Ever been at a party and wanted to impress everyone with some mind-blowing, totally random knowledge? Or perhaps you're just curious about the quirky, bizarre side of the world? Either way, we've got you covered. Here are 40 ridiculous facts that are as amusing as they are surprising. Get ready to say "Wait, really?!" more than once.
1. Honey Never Spoils
If you discover an ancient jar of honey, eat up! Archaeologists have found pots of honey in ancient Egyptian tombs that are over 3,000 years old and still perfectly good.
2. Bananas are Berries, Strawberries Aren’t
In botanical terms, a banana qualifies as a berry, but a strawberry? Nope, it's technically an aggregate fruit. Mind blown? Same. We're not exactly sure what qualities a fruit must have, but they taste good nonetheless.
3. Wombat Poo is Cube-Shaped
Yes, you read that right. Wombats, native to Australia, produce cube-shaped droppings, which they use to mark their territory.
4. There’s a Planet That Rains Glass
On planet HD 189733b, it's believed that it rains glass – sideways! Talk about extreme weather. You're gonna need a sturdy umbrella over there.
Image by 412designs from Pixabay
5. Duck Quacks Echo
Contrary to popular belief, a duck's quack does echo. It just sounds different, so it’s often mistaken for other sounds. Interesting, right?
6. “Dreamt” is the Only English Word Ending in “mt”
We've scoured the dictionary to prove this and it's true. Try to come up with another one. It's harder than you think!
Image by Avery Fan from Pixabay
7. Octopuses Have Three Hearts
And not one, but TWO of those pump blood to the gills, while the third pumps it to the rest of the body. Strange creatures, octopus.
Image by edmondlafoto from Pixabay
8. The Shortest War in History
In 1896, he war between Britain and Zanzibar in 1896 lasted just 38 minutes. It's takes the cake for the shortest war in history. Talk about a quick resolution!
9. The Dot Over the “i” Has a Name
"Crossing your T's and dotting your I's" has a whole new meaning now. It’s called a "tittle". No, seriously! I guess there's a name for everything.
Image by StartupStockPhotos from Pixabay
10. Peanuts Aren't Nuts
They're legumes! Just like peas and lentils. Again, not sure what traits qualify a nut as a nut.
11. Licking a Postage Stamp Equals 1/10 of a Calorie
Dieting? Maybe skip those extra stamps. Bulking? Lick a few extra.
Image by 🌸♡💙♡🌸 Julita 🌸♡💙♡🌸 from Pixabay
12. The Eiffel Tower Can Grow Taller in the Summer
Due to the expansion of iron, it can expand by over 6 inches in hot weather. As if it wasn't tall enough!
13. Alfred Hitchcock Had No Belly Button
This one, I'm not sure how it was discovered. Apparently, it was eliminated during surgery. Imagine the "Psycho" shower scene without one!
Image by Thorsten Frenzel from Pixabay
14. A Leap Year Isn’t Always Every 4 Years
Mark your calendars! If the year is evenly divisible by 100 and not by 400, no extra day for you! So, 1900 wasn’t a leap year, but 2000 was.
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
15. Chewing Gum While Peeling Onions
Want to avoid tears? Try chewing gum next time you’re dicing onions. Some say it works wonders! We have yet to test it out, but if you do, let us know. We're dying to find out.
Image by Steve Buissinne from Pixabay
16. A Jiffy is an Actual Unit of Time
It's 1/100th of a second. "Be back in a jiffy" just got a whole lot quicker. Although, nobody can ACTUALLY get anywhere in a jiffy. But it's still fun to say.
17. Barbie’s Full Name
Ever wonder what is written on Barbie's birth certificate? It's Barbara Millicent Roberts. Quite the mouthful! She's named after her creator's daughter.
Photo by Elena Mishlanova on Unsplash
18. A Group of Flamingos is Called a “Flamboyance”
Which is fitting because, let’s face it, they’re fabulous! Quite frankly, I can't think of another name they could be called.
Image by Dwight P from Pixabay
19. Rats and Horses Can’t Vomit
Their anatomy doesn’t allow it. Lucky or unfortunate? You decide. It just means it has to come out the other end.
