Did you know that space smells like seared steak? Did you know that babies are born without kneecaps? Random facts are always fun to whip out during awkward silences, job interviews and even to pass the time during long supermarket queues. So, here are a number of interesting facts that will definitely come in handy next time you are at a loss for words.
You Lose 30% of Your Taste Buds During a Flight
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This fact explains why most passengers don’t look forward to their in-flight meals. According to studies, as the airplane gets higher, the air pressure drops, causing a very dry environment. The combination of dryness and low air pressure greatly reduces your ability to taste sweet and salty foods by 30%!
Your Nostrils Work One At A Time
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Did you know that when you breathe from your nose, the air is going in and out of one nostril? The ‘nasal cycle’ is controlled by the autonomic nervous system, which takes care of your bodily organs that you don’t consciously control. Throughout the day, each nostril takes on the heavy load of breathing, switching responsibility every few hours.
“Sweaterdresses” Is The Longest Word You Can Type With Just Your Left Hand
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Looking for a secret password that you can easily type with just one hand? Sweaterdresses! A few, less common, words you can try out are tesseradecades and aftercataracts. With your right hand, the longest word you can easily type is johnny-jump-up.
LEGO is the World’s Largest Tire Manufacturer
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Believe it or not, Lego produces a whopping 306 million tires per year! Despite being a toy company, this is far more tires than any other tire manufacturer in the world, including Goodyear, Bridgestone, and Michelin. Lego even qualified for the Guinness Record in 2011 for the number of tires it produces per year.
The Friends Cast Still Earn Around $20 Million Each Year
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The Friends cast wasn’t only funny, they were also very smart! When the show came to an end after ten seasons, the cast negotiated syndication rights and were granted a percentage of the revenue from re-runs. According to reports, the six main cast members earn two percent of the show’s revenue. Since the show currently pulls in around $1 billion, the gang makes an estimated $20 million a year.
Blue Ivy is the Youngest Person Ever to Appear on a Billboard Chart
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Back in 2012, Jay-Z released his hit song, Glory, which featured a clip of Blue Ivy crying at the end of the track. The rapper credited his two-day-old daughter in the song title, causing her to become the youngest person ever to have a Billboard hit.
The Punctuation Symbol ?! is Named an Interrobang
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Let’s be honest, we use the ?! symbol way too often when texting our friends or family. But, did you ever stop to consider – what is this punctuation symbol called? The symbol that combines both a question mark and an exclamation mark is called an Interrobang and it was invented back in 1960 by Martin Spekter.
The Eiffel Tower Gets Taller in the Summer
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During the summer months, when temperatures reach around 40 degrees Celcius, the Eiffel Tower gets taller by six inches. The extreme heat causes the metal at the base to expand, causing the structure to grow slightly. We wouldn’t recommend trying to measure it though.
“Set” is the English Word With the Most Definitions
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The word ‘set’ has a whopping 430 different definitions! Unsurprisingly, it is listed in the Guinness World Records as the word with the largest number of meanings. Interestingly, the word ‘sets’ has an entry with 60,000 words. No other English word has come close to this lengthy entry!
Space Smells Like Seared Steak
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When you see photos of astronauts in space, do you ever wonder: What does outer space smell like? Well, according to former astronauts, space distinctly smells like seared steak. We wonder if the first meal astronauts eat when they return home is steak.
Marilyn Monroe and Queen Elizabeth Were Born the Same Year
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Believe it or not, Marilyn Monroe and Queen Elizabeth were both born in 1926! In 1956, when both Monroe and the Queen were 30 years old, they met at the premiere of The Battle of the River Plate in London. Unfortunately, Monroe passed away when she was just 36 years old. Today, the Queen of England is 94 years old.
Koalas Have Fingerprints
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Surprisingly, Koalas have human-like fingerprints! According to crime scene investigators, it’s difficult to tell the difference between human fingerprints and koala fingerprints. In case you were wondering, chimpanzees and gorillas also have human-like fingerprints.
