We all like to have a nice, tidy, ever-growing arsenal of facts we can whip out at a moments notice, right? Well, here’s your chance to add to yours, because we think at least a few of these 15 random facts might be new to you!
Some of them were new to me, and I can’t wait for my next game of Trivial Pursuit!
15. Cap’n Crunch has a full name.
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It’s Horatio Magellan Crunch.
14. Humans aren’t the only mammals who dream.
You’ve probably suspected this if you’ve watched your dog sleep, but scientific studies on rats indicate they dream about getting to food and running through mazes. In fact, most mammals go through REM sleep, which is when dreams occur.
13. A cattle rancher accidentally invented glitter.
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Henry Ruschmann, from Bernardsville, New Jersey, was a machinist who, in 1934, crushed some plastic while trying to dispose of it, accidentally inventing glitter.
12. Bees can fly higher than Mount Everest.
According to National Geographic, bees can fly higher than 30,000 feet – Everest tops out at 29,525 feet above sea level.
11. Paint used to be stored in pig bladders.
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Until the 19th century, artists stored their paint in pig bladders sealed with string, then pricked them to squeeze out paint.
10. H&M stands for something.
Originally, it was called Hennes (“hers” in Swedish) but after acquiring hunting and fishing brand Mauritz Widforss, became Hennes & Mauritz. It was later shortened to H&M.
9. The CIA building has its own Starbucks, but baristas (with clearance) don’t write names on the cups.
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The receipts show up as “Store Number 1” and workers require an escort to leave their posts.
That must make for an awkward bathroom break!
8. The inventor of the microwave only ever got $2 for it.
Percy Spencer was working as a researcher at American Appliance Company (now Raytheon) when he noticed a radar set that used electromagnetic waves melting the candy bar in his pocket. He told his bosses about his idea to use a metal box to use the waves to heat food and the company filed the patent.
Spencer received a $2 bonus (and probably cancer) but never a cent in royalties.
7. The monster in Frankenstein is a vegetarian.
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He says in the novel, “My food is not that of man; I do not destroy the lamb and the kid to glut my appetite; acorns and berries afford me sufficient nourishment.”
6. The world record for a human jump is longer than the record horse’s leap.
The Olympic record for the longest human jump was set by Mike Powell in 1991, and he leapt 8.95 meters. The longest horse jump on record was set in 1900, belongs to Extra Dry, and is just 6.10 meters.
5. Teddy Roosevelt had a pet hyena.
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He had more than a few odd pets, from a one-legged rooster to a small bear. The hyena was named Bill, and was a gift from an Ethiopian emperor.
4. There’s only one U.S. capitol city without a McDonald’s.
With only 7500 residents, Montpelier, Vermont, isn’t home to the golden arches.
3. The Eiffel Tower can be up to 6 inches taller in the summer.
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The high temperatures make the iron expand.
2. Medical error is a leading cause of death.
At 250,000 deaths a year, medical error is actually the third-leading cause of death in the United States, according to a Johns Hopkins research team.
1. James Cameron sold The Terminator script for $1.
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And the promise that he’d be able to direct the film – not exactly nothing for a director in search of his big break.
Did you learn something new? Do you have a favorite fact?
Share the details with us in the comments!
