.
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