Incredible "Did You Know" Facts That Will Astonish Everyone
BY DESIREE One of the best things about learning something new is being able to share that knowledge with others. And while some facts are weird and wonderful and others are totally useless, there's a whole category of trivia that is just so incredible you can't resist asking everyone you meet "Did you know this?!"
From why grapes go on fire in the microwave to how long it takes the average mammal to urinate, these are the did you know facts that will fascinate you and your friends.
1
Did you know grapes light on fire in the microwave?
Back in 2011, a physicist at the University of Sydney went viral after he placed a grape in the microwave and filmed the fiery aftermath. And oddly enough, scientists couldn't explain the phenomenon until quite recently. A March 2019 study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reported that the fruity fireball occurs as a result of the loose electrons and ions that cluster to form plasma when grapes get hot.
2
Did you know there are almost 8 million possible seven-digit phone numbers per area code?
Each area code has 792 possible prefixes or NXX codes (for example, NXX-XXXX or 555-1234), explains the Public Utility Commission of Texas. And each "NXX" has 10,000 possible phone numbers attached to it. So, with a little math, we know that theoretically, there are 7,920,000 possible seven-digit phone numbers in each area code. Obviously, not all of these numbers are put into use, so you don't have to try nearly 8 million numbers if you're trying to randomly dial a friend who lives nearby.
3
Did you know spaghetto, confetto, and graffito are the singular forms of spaghetti, confetti, and graffiti?
Although it might sound a little strange, the word for an individual piece of spaghetti is spaghetto. The same goes for a single piece of confetti, which is confetto, as well as a single piece of graffiti, which is graffito, according to Merriam-Webster.
4
Did you know McDonald's once created bubblegum-flavored broccoli?
McDonald's is always introducing new items for their loyal customers. And obviously, some are more successful than others. But their bubblegum-flavored broccoli, which the fast-food chain developed in 2014 as a tastier version of the leafy green for children, was a complete failure. McDonald's CEO Don Thompson admitted that kids were confused by the taste.
5
Did you know the average mammal takes 21 seconds to empty its bladder?
No one will blame you if you've never bothered to time yourself on the toilet. But you may be interested to know that researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology found that most mammals weighing more than six pounds take 21 seconds to pee. According to Live Science, this oddly consistent time is due to the fact that the urethra is "appropriately scaled" to be a "flow-enhancing device." And apparently, the perfectly enhanced flow takes 21 seconds to complete. It's one of the perfect did you know facts to try at home!
6
Did you know chewing gum is banned in Singapore?
Along with having laws against spitting and urinating anywhere but in a toilet (which you're then legally obligated to flush if it's a public washroom), Singapore has also banned chewing gum in an effort to keep the city clean and orderly. The ban was established in 1992. In 2004, exceptions were made for therapeutic, dental, or nicotine gums.
7
Did you know the average U.S. household has 300,000 things in it?
Whether you've been inspired by Marie Kondo or not, you probably still have close to a third of a million items in your home. One report found that the average U.S. house has around 300,000 things in it. Yeah, we like stuff. Lots of stuff.
8
Did you know the 1939 novel Gadsby is the longest book ever published that doesn't contain the letter 'e'?
Back in 1939, American author Ernest Vincent Wright published Gadsby, a 50,000-word novel that doesn't use the letter 'e' once. What's more, it's not the only novel that ditched the letter. Author Georges Perec also wrote the French-language book La Disparition without the letter 'e' in 1969. That's even more astounding when you consider that the letter 'e' is the most commonly used letter in the English (and French!) language.
9
Did you know lobsters have clear blood?
Most of us are well aware that lobster shells change color when exposed to heat (like in a pot of boiling water, for example). But the sea creatures' blood is also intriguing. Lobster blood is initially clear and turns blue when it hits oxygen.
10
Did you know the first item sold on eBay was a broken laser pointer?
Buyer beware, as they say. Thankfully, buyer Mark Fraser was apparently aware of the fact that he was getting a broken laser pointer when he purchased it for $14.83 from eBay's founder Pierre Omidyar in 1995.
11
Did you know Japan is suffering from a ninja shortage?
If you ever dreamed of being a ninja, now might be the time to make it a reality. The Japanese city of Iga, which has a rich history of martial arts masters and claims to be the birthplace of the ninja, is suffering from a ninja shortage, despite the fact that they're willing to pay salaries as high as $85,000 for the performative ninjas willing to take on the job of staffing their annual ninja festival.
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