Sure, you may know a lot. But as much as you think you know, there’s a whole lot more you don’t know. That’s right: the Socratic Paradox is alive and kicking, even in this age of instant, accessible, unlimited information.
From surprising facts about paradigm-shifting historic moments to deep secrets about how, exactly, your body functions, there’s much that can still blow your mind. Don’t believe us? Give it a whirl: Here are 50 facts that might make you rethink how much you know—and, crucially, how much you think you know. And for even more facts sure to shock you, check out 50 Mind-Blowing Things That Have Happened This Year Already.
1
Otters Hold Hands While They Sleep
In this video, you can see two adorable sea otters holding hands while they nap at the Aquario de Sao Paulo in Brazil. And that wasn’t a one-time thing. Experts say sea otters hold hands so they do not lose each other while asleep. Often, sea otters will float in groups (called rafts). These marine mammals are native to the northern and eastern North Pacific Ocean and they’re the largest members of the weasel family.
2
Caffeine Is Quite Bad For the Brain
Scientists have found that caffeine caused a “widespread increase of resting brain entropy (BEN).” Entropy is a vital part of brain function. As well, a high level of entropy indicates high information processing capacity. According to this research, 60 caffeine-free healthy subjects took a 200 mg caffeine pill. After, both cerebral blood flow (CBF) and resting fMRI were taken. The data showed that caffeine reduced CBF in the whole brain but increased BEN across the cerebral cortex. To cure your caffeine craving, check out The 15 Best Coffee Makers on the Planet.
3
Cows Moo In Regional Accents
Language experts have suggested that cows have regional accents just like humans. According to BBC, this phenomenon was first detected by dairy farmers who noticed that their cows had different moos, depending on what herd they came from. This has also been seen before in birds! The farmers who first noticed this said it may have been the result of the intimate bond between them and their animal companions. Very mooo-ving indeed. And for more ways the animal kingdom will blow your mind, check out these 50 Amazing Animal Facts.
4
Scientists Experiment on Tootsie Pops All The Time
Yes, people literally took time to experiment how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop. Students at Purdue University, The University of Michigan, and Swarthmore Junior High School all took on the challenge to see if they could finally answer the question. But each experiment drew different conclusions—so we may actually never know how many licks it truly takes to reach the center of a Tootsie Pop.
5
Captain Morgan Is Based on a Real Person
The face of the well-loved rum brand actually existed. He was a Welsh privateer who fought alongside the English against the Spanish in the Caribbean in the 1660s and 1670s. His first name was Henry and was knighted by King Charles II of England. His exact birth date is unknown, but it was sometime around 1635. He died in Jamaica in 1688, apparently very rich. He spent his final years drinking with his men, running his estates, and telling all his war stories.
6
Elephants Are Capable of Complex Thought
Years of research by scientists shows that elephants feel emotions such as joy, anger, grief, altruism, compassion, stress, and love. It has even been said that the emotional attachment elephants experience towards family members may even be comparable to that of human beings. This research suggests that these large land mammals do not solely focus on survival. They also act on feeling. (There’s no research that suggests their minds can be blown, however.)
7
Barns Aren’t Red for the Reason You Might Think
Ever notice how pretty much every barn you see is painted red? It’s because, originally, choices for paints, sealers, and other building materials were extremely limited. As such, farmers hundreds of years go would seal their barns with linseed oil and add a variety of things, such as rust. This was an effective sealant and turned the mixture red in color. When more paint became available, many farmers chose to continue to paint their barns red in honor of tradition.
8
Judge Judy Plays Serious Salary Hardball
Judy Sheindlin (whom you may know as Judge Judy) brings in around $47 million a year. And according to CNBC, it’s because she flat out asked for it. Sheindlin said that every three years, when she is up for renegotiation with CBS, she brings an envelope that contains a card with her demands written on it; she refuses to engage in salary negotiations with executives. If you’re looking for a pay raise at work, you may not want to take the Judge Judy’s very blunt approach. But hey, knowing your value, like she clearly does, is a good place to start.
9
The Hashtag (#) Symbol Isn’t Actually Called a Hashtag
If you want to be super technical, the real term is octothorpe. In terms of etymology, the “octo-” refers to “eight,” which is in reference to the points on the symbol. However, where “-thorpe” stems from is still up for debate. Some believe it was named after Olympian Jim Thorpe. Others do not agree and argue that it was just a random suffix. You’ll never look at Instagram and Twitter octothorpes the same way now.
