Browsing Category Fun & Interesting Facts

100+ fun, interesting, and happy facts that will brighten your day & increase your knowledge  🤓 🦄 ☀️

Severe Depression can cause us to biologically age more by increasing the aging process in cells

Severe Depression can cause us to biologically age more by increasing the aging process in cells

Yes, severe depression can cause us to biologically age more by increasing the aging process in cells. Depressed individuals have a higher incidence of various diseases of aging, including cardiovascular-related mortality, which are features commonly associated with advancing chronological aging

Ralph Lauren's original name was Ralph Lifshitz

Ralph Lauren’s original name was Ralph Lifshitz

Before making a name for himself in the fashion industry, Ralph Lauren went by his birth name, Ralph Lifshitz. The designer was teased constantly in school over his name, and later decided to change it to Lauren after his brother Jerry presented the idea when they were teenagers.

You can be heavily pregnant and not realize it

You can be heavily pregnant and not realize it

Cryptic pregnancy is when a pregnant person doesn’t know they’re pregnant. It’s also known as stealth pregnancy or denied pregnancy. If you have this, you may not realize you’re pregnant until very late into your pregnancy or until you go into labor. Cryptic pregnancy is rare. Studies estimate that 1 in 400 or 500 women are 20 weeks (about 5 months) into pregnancy before realizing it.

 

 

Mount Everest isn't the tallest mountain on Earth

Mount Everest isn’t the tallest mountain on Earth

The tallest mountain in the world from base to peak is Mauna Kea, a long-dormant volcano in Hawaii, USA. It is approximately 10,205m (33481 feet) in height, taller than Mount Everest’s 8,849m (29032 feet). Over half of Mauna Kea is underwater in the Pacific Ocean.

A rainbow on Venus is called a glory

A rainbow on Venus is called a glory

Venus has an optical phenomenon called a ‘glory,’ which – like a rainbow – forms when sunlight falls on cloud droplets. However, glories are caused by the interference of light waves within droplets, whereas rainbows are caused by the reflection, refraction and dispersion of light.

Although it may seem safe to assume that one horsepower is the output a horse can create at any one time, that is incorrect. In fact, a horse's maximum output can be up to 15 horsepower, and a human's maximum output is a bit more than a single horsepower.

A horse normally has more than one horsepower

Although it may seem safe to assume that one horsepower is the output a horse can create at any one time, that is incorrect. In fact, a horse’s maximum output can be up to 15 horsepower, and a human’s maximum output is a bit more than a single horsepower.

People who eat whatever they want and stay slim have a slow metabolism, not fast

People who eat whatever they want and stay slim have a slow metabolism, not fast

It might seem counterintuitive, but generally speaking, skinny people don’t have faster metabolisms than people who weigh more. In fact, the bigger your body, the more calories you burn. Basal (or resting) metabolism refers to the total number of calories all the cells in the body need to stay alive and functioning.

The real name for a hashtag is an octothorpe

The real name for a hashtag is an octothorpe

The hashtag symbol, also known as the pound sign or number sign, is technically called an octothorpe. The origins of the term are a bit unclear, but it is believed to have been coined by employees at Bell Laboratories in the 1960s.

The moon has moonquakes

The moon has moonquakes

Moonquakes are different from earthquakes in a few key ways. They can last much longer on the moon, sometimes for hours. Because of the moon’s weaker gravity, a quake will feel much stronger than Earth. Even a moderate amount of shaking could take you off your feet.

The blob of toothpaste on a toothbrush has a name

The blob of toothpaste on a toothbrush has a name

If you look up the meaning of the word “nurdle,” you’ll find that it is a small pellet of plastic used to make plastic products. Apparently, it is also what toothpaste manufacturers call the dab of toothpaste that sits on top of toothbrushes.

A jiffy is an actual unit of time

A jiffy is an actual unit of time

A “jiffy” is a real unit of time, equal to how long it takes for light to travel one femtometer, which is one quadrillionth of a meter. In other words, it’s really, really brief: A single second contains three hundred thousand billion billion jiffys.

The Spanish national anthem has no words

The Spanish national anthem has no words

The ‘Marcha Real’ is one of only four national anthems in the world (along with those of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and San Marino) with no official lyrics.

SCUBA is an acronym

SCUBA is an acronym

You can’t get your SCUBA certification without learning what this acronym stands for. It means “Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus,” which is a pretty straightforward description of the equipment and the activity. The term originated in 1952, and “scuba-diving” came around by 1956.

Earth contains enough gold to cover it

Earth contains enough gold to cover it

Discover Magazine reports that there’s quite a bit of gold on — or, really, in — our planet: 99 percent of the precious metal can be found in the Earth’s core. How much is there? Enough to coat the entire surface of the Earth in 1.5 feet of gold

The cigarette lighter was invented before the match

The cigarette lighter was invented before the match

Yes it is true that lighter were invented before matches, the modern match box was created by British Chemist John Walker in the year 1827, where as the cigarette lighter was created eleven years prior in the year 1816 by German chemist J.W. Dobereiner.

