May 2013
Nisan is working on having car interiors that feel...
Nisan is working on having car interiors that feel like human skin!
Creepy or awesome? Nisan is reportedly trying to create a new material for car interiors that would feel like the skin on a human finger. What they’ve concluded is that the feeling of a hand touching you is one the most pleasant sensory experiences, so they’re trying to replicate it.
No word on when it’s...
Want to prevent a tiger attack? Wear a mask behind...
Want to prevent a tiger attack? Wear a mask behind your head!
People in the Ganges Delta in India have found a good way to prevent being mauled by Bengal tigers: Wearing a mask behind their head. Workers in the area forests came up with the idea, arguing that tigers only attack people from behind.
In a three-year span, no people wearing masks were killed. By comparison, 29 people were...
Canada has specifically banned members of the...
Canada has specifically banned members of the Westboro Baptist Church from entering the country!
Canada says good riddance to members of the Westboro Baptist Church located in Topeka, Kansas. The church is not associated with any of the major Baptist denominations.
In fact, they have all denounced the Westboro Baptist Church and adamantly state there is no affiliation. Canada isn’t the only...
The entire GoldenEye 007 game on N64 is only 12...
The entire GoldenEye 007 game on N64 is only 12 MB!
GoldenEye 007 is a first-person shooter game based on the James Bond film, GoldenEye. It was developed by Rare and released for Nintendo 64 in August 1997. The players assume the role of James Bond as he fights against criminals trying to use a satellite weapon against London.
The team that developed GoldenEye was fairly...
A student petitioned to make 10^27 a 'Hellameter'...
A student petitioned to make 10^27 a ‘Hellameter’ so that the universe would be 1.4 hellameters wide
The universe is vast. No one will dispute that. It encompasses galaxies upon galaxies and as far as we know, everything in existence. Scientists actually have estimated the universe’s diameter.
As you may imagine, it’s a very large number. It is even greater than a...
There are stars in the universe that are cold...
There are stars in the universe that are cold enough to be touched by the human hand!
When you think about stars, you think about burning gas. You may imagine the intense heat of our closest star, the sun. And you would be right—the sun’s surface temperature is 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit. However, not all stars are this hot. NASA has discovered certain astral bodies that are much...
One of the strongest predictor of a rise in...
One of the strongest predictor of a rise in obesity in the US is the decline in cigarette smoking!
Obesity is a national problem in the US. Some estimates say 30% of Americans are currently obese (defined by having a body mass index of 30 or more). This is a huge increase from just 25 years ago. So what is causing this increase? People gain weight by consuming more calories than they...
The Devil's Kettle waterfall empties into a...
The Devil’s Kettle waterfall empties into a sinkhole. Nobody knows where that sinkhole leads to!
Minnesota is the land of 10,000 lakes. It’s also home to some other bodies of water, some of them rather odd. One such odd formation is the Devil’s Kettle, which stems off of the Brule River.
About 1.5 miles from the river’s mouth, it split into two over a mass of rock....
A 15-year-old boy stole a giant Caterpillar...
A 15-year-old boy stole a giant Caterpillar earthmover and took it on a 12 mile joy ride through Tucson
On June 2, 2005, 15-year-old Duncan Dresner stole an earthmover from a construction site in Tuscon. He then proceeded to drive 12 miles through the city. He led police on a chase as he swerved from lane to lane and ignored their commands. At one point, he hit a utility pole and caused a power...
Lex Luthor from Smallville also voiced the Flash...
Lex Luthor from Smallville also voiced the Flash in Justice League Unlimited!
In 2001, Rosenbaum received a Saturn Award for his portrayal of Lex Luthor on Smallville. Continuing in the comic book genre, he played Wally West (a.k.a. The Flash) in the DC Comics animated series Justice League, Static Shock, and Justice League Unlimited as well as portraying a younger Wally West as Kid Flash in...
Playing a B flat on a tuba arouses male...
Playing a B flat on a tuba arouses male alligators.
In a 2007 news story, it was revealed that a reporter from Tampa, Florida, was successful in trying to replicate an experiment conducted on 1944. The experiment, “Response of Captive Alligators to Auditory Stimulation,” had one goal, which was to see how gators reacted to certain sounds (as the name suggests).
The experiment was conducted...
There was a rare breed of curly-haired pigs that...
