Useless Facts

[01dragonslayer]

Dr Seuss invented the word ‘nerd’.​

Dr Seuss first used the word ‘nerd’ (which he meant as a ‘comically unpleasant creature’) in a book called If I Ran To The Zoo in 1950. Little kids reading Dr Seuss loved the word and passed it on to their older siblings. After that, the meaning of the word began to change to mean someone who wasn't very cool... then changed further to loosely mean someone with an obsessive interest in something - either way, who doesn't love a nerd?

 

[01dragonslayer]

A blob of toothpaste is called a nurdle.​

Nobody is quite sure where the word 'nurdle' originated. A fact as useless as the word.

 

[01dragonslayer]

Barbie's full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts.​

In some novels published in the 1960s, Barbie’s parents' names were given as George and Margaret Roberts, and apparently, they all lived in the fictional town of Willows, Wisconsin. Don't be fooled by the improbable proportions that she got - She's just Barbie from the Willows.

 

[01dragonslayer]

The moon has moonquakes.​

Shallow moonquakes are caused when the moon's crust slips and cracks due to the gradual shrinking of the moon when it cools. Meteors can also cause quakes when they crash into the surface of the moon.

 

[01dragonslayer]

People used to believe that kissing a donkey could relieve a toothache.​

Yep, that’s right! People have always done rather odd things to prevent toothache. For example, the Ancient Egyptians scrubbed their teeth with a powder made from ox hooves and eggshells. But weirder still, during the Middle Ages in Germany, they thought a cure for a toothache was kissing a donkey. Even if it did something for your toothache, it certainly won't do anything for your breath.

 

[01dragonslayer]

Your body contains about 100,000 miles of blood vessels.​

A bit gross, but if you took all the blood vessels (including arteries, veins and capillaries) out of an average child and laid them out in one line, the line would stretch over 60,000 miles. An adult's would be closer to 100,000 miles long.

 

[01dragonslayer]

Slinkies are 82 feet long.​

Fully stretched out, Slinkies can reach up to 82 feet – that’s as long as 14 average-sized people, or nearly twice the height of the Hollywood sign, or a just a touch longer than a cricket pitch.

 

[01dragonslayer]

An ostrich’s eye is bigger than its brain.​

An ostrich is the biggest bird in the world, and it has the largest eyes in the whole animal kingdom – that's right, its eyes are bigger than its brain. Having said that, its brain isn't that big! An ostrich's eyes are about 2 inches or 5 centimetres in diameter, which is around the size of a ping pong ball.

 

[01dragonslayer]

If you open your eyes in a pitch-black room, the colour you'll see is called 'eigengrau'.​

‘Eigengrau’ is German for ‘intrinsic grey’, also known as dark light, or brain grey. It is used to describe the uniform dark grey background that many people see in the absence of light. The term dates back to the nineteenth century.

 

[01dragonslayer]

Humans are the only animals that blush.​

Humans are the only species known to blush, but we still don't know why. Charles Darwin called blushing ‘the most peculiar and the most human of all expressions. It can definitely be super embarrassing!

 

[01dragonslayer]

Rabbits can’t vomit.​

Welcome to the vomit void. Bunny rabbits are very hygienic creatures who self-groom in much the same way that a cat does. But the rabbit’s digestive system does not move in reverse, meaning rabbits cannot bring up hairballs like a cat can. So basically if you're banking on a burst of bunny barf, don't hold your breath.

 

[01dragonslayer]

Astronauts say that space smells like hot meat.​

In a video, NASA astronaut Tony Antonelli said that space smells "strong and unique". He said he has never smelled anything like it on Earth. Others have described the smell as “seared steak and raspberries”, smokey and bitter. Mmm, delicious outer space!

 

[01dragonslayer]

The unicorn is the national animal of Scotland.​

The unicorn was a symbol of innocence and purity in Celtic mythology. However, it was also associated with power and masculinity. Romantic stories about chivalry and dominance associated with the unicorn may be why it was chosen as Scotland's national animal... or maybe they were just having a laugh. Either way, we approve!

 

[01dragonslayer]

The Australian government once banned the word "mate" for a day.​

In 2005 the word ‘mate’ was banned in the Australian Federal Parliament. The ban was revoked within 24 hours after people said it was ridiculous.

 

[01dragonslayer]

Some sharks can live for up to five centuries.​

Greenland sharks, in particular, can live a long time. They only grow a centimetre a year, but it is believed they may live for up to 500 years – as long as they don't have an accident!

 

[01dragonslayer]

Mail was once delivered by 37 cats in Belgium.​

These domestic cats were trained to deliver mail in the city of Liège. Waterproof bags containing letters were tied around their necks and then were driven out into the countryside, miles away from their homes and let go. They all made it home within 24 hours. Ultimately the scheme was abandoned as it was easier to deliver the mail yourself than rely on a cat!

 

[01dragonslayer]

Alfred Hitchcock didn’t have a bellybutton.​

The famous director of The Birds and Rear Window was born with one, but after surgery, it vanished after he was sewn back up!

 

[01dragonslayer]

Bees sometimes sting other bees.​

They don't mean to, but sometimes when they try to defend their nests from intruders, they accidentally sting other bees. Ouch!

 

[01dragonslayer]

The average yawn lasts six seconds.​

Humans also yawn on average 20 times per day, so in total, that's 120 seconds or 2 whole minutes you spend yawning each day. Yawning is contagious, so even reading this, and thinking about yawning, might make you yawn. (Bet you a zillion quid you just yawned. Are we right?)

 

[01dragonslayer]

You can buy eel flavoured ice cream in Japan.​

And that’s not even the weirdest flavour they have! Fancy some horse meat flavoured ice cream? No probs. Chicken? here's a tub, fill your boots (best place for it). Garlic?! Soy Sauce?! You're in luck. Welcome to Japan!