An Elite List of Barely Known Insignificant Things That Reallllly Exist Across the Globe
The Age of the Plastic
Microplastics have invaded our daily lives, from the remote depths of the ocean to the deepest parts of our lungs. This unfortunate but preventable scourge does not spare our gastrointestinal tract. How much plastic do you consume?
Recent studies show that the average person consumes about five grams of micro- and nano-plastics weekly. This number can easily be equated to eating one credit card every seven days. It happens through breathing, drinking, eating, and using cosmetics. Maybe, we should accept these can be part of our system.
Avoiding Burning Bridges
The national flag is the window through which we understand a country’s people, land, and government, as it talks more about its culture through its salient features. It’s no surprise that destroying some countries’ flags may result in incarceration.
However, this important state symbol in Denmark could only cause problems if one burned another country’s flag. While it’s alright to burn the Danish flag, the state prohibits burning another nation’s flag to avoid foreign provocation that can hurt its world community status.
Stress Reduces IQ
Some people have an extremely high intelligence quotient (IQ), but did you know that IQ can be reduced under certain circumstances? It’s usually due to a lack of vitamins and micronutrients, but it appears that there is another silent factor.
According to research and studies, children who experience extreme emotional and physical stress have their IQ lowered by 13 percent. The phenomenon arises from reflex or muscle tone problems, poor vision, hearing difficulties, and behavioral issues such as hyperactivity, crying, and nail-biting.
The Height-Salary Link
Now, this is some information to get you seriously thinking! How tall are you, and did you know it has a direct link to whatever you earn? Taller people make more money in their lifetime than those who are shorter.
While relying on statistics, Timothy A. Judge, a psychologist, advanced that the added inch of height translates to about $1,000 more in annual income. So, the taller you are, the more money you’re likely to make. Yeah, let that sink in!
Foreseeing One’s Gruesome Death
He may have been a powerful and influential American president, but that didn’t prevent Abraham Lincoln from dreaming about his gruesome death. In his dream, he asked a soldier standing on guard who was dead in the White House.
The soldier replied that an assassin had killed the president. Lincoln shared the “strangely annoying” dream with Ward Hill Lamon, a friend, on April 11, 1865. Unfortunately, four days later, on April 15, 1865, the man credited with ending slavery was assassinated.
Worrying War Consequences
The devastating effects of war can last for decades or centuries, affecting people who may not know the cause of such wars or even how they ended. World War II lasted six years, from 1939 to 1945, but its consequences are still felt today.
What caused that war? So many things, including violations of the Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations’ failure. More than 75 years since the war ended, more than 2,000 nuclear bombs have been detonated.
They All Mean the Same
Who said tongue twisters are the only phrases bound to leave you confused? There are other English words that will leave you wondering where the difference lies. Did you know that “flammable” and “inflammable” mean the same thing?
That’s right, inflammare is Latin for “to cause to catch fire,” while flammare is Latin for “to catch fire.” So, flammable materials can be set on fire, but inflammable materials can catch fire without necessarily igniting them. At least you know the difference.
Lengthiest Marriage Engagement
How long should a marital engagement last before the partners solemnize their marriage? While there’s no defined period for it, the longer it stays, the more questions it raises about why one should wait for so long.
The longest recorded marital engagement in the world lasted for 67 years, between Mexicans Octavio Guillan and Adriana Mart¡nez. The duo stayed engaged from 1902 until 1969 when they took the plunge in Mexico City aged 82. Now, that’s proof that love lasts forever.
Frogs Never Drink
We have said it, and the title is not a mistake! Indeed, frogs don’t drink water as we do, but that doesn’t mean they don’t take in water. These amphibians (living in water and on land) take water through a unique process.
Frogs use their skin, the “drinking patch,” located just below their belly on their thighs’ undersides, to absorb water. If that’s not strange enough, they swallow water using their eyes. Not everything that lives in water drinks it!
Small but Gravity Challenger
Woodpeckers are small animals, but they pack damage into that diminutive figure. When you see them in action, you might think the constant pounding is hurting their heads. However, the birds can sustain their action for the longest possible time.
Woodpeckers can pound wood up to 10,000 times per day. The chiseling away comes with a single strike of 1,000 times the force of gravity. Their long, sharp, strong beaks and flexible, tiny brains help in trunk drilling.