Image by Wolfgang Claussen from Pixabay
20. The Inventor of the Frisbee was Turned into a Frisbee
Like, literally turned into a Frisbee. Walter Morrison was turned into a Frisbee when he was cremated and turned into a memorial flying disc.
21. You Can Hear a Blue Whale’s Heartbeat from 2 Miles Away
It beats just 8-10 times per minute and is the size of a small car. I don't think anyone can actually fathom how big a blue whale is.
Image by Welcome to All ! ツ from Pixabay
22. Cows Have Best Friends
And they get stressed when they're separated. Awww. They're actually very emotional creatures.
Image by Christian B. from Pixabay
23. Polar Bear Skin is Black
This means their dark skin attracts the light through their fur, keeping them warm. Their fur is translucent, but it appears white due to the way it reflects light.
Image by 13748526 from Pixabay
24. The Unicorn is Scotland’s National Animal
A mythical creature for a real country. Go figure. Maybe it represents the mystique that Scotland possesses, how fantastical!
25. Cucumbers Can Cure Bad Breath
Hold a slice to the roof of your mouth for 30 seconds to eliminate mouth odour. The freshness of the cucumber is beneficial!
Image by Steve Buissinne from Pixabay
26. Venus is the Only Planet That Spins Clockwise
Guess it just wanted to be different! Maybe time goes backwards there? Who knows!
Image by WikiImages from Pixabay
27. An Octopus Can Fit Through Any Hole Larger Than Its Beak
They're like living slime. The rest of their body is super squishy and malleable.
Image by sandrine RONGÈRE from Pixabay
28. The World’s Oldest “Your Mom” Joke is 3,500 Years Old
Discovered in Iraq, ancient humour sure has a long shelf life. I wonder what the punchline was.
Image by StockSnap from Pixabay
29. Ketchup was Once Sold as Medicine
I guess it had healing properties? In the 1830s, it was introduced as a medicinal compound. Not sure if fries were included.
Photo by Dennis Klein on Unsplash
30. Sharks Can Live for Five Centuries
Greenland sharks, specifically, can live up to 500 years. That’s a lot of candles!
31. You Can’t Hum While Holding Your Nose
There must be a scientific reason for it. Go ahead, try it. You just did, didn’t you?
Image by tookapic from Pixabay
32. The Total Weight of Ants on Earth Once Equaled the Total Weight of People
That's a lot of tiny power! That's A LOT of ants.
33. Cats Can Make Over 100 Different Sounds
What's crazy is each sound has a specific meaning. Dogs, on the other hand, make about 10.
Image by Susann Mielke from Pixabay
34. Humans and Giraffes Have the Same Number of Neck Vertebrae
Despite their long necks, giraffes only have 7 neck vertebrae, the same number as humans. They're just reeeeally stretched out, I suppose.
Image by Andreas Göllner from Pixabay
35. Your Taste Buds Have a Lifespan of 10-14 Days
Good thing, especially after that accidental bite into a super spicy chili.
Photo by Alex Guillaume on Unsplash
36. Ancient Egyptians Used Dead Mice to Ease Toothaches
Not exactly sure what the scientific reasoning is behind this. Maybe we'll never know. Mice paste, anyone?
37. Horses Can’t Burp
Well, at least not through their mouths. I guess this has something to do with the fact that they can't vomit either. No acid reflux?
Image by Rebekka D from Pixabay
38. An Avocado is a Berry and a Tomato is a Fruit
Botany is wild, isn’t it? I'd love to see the handbook on fruits and what categorizes them.
Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay
39. The Great Wall of China Isn’t Visible from the Moon with the Naked Eye
It’s a common myth but, in reality, it’s very hard to see.
Image by heike2hx from Pixabay
40. The Longest Time Between Two Twins Being Born is 87 Days
Now that's a long labour! That mother is a trooper. Hope she's doing well.
So there you have it! 40 absolutely bonkers facts to amaze your friends with, or to simply ponder over the next time you find yourself in a random trivia rabbit hole. Enjoy, and spread the ridiculousness!
