Fun Facts That’ll Actually Make Your Life Better

[01dragonslayer]

Captive pandas sometimes fake pregnancies.

Pandas sometimes carry on showing symptoms synonymous of early pregnancy after noticing their preferential treatment, such as private accommodation, air conditioning and extra food.

Bonus fun fact: In captivity, giant pandas can live up to 35 years old, but only 15 years in the wild.

[01dragonslayer]

The first alarm clock could only ring at 4 a.m.

Invented in 1787, Levi Hutchins needed a way to wake up in time for work, so he made the alarm clock.

It took almost 100 years for a wind up alarm clock to be invented that could be set to any time.

[01dragonslayer]

Some insects and small birds see the world in slow motion.

This is because they process information so quickly that they perceive time as though it was in slow motion.

The reverse is found in bigger animals, which process information more slowly.

[01dragonslayer]

A goat called William Windsor served as a Lance Corporal in the British Army.

William “Billy” Windsor was part of the 1st Battalion Infantry Unit of The Royal Welsh between 2001 and 2009.

He was briefly demoted to Fusilier after “unacceptable behavior” at the Queen’s Official Birthday celebrations, before regaining his rank as Lance Corporal.

[01dragonslayer]

The most venomous jellyfish in the world is the Irukandji.

While it’s not the most deadly jellyfish, it is number two!

Even more shocking, is that this tiny jellyfish is smaller than your fingernail.

Its venom is 100 times more powerful than a cobra’s!

[01dragonslayer]

The 20th of March is Snowman Burning Day.

This strange holiday was spawned by American and Swiss citizens to symbolize the end of the winter season.

[01dragonslayer]

Queen Elizabeth can’t sit on the Iron Throne from Game of Thrones.

Queen Elizabeth visited the set of Game of Thrones, but because of an obscure rule, she wasn’t allowed to sit on it – the ruling monarch can’t sit on a foreign throne, even if it’s fictional, apparently.

[01dragonslayer]

There is official Wizard of New Zealand.

In 1990, the Prime Minister of New Zealand appointed Ian Brackenbury Channell, who was an old friend, as the Wizard of New Zealand. He is even given an annual stipend.

[01dragonslayer]

An apple, potato, and onion all taste the same if you eat them with your nose plugged.

Our sense of taste is 80% made up of our sense of smell.

If you were to blindfold yourself and plug your nose, you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between these three foods!

[01dragonslayer]

Vincent van Gogh only sold one painting in his lifetime.

Just a few months before his death, Van Gogh sold his painting “The Red Vineyard.”

It was sold in Brussels, Belgium for 400 francs.

[01dragonslayer]

A company in Taiwan makes dinnerware out of wheat, so you can eat your plate!

Not only do they make plates out of wheat, but spoons, bowls, and chopsticks as well.

The dishes can be kept for months as long as they stay dry!

[01dragonslayer]

The average person walks the equivalent of five times around the world in their lifetime.

Assuming the average person lives until they’re 80, they will walk about 110,000 miles in their lifetime.

The circumference of the equator is 24,900 miles.

[01dragonslayer]

Michael Jackson offered to make a Harry Potter musical, but J.K. Rowling rejected the idea.

Rowling defended herself because she says she turned down a lot of adaption opportunities, and Michael Jackson’s just so happened to be one of them.

[01dragonslayer]

The world record for stuffing drinking straws into your mouth at once is 459.

Manoj Kumar Maharana, from India, broke the world record on 28th August 2017 for stuffing 459 drinking straws in his mouth at once!

In order to break it, he had to keep them in his mouth for at least 10 seconds.

[01dragonslayer]

Nutella was invented during WWII, when hazelnuts were mixed into chocolate to extend chocolate rations.

In an effort to extend his chocolate rations during World War Two, an Italian pastry maker mixed hazelnuts into chocolate.

The final Nutella product was created by his son who decided to perfect the recipe.