16 Trivia Facts That Sound Fake But Are 100% True
Unbelievable Truths: 16 Facts that Sound Like Fiction but are Absolutely Real
Have you ever come across a piece of trivia so outlandish, so implausible, that you were certain it was made up? Well, hold on to your hats because we're about to introduce you to 16 trivia facts that sound completely fake but are, in fact, 100% true. Prepare to have your mind blown by these unbelievable but verified truths.
1. Bananas are Berries, While Strawberries are Not
Surprisingly, in the botanical world, bananas are classified as berries while strawberries are not. This is because, according to botanical definitions, a berry is a fruit produced from a single ovary, which applies to bananas but not strawberries.
2. An Octopus has Three Hearts
Octopuses have three hearts. Two pump blood to the gills, and one pumps it to the rest of the body. When an octopus swims, the heart that delivers blood to the body stops beating, which is probably why octopuses prefer to crawl rather than swim, avoiding physical exhaustion.
3. More People are Killed by Vending Machines than Sharks
Statistically, you're more likely to be killed by a vending machine than a shark. Falling vending machines reportedly cause an average of 4 deaths per year, whereas sharks average just one.
4. The Shortest War in History
The shortest war in history was between Britain and Zanzibar on August 27, 1896. Zanzibar surrendered after 38 minutes.
5. Barbie's Full Name
Barbie, the popular fashion doll, has a full name - it's Barbara Millicent Roberts. The doll, introduced by Mattel in 1959, was named after the daughter of co-founders Ruth and Elliot Handler.
6. Humans Share DNA with Bananas
As strange as it may sound, humans share about 50% of our DNA with bananas. This doesn't mean we're half banana, but rather that we share common genetic sequences.
7. A Day on Venus is Longer than a Year on Venus
A day on Venus (the time it takes to complete one rotation) is longer than a Venusian year (the time it takes to orbit the Sun). Venus has a slow rotation speed and orbits the Sun faster than it spins.
8. More Lifeforms Live on Your Skin than People on Earth
Your skin hosts more organisms than there are people on Earth. These microscopic life forms, known as the skin's microbiota, play a crucial role in maintaining skin health.
9. Honey Never Spoils
Honey is one of the few foods that never spoils. Archaeologists have found pots of honey in ancient Egyptian tombs that are over 3000 years old and still perfectly edible.
10. A Rubik's Cube has 43 Quintillion Possible Configurations
There are 43 quintillion (that's 43 followed by 18 zeros) possible configurations of a standard Rubik's Cube. Yet, no matter how scrambled the cube, it can be solved in 20 moves or less.
11. There's An Immortal Jellyfish
The Turritopsis dohrnii jellyfish can revert its cells back to their earliest form and grow anew, making it effectively immortal, unless it dies from disease or gets eaten.
12. The Eiffel Tower Can Be 15 cm Taller During the Summer
Due to thermal expansion, the Eiffel Tower can grow up to 15 cm taller during the summer as the iron it's made of expands in the heat.
13. Astronauts' Height Changes in Space
In the microgravity environment of space, astronauts can grow up to 2 inches taller. The spine elongates in the absence of gravity, but astronauts return to their normal height once back on Earth.
14. Humans Have More Than Five Senses
In addition to the traditional five senses, humans have additional senses such as a sense of balance, temperature, pain, and time, among others.
15. Polar Bears Have Black Skin
Polar bears have black skin to better absorb the sun's rays. Their fur appears white because it's translucent and reflects light.
16. Oxford University Predates the Aztec Empire
Oxford University was founded in the 12th century and is therefore older than the Aztec Empire, which emerged in the 13th century.
Conclusion
So there you have it, 16 trivia facts that sound entirely unbelievable but are actually true. These amazing facts remind us that the world is full of wonders, surprises, and oddities that defy our expectations. After all, truth is often stranger than fiction!