Loved More than Humans
Now, this is a worrying statistic about our humanity. It turns out that dogs are more loved than adult humans, according to a new research. People have become more empathetic toward their furry friends than they are toward other adults around them.
One of the reasons for this phenomenon is that dogs are cuddly by nature and have since been considered family members rather than pets. The only reassuring thing about humanity is that human babies still elicit more empathy.
Impregnable War General
Alexander the Great ruled over ancient Macedonia as its king for less than 13 years but significantly changed the course of history with his escapades. He was regarded as one of the world’s greatest generals, transforming Macedonia, Egypt, and parts of the Indian Empire.
But did you know that in 15 years of conquest, the impregnable war general never lost a battle? His efforts enabled the spread of Hellenistic culture, as he won battles with phalanxes, cavalry, and an innate sense of command.
World’s Richest Person
As of January 2023, Bernard Arnault was the world’s richest man, with an estimated net worth of about $213.1 billion, having overtaken Elon Musk in the later stages of 2022. He’s the CEO and Chair of LVMH (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton).
While that’s an impressive figure, it doesn’t beat that of Christopher Reynolds, at $92 quadrillion, albeit for a few minutes. In June 2013, PayPal credited his account erroneously with the massive sum, making him the world’s first and only quadrillionaire.
Who Named Earth?
We all fit on Earth, each in our own space, but we’ve yet to find out who named it that. Other planets, including Pluto, no longer considered one, trace their names to ancient Roman or Greek gods, except Earth.
If you noticed, this planet can either have a capital or a small “e” and still be accepted, given its naming mystery. The name traces its origins to the eighth-century Anglo-Saxon word “erda,” which translates to soil or ground. Ironically, majority of the Earth is water.
We’re Out of Vodka
For most of the world, May 9, 1945, was a typical day; for others, it was a victory day; and for Russia, it was a big party day. The Hitler-led German soldiers had just surrendered, and with it went depression, the grips of World War II, and hopelessness.
Russians took to celebrating like people on a vengeance mission; the state ran out of vodka, the exact product their national budget hinged upon. The country-wide celebrations quickly degenerated into a nationwide hangover.
Careful on Your Birthday
Have you ever heard of the birthday effect? According to statistics, it’s when your chances of dying increase on or near your birthday. The odd occurrence, also called “birthday blues,” is not associated with how one conducts their party.
Even if there is no recklessness in partying, studies suggest that men and women have a 14% chance of dying on their birthday more than on any other day. The trend is worse for people 60 years and older at 18%.
Readying for Lengthy Life
If you’re not a bookworm, it’s about time you changed your reading habits; you don’t know what you’re missing. People who read books even in the shortest time available to them lengthen their lives compared to those who don’t.
A Yale University School of Public Health study confirmed that, on average, anyone who reads for at least 30 minutes a day lives nearly two years longer than someone who doesn’t. We had no idea reading could be such a life-changing experience!
Dwarfing the Half-moon
Moon lovers probably know this, but if you do not, the full moon is about six times brighter than the half moon. So, if you’ve seen the moon’s brightness to be the same at all levels, look again next time.
Why does that arise since the moon is the same? It all boils down to shadows, as the earth lies precisely between the moon and the sun when the moon is full. The evening’s rising moon comes immediately after sunset.
Outliving the Ottoman Empire
When the Ottoman Sultan’s title was eliminated, the Empire officially ended on November 1, 1922. While these events were unfolding, the National Football League (NFL) had already begun, something we doubt most players are even aware of.
To be precise and exact, the NFL was founded on November 17, 1920, in Canton, Ohio, while the famous empire was still in existence. Ten teams came together to form the American Professional Football Association (APFA), with four joining later in the year.
Spaghetti Vs. Spaghetto
The English language is one complex vehicle of communication that leaves non-natives wondering how some words came about. While specific phrases and words retain their singular form in the plural format, like sheep and equipment, others take a different outlook.
Now, we have a fun fact about our favorite snack. Thanks to Dictionary.com, we learned that spaghetti is the plural of “spaghetto,” a single piece of the pasta. The same applies to other cuisines, mostly Italian ones; for instance, gnocchi for gnocco and ravioli for raviolo.
Raining the World
We should be grateful that some ancient animals no longer exist, or we would have gone extinct by now. Take Godzilla as an example of a perfect beast that no one could have imagined seeing anywhere outside, but that’s not it.
The giant would produce an estimated 12,921,400 gallons of urine daily if it were real. Let that sink in first! That is enough water to wash away everything in its path and keep the earth water-soaked daily.