The electric chair was invented by a dentist

Alfred P. Southwick, a dentist and inventor from Buffalo, New York, is credited with inventing the electric chair in 1881. Southwick’s goal was to develop a more humane alternative to hanging, which often resulted in prolonged suffering for the condemned. Southwick’s idea was to use electricity to carry out the death penalty.

Camels have three eyelids to protect themselves from the blowing desert sand

Camels have three eyelids to protect themselves from the blowing desert sand

Their 3rd eyelid is called a nictitating membrane. This transparent barrier protects its eye from dust and sand. And it can also act like a contact lens, improving their vision. Many animals have three eyelids, including horses, cats and dogs, sharks, and many birds.

Caffeine is a natural pesticide

Caffeine is a natural pesticide

Caffeine is a natural pesticide that can paralyze and kill insects that want to chomp on the leaves, berries, or other parts of the plant.

Baby blue whales gain up to 10 pounds an hour

Baby blue whales gain up to 10 pounds an hour

The blue whale calf is about 23 feet long when born and weighs 5,000 to 6,000 pounds. A nursing blue whale mother produces over 50 gallons of milk a day. The milk contains 35 to 50% milk fat and allows the calf to gain weight at a rate of up to 10 pounds an hour or over 250 pounds a day!

"Silver surfer" is an informal term used to describe people over 50 who use the internet frequently.

“Silver surfer” is an informal term used to describe people over 50

“Silver surfer” is an informal term used to describe people over 50 who use the internet frequently. The term is commonly used in the UK, Australia, and other English-speaking countries. It can also refer to an older, especially retired, person who uses the internet.

Touching a crisp bill or two can prevent discomfort, whether at the doctor's office or your local bar.

Holding money in your hand can help reduce stress and pain

It’s easy to overcome both physical and psychological pain when you have money in hand. Touching a crisp bill or two can prevent discomfort, whether at the doctor’s office or your local bar.

One in fourteen women in America is a natural blonde

One in fourteen women in America is a natural blonde

And, only one in sixteen men is.

Fossil evidence shows us that, over the past 10,000 years, the average human brain has shrunk about the size of a tennis ball.

Our brains are shrinking

Fossil evidence shows us that, over the past 10,000 years, the average human brain has shrunk about the size of a tennis ball. But that doesn’t mean we’re any less intelligent. Our smaller brains are more efficient, particularly since most of us live in settled societies & don’t need to be on the lookout for predators constantly.

A group of whales is called a pod

A group of whales is called a pod

A pod is the most common collective noun for a group of whales, but they can also be referred to as a game, a herd, or a school. A pod will have anywhere from 2 to 30 whales in it, and it is normally made up of whales that have a biological bond, such as mother and son.

Testosterone levels increase sharply for women, and estrogen for men when they fall in love

Testosterone levels increase sharply for women, and estrogen for men when they fall in love

According to a study published in PubMed, women who have recently fallen in love have higher testosterone levels than men. Another study published in PMC found that women in love have higher levels of gonadotropins (FSH, LH) and lower testosterone levels than single women.

L.L.Bean stands for Leon Leonwood Bean

L.L.Bean stands for Leon Leonwood Bean

L.L.Bean stands for Leon Leonwood Bean, the name of the company’s founder. Bean was a hunter and fisherman who founded the company in 1912 in Freeport, Maine.

Dirty snow melts faster than clean snow

Dirty snow melts faster than clean snow because it absorbs more energy from the sun. Clean snow reflects 80–90% of sunlight, while dirty snow absorbs more sunlight due to particles like black carbon. This causes dirty snow to melt faster.

African buffalo herds make decisions by voting

African buffalo herds make decisions by voting

One by one, the adult females of the herd will stand up, look in a particular direction & then lay back down. Whichever direction gets the most looks is almost always where the herd travels. If voting is strongly divided, the herd will often split up temporarily.

The Statue of Liberty wears a size 879 shoe

The Statue of Liberty wears a size 879 shoe

Yes, that’s right, the exact shoe size of the Statue of Liberty was calculated based on the size of her foot. With feet that measure 25 feet in length, her official shoe size is 879. She actually wears sandals.

18 out of 1 million LEGO pieces are defective

18 out of 1 million LEGO pieces are defective

The company prides itself on quality because only 18 out of every 1 million LEGO bricks are defective. LEGOs are also among the sturdiest toys, as anyone who has stepped on one while barefoot will tell you. For millions in past decades, LEGOs simply were a beloved childhood toy.

The filling in Kit Kats is made from damaged Kit Kats

The filling in Kit Kats is made from damaged Kit Kats

While the package lists the filling as a “crisp wafer,” in reality, the bars’ insides are often made from broken KitKats that fall apart during the assembly process.

The official bird of Redondo Beach, California, is the Goodyear Blimp

The official bird of Redondo Beach, California, is the Goodyear Blimp

In 1983, the city of Redondo Beach, California, near the blimp base airport in Carson, California, adopted resolution number 6252 recognizing the Goodyear Airship Columbia (since retired) as the “Official Bird of Redondo Beach.”

