You can describe the world as a wonderful place, but that doesn't take away from the fact it's also riddled with mystery.
There are an abundance of things in the world that the majority of people are oblivious to. Sometimes these tidbits of information are positive in nature, but sometimes they can be simply weird instead.
Either way, having a collection of facts to spew out at family gatherings and dinner parties will guarantee to make you the most interesting person in the room.
Want to know what kinds of info will impress a crowd? Here are 15 mind-blowing facts that you'll be thinking about for the rest of the night.
1. The FDA allows rat hair in peanut butter
You might want to rethink eating a spoonful of peanut butter the next time you feel a grumble in your stomach. It turns out the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allows one rat hair in every 100 grams (roughly a quarter of a pound) of peanut butter before it's considered "defective."
This is due to the fact that rat hair is extremely hard to spot when the peanuts are being harvested, but on the bright side, it isn't harmful if you do end up ingesting this rodent's hair.
2. An elephant can poop more than the weight of a human in a single day
If you thought picking up dog droppings was gross, you'd hate to work at an elephant enclosure in a zoo. It turns out an African elephant (who typically weigh between 5,000 and 12,000 pounds) can poop 300 pounds of waste in only seven hours.
Bonus fact: Elephants rarely digest their food, so their feces contains grass and leaves that are still intact.
3. Cleopatra was born closer to the first Moon landing than to the construction of the Great Pyramids
Think about it: The earliest Great Pyramid, known as the Pyramid of Djoser, was built between 2630 B.C. and 2611 B.C., while Cleopatra was born in 69 B.C. Since the first Moon landing occurred in 1969, the date is closer to the Egyptian ruler's birth by about 300 years.
4. Dogs with parachutes fought in World War II
During the Second World War, Allied Forces had the help of dogs to fight off the Nazis. The British trained dogs in the 13th Battalion to become paratroopers in order to sniff out landmines, keep watch, and warn their fellow soldiers in case of enemy arrival.
One of these dogs was Brian (later named Bing), an Alsatian-Collie mix, who helped liberate France during D-Day. After the war, Bing was awarded the Dickin Medal for his bravery in service.
5. Gene Simmons owns the devil horns hand gesture
If you ever wondered if Gene Simmons had it all, you'd be right, because among other things, he also owns the trademark to the devil horns hand gesture. In 2017, the KISS frontman told the Windsor Star that he bought the trademark after claiming he had invented the gesture himself.
"Did you know I own the money bag logo?" Simmons asked the publication before listing other things he owns.
"The dollar sign with the bag of money. I own all kinds of things. I own "˜motion pictures' as a trademark. Anyone who thinks that's silly "” the silliest thing I've ever done is wear more makeup and higher heels than your mommy. People said, "˜You can't do that.' Actually, b***h "” I can. I can do anything I want," he said.
6. All the faces in your dreams are people you've seen
The faces in every dream you've ever had are from people you've seen in real life. Whether you know them personally or have seen them in advertisements or on TV, your brain has remembered them. This is because your brain can't conjure up new faces, but luckily we have come into contact with hundreds of thousands of people in our lifetime.
Pieces of bread were used to erase pencil lead
Before the eraser was invented, people used soft, moist bread to get rid of their written errors. The erasers we know today hadn't been discovered until 1770, when an English engineer realized that the natural rubber made from plants can be used instead.
Being a professional farter was once a real job
While most people want to hide their farts, there used to be several entertainers who made it their living. Dating back to the Middle Ages, professional farters put on shows for the rich and powerful by passing gas in a creative or artistic manner. Those who could control their intestines could also recreate popular songs by simply farting.
The most famous flatulist was Joseph Pujol - otherwise known by his stage name, Le Pétomane - who became rich off of his unusual talent. His odd career was so peculiar, a film was even made about him in 1979.
9. There is a type of fish that can walk on land
Evolution can be a wonderful thing... until it gives fish the ability to walk on land. The snakehead fish have both gills and an organ in their "gill arches" that allows them to breathe in oxygen.
They usually venture on land to search for food and can travel up to a quarter of a mile. These natural predators can be found across North America and weigh up to 14 pounds.
Pirates wear eye patches so they can see in the dark
Although you might think pirates wore an eye patch to cover up a missing eye, most of them wore it to help them see in the dark. By wearing an eye patch, pirates became more accustomed to low-light conditions, which helped them see better when nightfall arrived. Since there were no artificial lights back then, it was especially useful when they were about to get into a brawl.
11. Koala pee contains chlamydia
If you didn't think animals could have STIs, think again. Australia's cute and cuddly mascot has been known to carry two different strains of chlamydia, one of which humans can contract - via the koala's urine. Try explaining that to your doctor and/or partner.
12. There can be fecal matter in your coffee cups
While you might enjoy your daily cup of joe, you might have not want to have it in the office anymore. According to a study conducted by The Journal of Dairy, Food, and Environmental Sanitation, the mugs found in the office kitchen aren't as clean as you might think. Out of all the cups tested, 90% of them were found carrying some form of bacteria, and out of those, 20% contained fecal matter.
This is largely due to the sponges used to clean them, which contain an overwhelming amount of bacteria.
Want to learn more facts that will boggle your mind? Check these cool articles out:
- 19 Things That Have Names, But You Probably Didn't Know It
- 40 Incredibly Bizarre Facts About Animals That You'll Catch Yourself Telling To Friends
- 10 Facts About Amish Life That Will Send You On A Rumspringa
[H/T: Cracked, Reader's Digest, Life Buzz, Ranker]