An Affair Kept Secret
Before his assassination at the age of 25, American rapper-actor Tupac Shakur had done more than enough to become a worldwide celebrity. His sensationally catchy rap lines endeared him to many youths and the elderly. He maintained close relationships with well-known celebrities.
One relationship blossomed into a romantic union that many people are unaware of today. Shakur had Madonna as his supportive friend, and as the songstress would later reveal, they dated in 1994, although he married Keisha Morris in 1995.
Life Expectancy in Seconds
Human life expectancy has been steadily increasing by 0.24% since 2019. In 2020, the world’s human average lifespan was 72.63 years, an increase from the previous year. By the same percentage, the number increased to 72.98 years in 2022.
While these are enumerated in figures and percentages, do you know what they translate to in terms of seconds? Well, the average life expectancy is estimated at around 2.4 billion seconds. So, you can calculate the minutes, hours, days, and so forth.
Relief by Tickling
Although it’s still debatable, psychosomatic medicine advances the theory that laughing helps extend one’s life. People with humor were found to live longer even if they have some illnesses, particularly cardiovascular infections, and diseases. Talk about giving meaning to “funny or die.”
While the jury is still out on the matter, another theory suggests that tickling can reduce stress and decrease cortisol levels. Ideally, tickling brings laughter, which leads to increased sugar levels in the bloodstream and the brain that instigate tissue repair.
Morning Larks Vs. Night Owls
Are you a morning person or grumpy every time darkness gives way to light? You better change if you are not since a study shows that morning people are happier and healthier than night owls. Yeah, that is true, and let us find out why!
Night owls have more mental illnesses than morning larks, which makes them less happy and grumpier. The opposite is true for morning champs who wake up with a befuddling can-do attitude and a smile. It’s time to fix your body clock now.
Major Reason for College Dropout
Education is an essential edge in advancing in life, but it can be challenging sailing for everyone, especially when they scale to the college level. There are many reasons why students drop out at some point and choose to pursue other ventures.
Yes, money is the biggest reason globally. Still, it’s also the largest contributor to college dropouts in the U.S. Sadly, about 40% of the nation’s college learners stop learning because they lack the financial wherewithal to afford college tuition fees.
A Cup of Blood
Have you ever wondered how much blood you have in your body? The amount of red liquid depends on the size of one’s body. Usually, a bigger person will have more blood than a thin-bodied individual. What about babies?
A newborn baby that weighs between five and eight pounds has about one cup of blood in its body, which translates to about 0.2 liters. Ideally, youngsters have smaller bones, organs, and muscles, so blood makes up their body’s larger weight.
Cameroon’s Unexpected Odd Support
The difference between Cameroon and America’s economic power is clear, so people would expect the North American state to help the West African nation whenever crises arise. However, during the great depression, Cameroon did the unthinkable, albeit in an unexpected fashion.
It was good enough that the African state wanted to help, but its donation of $3.77 shocked many people. The disaster relief fund may be slightly high in value now, but it was odd. Well, it’s the thought that counts!
The Most Defined English Word
We’re back with another English word that may have nothing to do with singular and plural forms but has an issue with the number of times it’s defined. Granted, there are typical English phrases with multiple definitions, but some carry the day with many explanations.
Did you know the word “set” has the most definitions of any English word? We’re talking about the 430 senses or meanings that the Oxford English Dictionary listed in its 1989 second edition. That’s a Guinness World Record!
Two-legged Octopus
Soccer fans marveled at Paul the Octopus’ ability to correctly predict game scores during the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. This psychic ability makes octopuses one of the world’s most intelligent invertebrates. They can also use tools held by the sucker-covered tentacles.
People have long assumed or believed that an octopus has eight legs, but this is not the case. According to a study published by a commercial aquarium chain, the eight tentacles form its six arms and two legs.
Failing at Simple Marking Task
When 17-year-old Robert Heft was tasked with redesigning the American flag in 1958, he couldn’t have known how revolutionary it would be. This was a class project commissioned when the U.S. had only 48 states. His intuition did the magic, though!
Heft intuitively added two stars to submit a 50-star U.S. flag, for which he got a B- grade. The teacher even mocked him, saying she would change his grade if it were accepted into Washington. Guess who’s laughing now!