There Are More Lego Minifigures Than There Are People on the Earth
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Since its launch in 1978, Lego has produced an outstanding eight billion Minifigures. According to data, in 2019, Lego Minifigures outnumbered actual humans on the Earth. Surprisingly, there are four hundred billion Lego bricks in the world.
Elvis Presley Was Originally Blonde
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In the 1950s, Elvis Presley rose to fame and became the King of Rock and Roll. Presley was well-known for his iconic style, irresistible dance moves, and, of course, his jet black hair. However, believe it or not, Elvis Presley was a natural blonde! In his late teens, Presley began darkening his roots, usually preferring to use black shoe polish.
H&M Stands for Hennes & Mauritz
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While shopping at H&M, did you ever stop to consider: What does H&M actually stand for? The clothing store was originally named Hennes, which is short for ‘hers’ in Swedish. However, after acquiring Mauritz Widforss, the clothing company wanted to add Mauritz to the name. So, Hennes & Mauritz was shortened to H&M.
Oxford University is Older Than the Aztec Empire
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Although the Aztec Empire feels like ancient history, it’s actually newer than Oxford University. The Aztec Empire was an alliance that ruled around the Valley of Mexico back in 1428. However, in England, Oxford University was already well-established. Oxford University is considered to be the oldest English-speaking university.
IKEA is an Acronym
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While building your furniture from IKEA, did you stop to consider: What does IKEA mean? Well, the Swedish furniture brand, IKEA, is actually an acronym that stands for Ingvar Kamprad Elmtaryd Agunnaryd. This is the founder’s name, the farm where he grew up and his hometown.
Barbie’s Full Name is Barbara Millicent Roberts
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Back in 1959, Ruth Handler unveiled the first-ever Barbie which she based on her daughter, Barbara’s, favorite German doll. When she was first created, Barbie’s full name was Barbara Millicent Roberts. Over time, Barbara’s name was shortened to the name we know today – Barbie.
270,000 Trees Are Cut Down Each Day For Toilet Paper
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This fact is a great one to pull out during an awkward silence! According to industry experts, each day, 270,000 trees are cut down in order to keep up with the global demand for toilet paper. Interestingly, Americans alone use about 34 million rolls of toilet paper a day!
A Waffle Maker Inspired Nike’s First Pair of Shoes
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Back in 1971, Bill Bowerman, a track and field coach at the time, wanted to create a running shoe that was light and could be worn on various surfaces. One morning, while eating waffles for breakfast, Bowerman had a genius idea to add a waffle-like texture to the sole of a running shoe. The waffle-sole made an appearance at the 1972 U.S Olympic track and field! Unsurprisingly, Bill Bowerman became the co-founder of Nike.
A Pencil Can Write 45,000 Words
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If you have some time on your hands, maybe give this fact a try! According to reports, the average pencil can write roughly 45,000 words and draw a line that is 38 miles long (61.2 km) long! What’s for sure, you will need a few stacks of paper on hand to try this one out.
Wimbledon Tennis Balls Need to Be Kept at 68 Degrees Fahrenheit
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When it comes to the tennis balls used at Wimbledon, there is no messing around. Surprisingly, the temperature of tennis balls affects how high the ball bounces. In warmer temperatures, the ball bounces higher while at colder temperatures the ball bounces lower. So, in order to make sure the tennis balls start their game at a neutral state, they are kept at 68 degrees fahreneheit.
Your Ears and Nose Never Stop Growing
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While most of your body stops growing by puberty, your nose and ears seemingly don’t get the memo. According to Reader’s Digest, “Most cells in our body stopped multiplying at puberty…our noses and ears are unique…because they’re composed of soft tissue enveloped in cartilage. And it’s this soft tissue that keeps growing throughout our entire lives”.
The Computer Mouse Was Initially Named a Turtle
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When the computer mouse was first created, it was named an ‘X-Y Position Indicator for a Display System”. But, that didn’t have a nice ring to it. Due to its hard shell and moving parts underneath, the first users immediately started calling the device a ‘turtle’. Ultimately, it was decided that it would be called a ‘mouse’ because of the ‘tail’ that connects it to the computer.