There was a rare breed of curly-haired pigs that went extinct in 1972!
Pigs are known for being relatively hairless, pink and porky. Just like any species though, there are always exceptions. The ‘Lincolnshire Curly Coat,’ as it’s name implies, actually had a curly coat. It was also known for it’s hardy nature. Unfortunately, this rare breed went extinct in 1972.
...
The Airforce once successfully destroyed an...
The Airforce once successfully destroyed an Earth-orbiting satellite from an airplane!
In order to properly test equipment, the US Air Force has to make some sacrifices. In 1985, President Reagan ordered a rather expensive test. He authorized a test that would hopefully result in the destruction of an orbiting satellite.
Specifically, an air-launched anti-satellite multi-stage missile...
The harsh punishments found in Alfred Hitchcock...
The harsh punishments found in Alfred Hitchcock films stem from his childhood!
Alfred Hitchcock is admired by movie buffs around the world because of his ability to create early techniques of suspense and is seen as the man who paved the way for psychological thrillers. Hitchcock also introduced ‘first person’ shooting to movies, an effect which makes the film seem more realistic by...
The Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy...
The Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center is so large that rain clouds form inside it.
VAB, for short, was used from 1968 to 2011 to build and store American space vehicles. By volume it is one of the largest buildings in the world, at 3,664,883 cubic meters. Additionally, it is the largest single story building in the world, and until 1974 was the tallest building in...
Tripping on LSD has helped at least 2 Nobel Prize...
Tripping on LSD has helped at least 2 Nobel Prize winners with their scientific discoveries!
Lysergic acid diethylamide, simply known as LSD because its name is somewhat of a tongue twister, is an extremely controversial yet powerful hallucinogen. The reason for LSD’s controversy is because many of the users of the drug insist that the drug has aided them in becoming a better person, and...
The man who tackled the 2011 Tucson shooter was a...
The man who tackled the 2011 Tucson shooter was a 74yo war veteran who had been shot himself!
On January 8, 2011, 6 innocent people were shot dead while having a meeting held in a parking lot, and another 13 people were injured in the gunfire. The gunman appeared out of nowhere during the ‘Congress at your Corner’ open forum, and appeared to shoot randomly at people in the crowd with...
Bailey's has real cream. The alcohol prevents it...
Bailey’s has real cream. The alcohol prevents it from spoiling for at least 2 years!
Bailey’s Irish Cream, is an Irish Whiskey and cream based liqueur, with an alcohol content of about 17% - not too strong, and not too weak. Bailey’s was initially created by a division of International Distillers and Vinters known as the Gilbeys of Ireland. The company was looking for a...
If you have no debts and $10 in your pocket, you...
If you have no debts and $10 in your pocket, you have more wealth than 25% of Americans
Wealth is unevenly distributed—throughout the world and throughout the United States. It is really really unevenly distributed. Six members of the Walton family, the family that owns Wal-Mart, have more wealth than the bottom 30% of Americans.
When you take into account debt, the wealth of many American...
A racecar driver once drove from NYC to LA in 31...
A racecar driver once drove from NYC to LA in 31 hours and 3 minutes!
Alex Roy is a rally race car driver that holds the record for fastest car trip across the United States. The previous record was set in 1983 by David Diem and Doug Turner. The two made the trip in 32 hours and 7 minutes.
Roy, along with his co-driver Jonathon Goodrich did a practice run in 2005 in 34 hours and 46...
L. Ron Hubbard called himself a nuclear physicist....
L. Ron Hubbard called himself a nuclear physicist. His only exposure to it was one class!
“All About Radiation” is book by L. Ron Hubbard, and as the title might imply it’s all about radiation. Or at least Hubbard’s thoughts on radiation. It is also one of the canonical texts of Scientology. It was first published in 1957 and later editions were printed by the Church of Scientology’s in house...
Despite what you may believe, violence has...
Despite what you may believe, violence has actually steadily declined over the course of human history!
The world is tumultuous. Every day there are reports of bombings or homicides or abuse. However, despite what feels like a great deal of violence, this time is much more peaceful than others in human history. Think back to the World Wars, the Dark Ages, the Crusades.
Harvard psychologist...
Friday the 13th superstition costs businesses...
Friday the 13th superstition costs businesses between $800 and $900 billion!