Why We Have Oceans
We often frequent the shores of large bodies of water like the oceans to cool off and enjoy the ambiance they provide, but how did they form? The earth’s oceans were formed millions of years ago thanks to nonstop rain.
Seemingly, water was in a gaseous state around four billion years ago until the earth cooled to below 212 degrees Fahrenheit. It condensed into the rain and poured down for many years, filling the basins that became endless oceans and bodies of water.
How to Live Long in America
It’s baffling that a highly industrialized country like the U.S. has one of the lowest life expectancies in the world. Did you know that the average American lives for roughly 39 years? We’re shocked too! It’s primarily credited to an underperforming healthcare system.
So, what should you do if you want to live a long life? All one needs to do is become a U.S. senator since these seasoned politicians have an average life span of 64 years. How odd, indeed!
Millions of Blinks
Here’s some great information we would challenge you to try out, but only if you have the patience and time to do it. Are you aware that the average person blinks five to seven million times yearly?
Who even took their time to count the flickers? When awake (we don’t blink when asleep), an average person flutters their eyelids between 15,480 and 20,640 times every day. If you extrapolate these figures for a year, you get 5,653,949 and 7,538,599 blinks.
World’s Shortest War
As this one turned out, some wars could be a better use of time and resources. Note that we don’t condone war of any nature. The Anglo-Zanzibar War, fought in August 1896 between the Zanzibar Sultanate and the British military, remains the shortest in history.
An unexpected leadership change in Zanzibar’s palace installed an anti-British ruler who refused to step down. He instead called for war but seemingly forgot he had a weak army. The morning combat only lasted 38 minutes.
Dogs in the Owner’s Bed
Certain things happen in America that leave the rest of the world wondering. In some parts of the world, people keep dogs, but not as pets. The unique thing is that all these furry friends sleep outside.
In America, 45% of puppies sleep in their owners’ beds. How does this happen? According to the American Kennel Club, 20% of these canines have a sleeping crate, 17% have a bed, and only 4% sleep outdoors. Maybe, some dogs may wish they were sheltered like the others.
The Age of the Plastic
Microplastics have invaded our daily lives, from the remote depths of the ocean to the deepest parts of our lungs. This unfortunate but preventable scourge does not spare our gastrointestinal tract. How much plastic do you consume?
Recent studies show that the average person consumes about five grams of micro- and nano-plastics weekly. This number can easily be equated to eating one credit card every seven days. It happens through breathing, drinking, eating, and using cosmetics. Maybe, we should accept these can be part of our system.
Quiet and Peaceful Place
After a long, tedious day, most people look forward to heading home and relaxing in the showers. While this is common, men take it a notch higher, at least according to a third of interviewed British blokes.
Their responses revealed that an average man spends seven hours hiding in the bathroom every year. Apart from cooling off, the general reason was that they found “peace and quiet” from the family in that space. Reasonably, it is the only part of the house that we can shut off other family members.
Cat’s Years in a Human Life
Let’s put it to rest today: cats don’t have nine lives, but their demeanor makes them seem to have extra lives. With that said, have you ever wondered how many years a cat exists in a human year?
Wild thinking, yes, but it turns out that a cat’s first year equals about the first 15 years of a human’s life. The second cat year adds nine human years for a total of 24, after which it’s always four cat years.
The Invention of Soccer
Unlike the rest of the world, Americans refer to football as soccer but did not even invent the word “soccer.” The Britons first used the term in the 1800s to differentiate the game from rugby football.
In the ’80s, Britain started to phase out the word “soccer,” previously referred to as “association football.” Why did they make this move? The term had become “too American” for them to use for their beloved medieval game. It is now the most popular sport in the world.
Typical Single Male
The bachelor lifestyle isn’t one to be taken lightly. While some men love their single life and space, others marry quickly to avoid doing some tasks. If there’s one thing single men struggle with, it’s the house chores, which include changing bed sheets.
Through a mattress company survey, it has emerged that the average single males change their sheets just four times every year. Ergoflex’s data found that only about 49 percent of bachelors care to wash their sheets but rarely change pillowcases.
Energy Sapping Human Brain
When you step on that weighing machine to find out how much you weigh, remember that your brain will take 2% of the total weight. A grown person’s brain weighs about three pounds but consumes a lot of energy.
The human brain consumes about 20% of our body’s energy despite only making up two percent of our body weight. This hungriest body organ consumes 20% of its daily oxygen and calories to break down complex carbohydrates in food into simple, beneficial sugars.
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