It Takes 364 Licks To Get To the Center of a Tootsie Pop
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The Tootsie Pop, a hard-candy lollipop filled with chocolate-flavored chewy, was created back in 1931. It became well-known for its very catchy slogan – “How many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop?”. Well, according to engineer students at Purdue University who created a ‘licking machine’, it takes between 252-364 licks.
A Giraffe’s Tongue is 20 Inches Long
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Giraffes are easily recognized by their very long necks. But, many people don’t know that they also have very long tongues. A giraffe’s neck can stretch as long as six feet, but their tongues, on average, measure 18-20 inches long. The giraffe’s long tongue allows it to reach the highest leaves on an acacia tree while avoiding its sharp thorns.
The Shortest International Flight is 15 Minutes Long
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If you want to fly internationally but hate long hours on the plane, this flight is for you. The shortest flight passengers can purchase is a trip from St. Maarten (Dutch Caribbean) to Anguilla, which takes a total of 15 minutes. Although you have a short time to enjoy it, the flight also includes one of the world’s most scenic views.
Comic Sans Font Was Inspired By a Comic Book
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Let’s be honest, while writing formal documents, we steer clear of comic sans font. But, did you know that the fun font was actually inspired by a comic book? The font designer, Vincent Connare, drew inspiration from his favorite comic book, Watchmen.
More Than 95 Million Photos Are Uploaded to Instagram Every Day
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Instagram officially launched in 2010 and, within one month, it gained one million users! Today, there are over one billion active Instagram users, and over 95 million photos are uploaded to the app every single day. Believe it or not, since it was launched, more than 40 billion photos have been uploaded!
Cotton Candy Was Invented By A Dentist
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Believe it or not, cotton candy was invented back in 1897 by a dentist! According to reports, dentist William Morrison teamed up with confectioner John C. Wharton and designed an electric candy machine. The pair showed off their creation at the St. Louis World Fair, where they sold 68,655 helpings of cotton candy. At the time, they named the sugary treat ‘fairy floss’.
There Was a Fifth Beatle Member
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The Beatles was an English rock band that was comprised of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr and, one more original member, Stuart Sutcliffe. Interestingly, Sutcliffe and Lennon invented the band’s name! Ultimately, Stuart Sutcliffe decided to pursue a career in art and left the group.
Betty White is Older Than Sliced Bread
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You know the popular idiom “It’s the greatest thing since sliced bread”? Well, famous actress, Betty White, was alive before the saying was even created. Sliced bread was first sold in 1928 and the hilarious star was born in 1922. For those wondering, White was also alive before rubber tires, sunglasses, traffic signals, and even ballpoint pens.
You Lose 8 Ounces of Water For Every Hour You Fly
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This fact will make you re-think your in-flight beverage choice! Due to the extremely low humidity, dehydration is a major issue when traveling by plane. Believe it or not, during a 10-hour flight, passengers can lose a whopping 2 liters of water from their body.
New York City Was Briefly Known as the ‘New Orange’
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Back in 1673, when the Dutch captured New York from the English, they decided to rename the area ‘New Orange’ in honor the William II of Orange. However, just a year later, when the English took back the land, they unsurprisingly, left the Orange behind.
Water Makes Different Pouring Sounds Depending on its Temperature
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Next time you take a sip from a water fountain, listen closely to the sound of the pouring water. Heat changes the viscosity, or thickness, of the water. This ultimately changes the sound the water makes when its poured. Cold water is thicker so it makes a higher-pitched sound compared to warm water.