Tickling may have been used as torture

Tickling was used as a form of torture as early as A.D. 206 during the Chinese Han Dynasty. Back then, it was a punishment used for criminals as tickling does not leave evidence of torture on the body, and the person being tickled recovers quickly as opposed to other forms of torture.

A chameleons tongue is twice the length of its body

A chameleons tongue is twice the length of its body

On average, a chameleon’s tongue is roughly twice the length of its body. In humans, that would be a tongue about 10 to 12 feet (about 3 to 4 meters) long.

The Baltimore Colts were the first NFL team to have cheerleaders

In 1954, the Baltimore Colts became the first NFL team to have cheerleaders. They were part of the Baltimore Colts Marching Band. Most NFL cheerleading squads are part-time jobs.

Human teeth are the only part of the body that cannot heal themselves

Human teeth are the only part of the body that cannot heal themselves

The tooth is the only part of the body that cannot repair itself. In humans, teeth cannot replace or repair themselves. Human teeth don’t have the cells necessary to repair damage like other organs and structures do.

Washington, D.C. is the ninth capital of the United States.

Washington, D.C., is the country’s ninth capital

Washington, D.C. is the ninth capital of the United States. The Residence Act of 1790 established the nation’s capital in Washington, D.C.. The act was part of a plan to appease pro-slavery states who feared a northern capital would be too sympathetic to abolitionists.

Marie Curie was the first person ever to win TWO Nobel Prizes

Marie Curie was the first person ever to win TWO Nobel Prizes

She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, the first person to win a Nobel Prize twice, and the only person to win a Nobel Prize in two scientific fields. Curie won one for physics in 1903 and the other for chemistry in 1911 for her work on radioactivity.

Worldwide, the re-release of Avatar brought in $30 million, making it the biggest movie at the worldwide box office and bringing its already legendary intake to a lifetime gross of $2.923 billion.

“Avatar” is the top-grossing film of all time

Worldwide, the re-release of Avatar brought in $30 million, making it the biggest movie at the worldwide box office and bringing its already legendary intake to a lifetime gross of $2.923 billion.

There were female gladiators in ancient Rome

There were female gladiators in ancient Rome

The gladiatrix ( plurlal: gladiatrices) is the female equivalent of the gladiator of ancient Rome. Like their male counterparts, gladiatrices fought each other, or wild animals, to entertain audiences at various games and festivals. Very little is known about them.

When you blush, the inner lining of your stomach turns red as well

When you blush, the inner lining of your stomach turns red as well

When you blush, it’s because blood rushes to the skin of your face. Interestingly, it also rushes to the lining of your stomach. That means when you blush, so does your tummy.

The first toilet ever seen on television was on “Leave It to Beaver”

The first toilet to appear on screen was on Leave It to Beaver in 1957 when the kids bought a pet alligator and hid it in the toilet tank. A lot of back-and-forth went into making this scene.

The national flag with the most colors in it is Belize, with 12

The national flag with the most colors in it is Belize, with 12

The coat of arms is displayed on a blue field between two red stripes, which are the colors that represent the nation’s most prominent political parties. The flag of Belize contains twelve colors, three more than any other national flag.

The median age of the world’s population is around 30 years, as of 2019

According to the UN’s 2019 “World Population Prospects”, the median age of the world’s population is expected to increase from around 30.5 in 2019 to 42 in 2100. The median age has been increasing steadily over time, driven by longer life expectancy and declining fertility rates.

Blue-eyed people have higher alcohol tolerance

Research in 2000 found that those with lighter eye colors are less likely to abuse alcohol. Thus lesser consumption and developing a higher tolerance.

Smelling green apples help with weight loss

Studies have revealed that just the smell of food can significantly decrease our appetite and cravings. One such study demonstrated this by finding that obese patients who sniffed green apples before meals lost more weight than those who didn’t, as the scent stimulated physiological receptors & made them feel satisfied with smaller portions.

Rudolph the Reindeer is female

Rudolph the Reindeer is female

This can be observed through their antlers. Female deer shed their antlers in the spring and grow them back to full size by winter. The male reindeer stops its growth during the winter.

Only one in every three people wash their hands when leaving a public bathroom

Only one in every three people wash their hands when leaving a public bathroom

One-third of Americans admit not washing their hands after using the bathroom. Here’s why you should. Public restrooms are covered in fecal bacteria that launches from the toilet when you flush. The CDC recommends you wash your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds to stay clean.

Competitive art used to be an Olympic sport

Competitive art used to be an Olympic sport

Medals were awarded for works of art inspired by sport, divided into five categories: architecture, literature, music, painting, and sculpture. The juried art competitions were abandoned in 1954 because artists were considered to be professionals, while Olympic athletes were required to be amateurs.

Sir Isaac Newton was only 23 years old when he discovered the law of universal gravitation

Sir Isaac Newton was only 23 years old when he discovered the law of universal gravitation

Sir Isaac Newton worked in many areas of mathematics and physics. He developed the theories of gravitation in 1666 when he was only 23 years old. In 1686, he presented his three laws of motion in the “Principia Mathematica Philosophiae Naturalis.” By developing his three laws of motion, Newton revolutionized science.