Sharks Can Live for Centuries: Some species of sharks, like the Greenland shark,
can live for up to 400 years, making them one of the longest-living animals on
Earth. They grow extremely slowly and reach sexual maturity at around 150 years of
age.
The Shortest War in History: The Anglo-Zanzibar War, fought between the United
Kingdom and the Sultanate of Zanzibar on August 27, 1896, holds the record for the
shortest war in history. It lasted between 38 and 45 minutes before Zanzibar
surrendered.
Butterflies Taste With Their Feet: Butterflies have taste sensors on their feet,
allowing them to taste plants simply by landing on them. This helps them identify
the right plant to lay their eggs on, as certain plants are more suited to their
larvae.
The Moon Was Once Part of Earth: The leading theory about the Moon’s origin is that
it was formed from debris after a Mars-sized object collided with Earth about 4.5
billion years ago. The debris eventually coalesced to form the Moon, which is why
Earth and the Moon share some similar compositions.
A Cloud Can Weigh More Than a Million Pounds: Clouds may look light and fluffy, but
they can actually be very heavy. A typical cumulus cloud can weigh around 1 million
pounds (or 500,000 kilograms), which is roughly equivalent to the weight of 100
elephants.
Shakespeare Invented Words: William Shakespeare is credited with inventing over
1,700 words in the English language, many of which are still in use today. Words
like “bedroom,” “lonely,” and “swagger” all come from the Bard himself.
There Are More Stars in the Universe Than Grains of Sand on Earth: It’s hard to
imagine, but scientists estimate there are around 100 billion stars in just our
Milky Way galaxy alone, and there are billions of other galaxies. This means there
are more stars in the universe than there are grains of sand on every beach on
Earth.
Cats Can Make Over 100 Different Sounds: Cats are known for their vocalizations,
but did you know that they can produce over 100 different sounds? In comparison,
dogs can only make about 10. Cats use these sounds to communicate with humans and
other animals, ranging from meows to purrs to growls.
The Eiffel Tower Can Move: The Eiffel Tower is not completely stationary! Due to
wind and temperature changes, the tower can sway up to 6-7 centimeters (about 2.5
inches). The iron structure expands and contracts with the temperature, and on
windy days, it can shift slightly.
The First Computer Bug Was a Moth: In 1947, engineers working on a computer at
Harvard University found a moth trapped in one of the computer’s relays. They
humorously referred to it as a “bug” in the system, and thus the term "computer
bug" was born.
Peanuts Aren’t Actually Nuts: Despite their name, peanuts aren’t technically nuts.
They belong to the legume family, along with beans, lentils, and peas. Unlike true
nuts, which grow on trees, peanuts grow underground and are part of a different
plant family.
The Tallest Known Mountain in the Solar System Is on Mars: Olympus Mons on Mars is
the tallest known mountain in the solar system. It stands about 13.6 miles (22
kilometers) high, nearly three times the height of Mount Everest. It’s so wide that
it could cover the state of New Mexico.
An Octopus Can Change Its Shape: Octopuses have the incredible ability to change
both the color and texture of their skin to blend in with their surroundings. They
can also alter their body shape to fit into tight spaces, which helps them hide
from predators or sneak up on prey.
Sloths Can Hold Their Breath Longer Than Dolphins: Sloths have the ability to hold
their breath for up to 40 minutes by slowing their heart rate. This is far longer
than dolphins, which typically hold their breath for about 10 minutes. Sloths do
this to stay underwater when they need to swim.
There’s a Species of Jellyfish That is Immortal: The Turritopsis dohrnii, also
known as the “immortal jellyfish,” can revert its cells back to a younger state
when it is injured or sick, essentially allowing it to live indefinitely under the
right conditions. This makes it one of the few known creatures capable of
biological immortality.