Louboutins’ Red Soles Were Inspired by Andy Warhol
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It’s easy to point out a Louboutin heel thanks to its easily-recognized red sole. But, many people don’t know how the French designer, Christian Louboutin, came about adding this pop of color. According to Glamour, “Louboutin had thought of making a shoe inspired by Andy Warhol’s Flowers’.” However, when the prototype, a pink heel with a cloth blossom, arrived from Italy, Louboutin felt it was still missing something. From the corner of his eye, Louboutin saw his assistant painting her nails with red nail polish and the designer snatched the bottle and added a layer on the sole of the prototype. The rest is history!
Kleenex Was Invented For Gas Masks
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Long before Kleenex became known for its ultra-soft tissues, they were helping out in times of need. The company actually got its start during World War I! During the Great War, due to a shortage of cotton, Kleenex developed crepe paper that could be used as a filter in gas masks.
The Last Letter Added to the Alphabet was ‘J’
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Although ‘Z’ is the last letter in the alphabet, it actually wasn’t the last letter to be added. According to Dictionary.com, ‘I’ and ‘J’ were originally the same character and were interchangeably used. In 1524, an Italian Renaissance grammarian differentiated between the two sounds and became known as the father of the letter ‘J’.
The Largest Pyramid in the World Isn’t in Egypt
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When you think of pyramids, you automatically think about Egypt. But, believe it or not, the largest pyramid in the world is actually located in Cholula, Mexico. The Great Pyramid of Cholula’s base is four times the size of the Great Pyramid of Giza. Although it is recognized as the largest monument ever constructed, it’s usually forgotten because its partially buried.
The 1963 Ferrari GTO is the Most Expensive Car
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Looking for a new car? Well, you missed your chance to buy the most expensive car in the world – the 1963 Ferrari GTO. It was recently sold for $70 million dollars, which is supposedly the highest price anyone has ever paid for a car. The buyer, David MacNeil, is the founder and CEO of WeatherTech.
The Place With the Longest Name is 85-Characters Long
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Imagine living in Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu and having to jot down your address? This place is located on the North Island of New Zealand and is named after Tamatea, a Maori explorer. The 85-character name translates to: “the summit where Tamatea, the man with the big knees, the slider, climber of mountains, the land-swallower who travelled about, played his nose flute to his loved ones”.
T-Shirts Were Invented For Bachelors That Couldn’t Sew or Fix Buttons
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Believe it or not, t-shirts were invented over 100 years ago! Back in 1904, Cooper Underwear Company started advertising their new product – t-shirts – to bachelors who could not sew or replace buttons. At the time, the t-shirts were completely white and the trend picked up quickly.
Facebook Has More Users Than the Population of the United States, China, and Brazil Combined
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Surprisingly, there are a whopping 2 billion Facebook users around the world! To put that into perspective – that is more than the population of the United States, China and Brazil combined, which are three of the world’s biggest countries! According to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, “We still have a long way to go to connect everyone”.
A Gallon of Gasoline Contains 31,000 Calories
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Definitely don’t try this at home! If you could drink a gallon of gasoline, you would actually be taking in 31,000 calories. According to reports, the average person should eat between 2,000-2,500 calories a day, so a gallon of gasoline is equivalent to about 15 days of food.
Astronauts Must Be Able to Speak Russian
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If you are planning on becoming an astronaut, you should start working on your Russian. Since 2011, the only way to get to the International Space Station is via Russia’s Soyuz spacecraft. Unsurprisingly, all of its controls are in Russian! During their training, English-speaking astronauts must spend at least 1,000 hours learning the difficult language.
Stickers On Fruit Are Edible
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Most of the fruit we buy in supermarkets have little stickers on them, but we usually don’t give them much thought. Well, believe it or not, they are actually edible! While we don’t advise to purposely snack on these stickers, you definitely don’t have to worry if you accidentally swallow it. Interestingly, even the glue is FDA approved.
Louis Vuitton Bags Are Waterproof and Fireproof
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Louis Vuitton bags are as durable as it gets! The expensive designer bags go through extensive durability tests, such as being dropped from a height of one foot with an eight-pound weight inside for four days. The zippers on the products are also tested an average of 5,000 times in order to ensure they won’t break when purchased. These are a few reasons why these designer bags are so expensive.
