Ready for another round of weird, wonderful, and totally unexpected facts? You’ve come to the right place. The world is full of strange stories, surprising science, and head-turning trivia — and this series is all about celebrating the stuff that makes you say, “Wait… seriously?”
So buckle up, because Part 3 brings you ten more kickass and completely random facts that will boost your curiosity, blow your mind, and maybe even earn you a fun conversation starter or two.
Let’s dive in!
1 Why maggots are often DNA-tested…
Maggots found on human remains can be DNA-tested to determine whether the body contained any medications, drugs, or possible poisons. This works because the maggots feed on the corpse and thereby absorb whatever substances the body may have contained.
In other words, maggots can reveal toxicology results when the body itself no longer can. [source]
2 The longest cat in the world was a Maine Coon…
Stewie, an eight-year-old Maine Coon, held the Guinness World Record for the “longest domestic cat” before his death from cancer in 2013. When fully stretched, Stewie measured an incredible 123 centimeters (48.5 inches) from the tip of his nose to the end of his tail.
A photo of the record-breaking feline is shown below. [source]
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3 The founder of Alcoholics Anonymous asked for whiskey on his deathbed…
Bill Wilson, the founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, asked for a glass of whiskey on his deathbed — but the nurse refused to give it to him. In other words, he died thirsty, unable to have the very drink he had spent his life warning others about. [source]
4 A popular golf tournament — in Greenland…
Scientists estimate that Greenland’s ice sheet is between 400,000 and 800,000 years old. But ice isn’t just for research — you can have fun on it too. In mid-March, golf enthusiasts can take part in (or spectate at) the Ice Golf World Championships in the town of Uummannaq.
The two-day event is played on a golf course built entirely on ice, surrounded by icebergs and vast snow fields. A truly one-of-a-kind golfing experience. [source]
5 Mark Wahlberg beat a man blind in a racially motivated attack…
Actor Mark Wahlberg served only 45 days in prison for an unprovoked, racially motivated attack in 1988 that left one of the two victims permanently blind. He was initially charged with attempted murder before the charges were reduced. [source]
6 Most budgies in the wild are green…
It’s common to see budgies in all kinds of colors at pet stores, but people often forget that in the wild they are naturally only green or yellow — and mostly green. All other colors, such as blue or purple, are human-created through selective breeding.
Nature keeps it simple; humans do the decorating. [source]
7 Mafia boss protested the portrayal of Italians as mobsters…
Joseph Colombo (pictured below), who founded the Italian-American Civil Rights League in 1970 to protest the depiction of Italians as mafia members in entertainment, was himself the head of the Colombo crime family, a major faction of the Cosa Nostra mafia.
A protest with… questionable credibility. [source]
8 She was the only person in the world with her diagnosis…
There are countless medical conditions out there, but only one documented person has ever been diagnosed with “Syndrome X“, a disorder that prevents normal aging. Brooke Greenberg lived to be 20 years old (1993–2013), yet her mental development remained that of a 9- to 12-month-old, and her body never grew beyond the size and development of roughly a one-year-old child. [source]
9 From bronze swords to steel swords — to nuclear weapons…
It took humanity about four times longer to progress from bronze swords to steel swords than it did to go from steel swords to nuclear bombs. While the rapid development of nuclear weapons is undeniably fascinating, it is also equally terrifying. [source]
10 Tim Allen snitched on his friend to avoid prison…
Actor Tim Allen was caught smuggling a substantial amount of cocaine on a commercial airplane in the late 1970s. But perhaps the most controversial part of the story is that Allen informed on his friend and partner in exchange for a reduced sentence — allowing him to avoid a long prison term. [source]