10
The “H” and “M” in H&M Mean Something
Ever wonder what the clothing retailer H&M’s initilas actually stood for? Founded in 1947, the Swedish company was originally called Hennes, which translates in Swedish to “Hers.” In 1968, Hennes acquired the brand Mauritz Widforss, a company that sold hunting and fishing equipment. Hennes then became Hennes & Mauritz. Finally, in 1974, Hennes and Mauritz decided to shortened their name to H&M, the brand you know (and, per each annual quarter’s earnings report, love) today.
11
Yawning Is Biological Air Conditioning
Originally thought to be a social cue, a series of experimentsactually suggests a different reason for this bodily function. According to Andrew C. Gallup, Ph.D., a postdoctoral research associate at Princeton University, the reason for yawning might be that it cools the brain. The stretching of the jaw to yawn increases blood flow in the neck, face, and head. In conjunction with that, the deep intake of breath during this forces a downward flow of spinal fluid and blood from the brain. The cool air breathed into the mouth cools these fluids.
12
Our Taste Buds Grow Up With Us
Ever wondered why spinach became easier to eat as you grew older? Or maybe it was anchovies or olives. Whatever it might be, a new survey has some insights as to why this might be. The reason? Each person is born with approximately 10,000 taste buds that are replaced around every two weeks. However, as get older and time progresses, these taste cells aren’t replaced, and those numbers start to decrease. This causes flavors that were too intense when you were younger to become more palatable as you age.
13
Cats Sleep More Than Half Their Lives
If you’re a cat owner or just a cat lover, you’ve probably noticed that this animal sleeps, and that they sleep a lot. And you’re not mistaken. According to Veterinary Hub, cats spend 70 percent of their lives sleeping. Per day, cats usually sleep anywhere from 13 to 16 hours. They are most active during dawn and dusk.
14
There’s a Starbucks For Spies
When you’re a CIA agent, it’s extra important to stay caffeinated. Enter: The world’s most top-secret Starbucks. But this isn’t your regular Starbucks. It’s listed as “Store Number 1” on receipts. According to a few officers, though, it’s “Stealthy Starbucks.” Baristas must go through extensive and rigorous interviews and background checks. In order to leave their area, they must be escorted by agency “minders.” Oh, and names aren’t written on the iconic cups. And if you find yourself at this (or any) outpost of the ubiquitous chain, know that This Off-the-Menu Starbucks Order is the Most Hardcore Way to Start Your Day.
15
Cap’n Crunch has a Full Name
According to CNN, the cereal box character Cap’n Crunch’s real name is Horatio Magellan Crunch. Oh, and he has a ship, too, and it’s called the S.S. Guppy. The cereal was first launched in 1963. Today, the brand can be found all over and has a variety items available to the public besides just cereal.
16
Scotland Has Hundreds of Words for “Snow”
Winter is coming, and what better way to prepare than by learning all 421 Scottish words for “snow.” This was discovered when academics at the University of Glasgow when they underwent a project to compile a Scots thesaurus, called the Historical Thesaurus of Scots, which will be published online. Some words incude: “snaw” (snow), “sneesl” (to begin to rain or snow), and “skelf” (a large snowflake).
17
The Inventor of the Microwave Received Pittance
Another example of a brilliant invention stumbled upon when the inventor was trying to create something totally different. In this case, Raytheon engineer Percy Spencer was testing a radar magnetron (which Popular Mechanics describes as “sort of electric whistle that instead of creating vibrating sound creates vibrating electromagnetic waves”). As he was experimenting with improving the level of the magnetron tubes, he realized that the peanut cluster bar he’d had in his pocket had melted. After testing the mechanism with an egg and corn kernels, he’d realized he’d stumbled on something potentially far more useful than the problem he was supposed to be solving.
18
Chicago’s Nickname Has Nothing to Do with Weather
Sure, the city gets cold in the winter and wind definitely plays a role in that, but The Windy City nickname has nothing to do with that. The term “Windy City” was first coined by 19th-Century journalists to describe the people who find themselves in the city’s elite. It was meant as a criticism, as they were referring to this particular designation of people as “full of hot air.”
19
Peanuts Aren’t Actually Nuts
Despite the “nut” in its name, peanuts aren’t actually nuts. They’re legumes! If you take it from Merriam-Webster, a nut is a “hard-shelled dry fruit or seed with a seperable rind or shell and interior kernel.” Other types of legumes include lentils and peas. Oh, and walnuts and almonds aren’t nuts either, if you want to get extra technical.
20
Whales Swallow Half a Million Calories in a Single Mouthful
Or, specifically, around 457,000 calories. According to LiveScience, blue and some other whale species eat by taking “enormous mouthfuls of water and filtering out their meals; often tiny crustaceans called krill, using plates of baleen made of keratin, a protein found in hair, fingernails and feathers.” They’re the Michael Phelps of the ocean world. (Phelps has been said to eat 12,000 calories a day.)
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