Unbelievable but True Facts: 50 Astonishing Truths from Around the World
oddity or rarity, while others seem like they should be fiction yet are proven real by science, history, or other evidence. In this article, let’s dive into some of the most astonishing facts across various domains, from nature and the universe to the human body and history.
1. Bananas Are Berries, But Strawberries Aren’t
Botanically speaking, bananas meet the criteria of a berry, while strawberries do not. A berry must develop from a single ovary with seeds embedded inside the flesh, which bananas do.
2. Honey Never Spoils
Archaeologists have discovered pots of honey in ancient Egyptian tombs, thousands of years old and still edible. Thanks to honey’s low moisture content and acidic pH, it resists bacterial growth.
3. The Eiffel Tower Grows in the Summer
Iron expands when heated, causing the Eiffel Tower to grow up to 6 inches during hot weather.
4. Octopuses Have Three Hearts
Two of an octopus’s hearts pump blood to the gills, while the third pumps it to the rest of the body. They also have blue blood due to a copper-based molecule called hemocyanin.
5. Human Bones Are Stronger Than Steel
Ounce for ounce, the human femur is stronger than steel, making our skeletons incredibly durable despite their relatively light weight.
6. Some Trees “Speak” Through Their Roots
Certain tree species, like acacias, emit chemical signals to warn neighboring trees of danger, such as approaching herbivores. They can communicate through fungal networks, dubbed the “Wood Wide Web.”
7. Cleopatra Lived Closer in Time to the Moon Landing Than to the Construction of the Great Pyramids
The Great Pyramid was completed around 2560 BCE, while Cleopatra ruled Egypt from 51 to 30 BCE. The moon landing occurred in 1969 AD.
8. The Shortest War Lasted 38 to 45 Minutes
In 1896, the Anglo-Zanzibar War between the British Empire and the Sultanate of Zanzibar ended in less than an hour, making it the shortest recorded war.
9. The Tyrannosaurus rex Is Closer in Time to Humans Than to the Stegosaurus
T. rex lived around 65 million years ago, while the Stegosaurus roamed around 150 million years ago, creating a vast time gap between these two dinosaurs.
10. Space Smells Like Hot Metal
Astronauts report that after a spacewalk, their suits smell like “seared steak” or “hot metal.” This is likely due to high-energy particles in space interacting with the metal of their suits.
11. Sea Cucumbers Can Defend Themselves by Ejecting Their Internal Organs
When threatened, some sea cucumbers expel their internal organs to confuse or entangle predators. These organs later regenerate.
12. A Day on Venus Is Longer Than a Year on Venus
Venus has a slow rotation, taking 243 Earth days to complete one rotation on its axis. A Venusian year, however, is about 225 Earth days.
13. You’re Taller in the Morning Than at Night
Due to the compression of spinal discs throughout the day from standing and sitting, people are slightly taller in the morning than in the evening.
14. The Average Person Walks the Equivalent of Five Times Around the World in Their Lifetime
Given an average of about 7,500 steps per day, someone will walk about 110,000 miles over a lifetime, which is roughly equivalent to circling the Earth five times.
15. Kangaroos Can’t Walk Backwards
Kangaroos’ muscular legs and large tails make walking backward nearly impossible, which is why they’re featured on Australia’s coat of arms along with the emu, another forward-moving animal.
16. Cows Have Best Friends
Research shows that cows have social bonds, preferring to spend time with certain members of their herd, and they become stressed when separated from them.
17. Pineapple Eats You Back
Pineapples contain bromelain, an enzyme that breaks down proteins, which means it’s working on your mouth as you’re chewing it. This is why pineapple can sometimes make your tongue feel sore.
18. Sloths Only Poop Once a Week
Sloths have a very slow metabolism and only descend from trees to relieve themselves about once a week, making it a highly dangerous endeavor.
19. A Shark Is the Only Fish That Can Blink With Both Eyes
Most fish don’t have eyelids, but sharks do, allowing them to close their eyes, often when feeding or in potential danger.
