Sometimes the world is just too full of strange, hilarious, and mind-blowing facts to keep them all in one place — so here we are again with another round of completely random nuggets of knowledge. From bizarre historical mishaps to quirky animal trivia and unbelievable human achievements, this collection is guaranteed to surprise you at least once (probably more).
So sit back, enjoy, and get ready for 10 kickass and totally random facts of the day – Part 2!
1 Your sneezes are faster than a cheetah…
A sneeze can travel at speeds of over 160 km/h (100 mph) — which actually makes it faster than a cheetah, the world’s fastest land animal, with a top recorded speed of 104.4 km/h (65 mph). Even if you cover your sneeze with your arm, microscopic droplets still manage to escape, so it’s best to sneeze when no one else is nearby — even if that’s easier said than done. [source]
2 More than 170 people have gone missing from cruise ships…
Since 2001, over 170 people have disappeared from cruise ships, and in many cases the cruise lines must handle the investigations themselves. This is because incidents that occur in international waters fall under very limited legal regulation, making oversight and accountability far more complicated. [source]
3 Appeared on a TV show — unknowingly naked in front of millions…
Japan is famous worldwide for its quirky TV programs, but sometimes they aren’t just quirky — they’re downright bizarre and cruel. In 1998, a 23-year-old stand-up comedian known as Nasubi auditioned for what he believed was a light-hearted comedy show. He had no idea what the actual premise was, and the producers gave him no further information.
He was tricked into being locked inside a one-room apartment, where he was told he could win one million yen (about 81,500 SEK) — but only by entering contests and surviving solely on what he won. He also had to remain completely naked the entire time, and the worst part? He had no idea he was being broadcast on national television, watched by millions of viewers every week.
A truly shocking example of how far reality TV can go. [source]
4 Star Trek actor became homeless after the series ended…
When the TV series Star Trek ended in 1969, actor William Shatner (pictured below) found himself homeless and living in the back of a pickup truck with his dog for a period of time. It’s a surprising twist for someone who would later become an iconic figure in science fiction history. [source]
5 A castle with a moat you definitely don’t want to fall into…
There is a castle in the Czech Republic called Český Krumlov Castle, and to this day it has a moat filled with bears. Known as the “bear moat“, it has housed bears since 1707 — if not even earlier.
Definitely not your typical medieval water-filled moat. [source]
6 The modern calendar originates from Egypt…
Our modern calendar of 365 days was invented by the ancient Egyptians. Originally, each month consisted of 30 days, and the five remaining days were set aside specifically for celebrating the arrival of the new year.
A remarkably advanced system for its time — and one that still shapes our lives today. [source]
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7 Goldfish can learn tricks…
Having trouble teaching your dog to fetch? You might actually have better luck with a goldfish. The species can be trained to perform simple tasks, such as recognizing colors, retrieving objects, and swimming through mazes.
There’s even a commercial training kit you can buy called R2 Fish School, which includes a full training setup complete with a miniature sports field designed to turn your fish into a tiny aquatic athlete! One of the developers behind R2 Fish School currently holds the world record for teaching the most tricks to a fish. A picture of the R2 Fish School kit is shown below. [source]
8 1928 was as revolutionary as the invention of bread itself…
Pre-sliced bread wasn’t introduced until 1928, and when it finally hit the market, it was considered one of the most revolutionary ideas of its time. People couldn’t understand how no one had thought of it earlier. It quickly became so popular that it earned the saying: “the greatest forward step in baking since bread was first invented“.
And that’s how “the best thing since sliced bread” was born. [source]
9 Seagulls can drink both saltwater and freshwater…
Seagulls can drink saltwater as well as freshwater. This is possible thanks to special salt glands located above their beaks, which allow them to expel excess salt through their nostrils, helping their kidneys maintain a proper electrolyte balance. [source]
10 99% of all life was wiped out…
When oxygen first developed on Earth around 2.5 billion years ago, it caused the extinction of over 99% of all existing life on the planet. Since then, Earth has experienced several additional mass extinction events, reshaping life again and again. [source]
