Some things are just odd and wonderful.
Here are some strange but true facts you may not have known.
Rain aroma
The pleasant aroma we can sometimes smell after a downpour is quite real. It is caused by bacteria known as actinomycetes. They thrive in wet conditions producing a sweet aroma in the air.
Women and pain
When it comes to pain, women have more pain receptors than men and feel pain more intensely. They also recover quicker from painful episodes than men and are thought to have a higher threshold for pain.
Pregnant women
The law states that pregnant women may urinate anywhere, even in a policeman’s helmet!
Tummy butterflies
We’ve all had butterflies in our tummies at some point. This is associated with the fight or flight response when we find ourselves in stressful situations. The hormone adrenaline causes the sensation, letting us know that danger is imminent and that we need to act. Blood flow is redirected from other parts of the body, boosting heartrate and blood pressure, enabling us to fight or take flight form dangerous situations.
First typewritten book
The first book ever to be written using a typewriter was Mark Twain’s Tom Sawyer.
Tampons
Tampons and bikinis were the invented by men.
Saliva
During our lifetime, we produce enough saliva to fill two swimming pools.
Cherophobia
Cherophobia is the fear of joy and happiness
Try licking your elbow
It is not physically possible to lick your own elbow
Shrimp’s heart
The heart of a shrimp is located in its head
Horses
A horse cannot vomit
Hot water vs cold
Hot water is slightly heavier than cold water
Pigs
Pigs do not sweat; although they do rid their bodies of toxins via respiration. So it is not actually possible to ‘sweat like a pig’ as the saying goes.
Gorillas
The contraceptive pill is effective for Gorillas
The Guinness Book of Records
The Guinness Book of Records is the book that is most often stolen from public libraries
Admiral Nelson
Admiral Nelson suffered from seasickness all his life
Honey
Honey does not go off. It has been found in Egyptian tombs
Human bones
We are born with more bones than we die with. This is because some bones fuse together to form one as we grow
Giraffe
A giraffe is able to clean its own ears with its tongue
Marry the dead
It is possible to gain permission to marry a dead person in France providing you meet certain criteria
Japan
In Japan they have square water melons. They are easier to stack
Ants
Ants stretch and appear to yawn when they wake up
Thomas Edison
Thomas Edison, who invented the lightbulb, was afraid of the dark
Sylvester the Cat
Sylvester the cat’s full name is Sylvester James Pussycat Senior
Parachutes
Parachutes were invented before aeroplanes
Ants
Ants do not like walking through talcum powder
Nutmeg
Nutmeg if injected, can kill you
Are you right handed
Right handed people live approximately nine years longer than left handed people
Electric Chair
The electric chair was invented by a dentist, His name was Alfred P. Southwick
Wrigley’s
Wrigley’s chewing gum was the first barcoded product
First ever advertised product
The first product to be advertised on British television was Gibbs Toothpaste in 1955
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler’s nephew William Patrick “Willy” Stuart-Houstonwrote an article entitled ‘why I hate my uncle’ and fought against the Nazis in the second world war. He was the son of Hitler’s brother and his first wife Bridget Dowling, who was Irish
Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik
Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik was a sports shoe company founded by two German brothers, Adolf Dassler and Rudolph Dassler. The pair had a major falling out and went on to continue their work separately, forming Adidas and Puma
World’s youngest mother
The world’s youngest mother was just five years old. Lina Medina gave birth by caesarean section in Lima, Peru. It is thought the girl had entered puberty prematurely; a state known as precocious puberty.
World’s oldest mother
The world’s oldest mother was 70. Daljinder Kaur gave birth to a son in India following IVF treatment
Duelling
Provided that both parties are registered as blood donors, duelling is still legal in Paraguay