20. Blue Whales’ Hearts Can Be Heard From Two Miles Away
A blue whale’s heart weighs around 400 pounds and can be heard for miles through ocean waters, helping them communicate over vast distances.
21. Sea Otters Hold Hands When They Sleep
To prevent drifting apart while sleeping in the ocean, sea otters often hold paws. This behavior is called a “raft,” and they may also use kelp to anchor themselves.
22. The Letter “Q” Isn’t in Any U.S. State Name
Among the 50 U.S. states, none contain the letter “Q.” It’s one of the few letters not represented in state names.
23. The Human Stomach Replaces Its Lining Every Few Days
The stomach’s acidic environment would damage its lining if it didn’t regularly regenerate, which it does about every three to four days.
24. A Day on Earth Used to Be 23 Hours
Millions of years ago, a day was about 23 hours long due to Earth’s faster rotation. The Moon’s gravitational pull has gradually slowed the planet’s rotation, extending the length of the day.
25. “Canada” Was Named by Mistake
The name “Canada” comes from a misunderstanding. When indigenous people described a “kanata” (village), European explorers misinterpreted it as the name for the entire region.
26. Mosquitoes Are the Deadliest Animals
Through spreading diseases like malaria, dengue, and Zika virus, mosquitoes cause more deaths than any other animal, including sharks, snakes, and large predators.
27. An Octopus’s Skin Can Taste Its Surroundings
Octopuses have specialized receptors on their tentacles that allow them to taste the chemicals in the water around them, essentially letting them “taste” through their skin.
28. Humans Are Bioluminescent
While not visible to the naked eye, humans emit a faint glow that is strongest in the afternoon and weakest at night due to metabolic processes.
29. Some Cats Are Actually “Allergic” to Humans
Cats can suffer allergic reactions to the chemicals in human sweat, perfumes, and even dandruff. Such cases are rare but documented.
30. Rats Can Tread Water for Days
Rats can swim for long distances and survive in water for up to three days. This incredible endurance is one reason why they’re such resilient survivors.
31. The Largest Living Organism on Earth Is a Fungus
In Oregon’s Blue Mountains, a single honey fungus has spread over 2.4 miles, covering an area of about 2,385 acres. It’s considered the largest living organism by area.
32. Your Brain Operates on the Equivalent of a 10-Watt Light Bulb
Despite its power, the human brain uses about 10 watts, enough to power a small light bulb.
33. The World’s Quietest Room Can Drive You Crazy
In Orfield Laboratories in Minnesota, the “anechoic chamber” is so quiet that you can hear your blood flowing. People rarely stay in the room for longer than 45 minutes.
34. Hummingbirds Weigh Less Than a Nickel
On average, hummingbirds weigh less than 5 grams, making them one of the lightest bird species.
35. Glass Is a Liquid, Sort Of
Though it’s debated, glass doesn’t flow over time as once believed, but its structure is more like a “supercooled liquid” rather than a true solid.
36. Gold Is Edible
Gold is biologically inert, meaning it passes through the digestive system without harm, which is why it’s sometimes used in luxury foods and drinks.
37. Water Can Boil and Freeze at the Same Time
Known as the “triple point,” this phenomenon occurs when water is at a precise temperature and pressure, existing simultaneously as a solid, liquid, and gas.
38. The Average Cloud Weighs Over a Million Pounds
Though they appear light and fluffy, clouds are packed with water vapor. A typical cumulus cloud weighs around 1.1 million pounds.
39. There’s a Country Without an Official Capital
Nauru, a small island nation, is unique in that it lacks an official capital city. Its government offices are spread around the island.
40. Your Blood Vessels Could Circle the Earth
The total length of all blood vessels in the human body is over 60,000 miles, enough to circle the globe more than twice.
41. A Jiffy Is a Real Unit of Time
A “jiffy” in physics is the time it takes for light to travel one centimeter in a vacuum—approximately 33.3564 picoseconds.