The Twitter Bird is Named Larry the Bird
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Although Twitter launched back in 2006, many avid Twitter users still don’t know that it’s logo – the iconic blue bird – has a name! The blue bird that we are all familiar with is named Larry the Bird. Interestingly, it is named after Larry Bird, a former basketball player for the Boston Celtics.
Jet Lag Feels Worse When You Travel From West to East
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Our body’s internal clock runs on a natural cycle of wake/sleep mode that’s about 24 hours long. When you travel across time zones, this internal clock gets confused. When traveling west, the day is lengthened which makes it easier for the brain and body to adjust as opposed to heading east when the day is shortened.
White Chocolate Isn’t Chocolate
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If you love white chocolate, you may want to write this one down! White chocolate is made up of sugar, cocoa butter, milk products, vanilla, and lecithin. The sweet treat does not contain chocolate solids, so, technically, it is not chocolate.
Game of Thrones Created Nine Brand New Languages
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When you think about Game of Thrones, you think about the complex storyline, the dark scenes, and ultimately beautiful characters. But, what many fans didn’t notice was that the producers, with the help of renowned linguist David J. Peterson, created nine new languages for the series! From Dothraki to High Valyrian, the languages were created in order to ensure that viewers got fully immersed in the fantasy world.
Bananas Are Actually Berries
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This one may come as a major shock! Scientifically, a berry must have an outer skin, a fleshy middle and an innermost part that holds the seeds. That’s right – bananas actually check off all the boxes! Along with bananas, kiwis and watermelon also fall in the berry family. Interestingly, according to the scientific definition of berries, strawberries aren’t actually berries…
The Most Visited Country in the World is France
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From its beautiful landmarks to delicious French desserts, it’s no surprise that France continues to be the most visited country in the world. According to reports, in 2018, a whopping 89.3 million people visited the beautiful country. Interestingly, France’s capital, Paris, is the third most visited city in the world. You should definitely use this time to brush up on your French.
The Busiest Airport in the World is Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
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Georgia is known for its peaches, pecans, and, surprisingly, it’s very busy airport. According to reports, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the busiest airport in the world by passenger number. Interestingly, in 2019, around 110 million passengers passed through Atlanta’s international airport.
Google Images Was Created Because of Jennifer Lopez
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Soon after Jennifer Lopez wore the jaw-dropping Versace dress to the 2000 Grammy Awards, the internet was abuzz with searches such as “JLo wearing the green dress”. However, at the time, Google only offered text searches so viewers couldn’t find the search query they really wanted. According to Google executive chairmen Eric Schmidt, Google images was born because so many people wanted to see an image of Lopez in the low-cut dress.
China Makes 63 Million Pairs of Chopsticks Every Year
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Let’s be honest, the best way to enjoy a hot bowl of noodles is by slurping it down with chopsticks. Did you know that China turns out a whopping 63 million pairs of chopsticks a year? That is 126 million single sticks! Surprisingly, the high-quality sticks take a full month to make. This fact will definitely help you enjoy your noodles even more.
There Are More Sheep Than Humans In New Zealand
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New Zealand is known for their sheep farming but we never knew how much sheep were a part of the country’s culture until now. In fact, New Zealand is completely overrun by sheep and according to The Independent, as of 2015 sheep outnumbered humans in the country one to six
Visitors Are Not Allowed To Wear High Heels To Archeological Sights In Greece
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Greece is a beautiful country with a rich history and many fascinating archeological ruins that both tourists and locals frequent. In order to maintain the upkeep of these sights, visitors are not allowed to wear high heeled shoes since they wear down the ground and could cause irreparable damage.
Antarctica Only Has One ATM
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If you live in a big city, you are probably used to there being ATM machines every few blocks. In Antarctica, ATM machines are quite hard to come by and there is only one on the entire continent. Wells Fargo installed an ATM there in 1998 at McMurdo Station. McMurdo only has a population of 250-1,000 people depending on the time of year.