For most people Friday the 13th is cause for jokes and minor superstition, but for some people it is a literal phobia. They fear what will happen to the point that they refuse to leave their houses, sometimes refusing to leave bed. They can experience anxiety and even panic attacks.
Their fear is seriously...
St. Augustine's teenage prayer went: 'Lord, grant...
St. Augustine’s teenage prayer went: ‘Lord, grant me chastity and continence; but not yet.’
Saint Augustine was a Father of the Church whose writings were very influential to the development of Western Christianity. He is the patron saint of Augustinians. He was born in 354 but was not baptized until 387. In his youth, Augustine was hedonistic.
He ran with a crowd of...
There's a road in New Zealand that isn't connected...
There’s a road in New Zealand that isn’t connected to any other road!
The Wilmot Pass is located on the main divide of New Zealand’s South Island. It is 2,201 feet high and connects Doubtful Sound, a deep indentation on the coast, to the valley of the West Arm of Lake Manapouri.
Uniquely, the pass is crossed by a road that connects to no other road. It was constructed to...
Under mutual combat laws; two people can fight as...
Under mutual combat laws; two people can fight as long as they verbally agree beforehand!
Many a drunken brawler has been arrested for fighting. If only he had known to discuss the fight with his opponent beforehand, he could have escaped jail time. Mutual combat is a legal term and is defined as “a fight into which both parties enter willingly, or in which two persons, upon a sudden...
There are more possible games of chess than atoms...
There are more possible games of chess than atoms in the observable universe
This is because the number of atoms is estimated to be about 10^79, while the number of unique chess games is 10^120. Here are some interesting facts for our chess fans:
The word “Checkmate” in Chess comes from the Arabic language. The original form is “Shah Mat,” which means “the King...
The US Postal Service sent a cease and desist...
The US Postal Service sent a cease and desist letter to the band The Postal Service for trademark infringement!
The Postal Service is an American electronic music band. They got their name because of the way they first started creating songs. Producer Jimmy Tamborello would write and perform instrumental tracks and then send them to vocalist Ben Gibbard. Ben would add his vocals and edit the...
The Olympic tradition of athletes mingling at the...
The Olympic tradition of athletes mingling at the closing ceremony came from an anonymous suggestion!
After all the friendly and sometimes not-so-friendly competition during the Olympic Games, they end with a communal closing ceremony. While the opening ceremony is tense with competition between countries, the closing ceremony is much more laid back. Athletes from across the world, finally done...
Daryl from The Walking Dead was discovered at a...
Daryl from The Walking Dead was discovered at a party in LA when he started screaming while wearing giant sunglasses!
Norman Reedus is an American actor best known for his portrayal of Daryl Dixon on the hit TV show “The Walking Dead.” He also played Murphy McManus in the 1999 film “The Boondock Saints” and it’s sequel.
Reedus was born in Florida but grew up in L.A. He worked at a...
Guy Debord published his first book with a...
Guy Debord published his first book with a sandpaper cover so that the books next to it would be destroyed!
Guy Ernest Debord was a French Marxist theorist and a passive aggressive book murderer. His first published work was an artist’s book made in collaboration with Danish artist Asger Jorn. This book is most famous for it’s cover, a dust jacket made of heavy-grade sandpaper.
The...
Columbus correctly predicted an eclipse to get...
Columbus correctly predicted an eclipse to get natives of Jamaica into giving him food and supplies!
The stars were obviously in his favor the day Columbus and his restless crew stumbled upon the north coast of Jamaica after nearly 2 years of sailing. The native inhabitants, who at this point had had too experience with European travelers, refused to provide them with food.
Desperate for...
A group of journalists formed a secret society...
A group of journalists formed a secret society whose only purpose was to make references to an ‘occult hand’ whenever possible!
This is what happens when you put a bunch of drunk journalists together late at night. In 1965, Joseph Flanders, wrote regarding a farmer who was shot by his own family when he came back home late at night; “It was as if an occult hand had reached down from...
The University of Iowa conducted an experiment on...
The University of Iowa conducted an experiment on orphan kids later called the ‘Monster Study!’
It’s an ominous but revealing title. In 1939, Wendell Johnson conducted a stuttering experiment on 22 orphaned children. The children were placed in control and experimental groups and half of the children were given positive reinforcement for their speech while the other half was...
In Minnesota, women can face up to 30 days in jail...
In Minnesota, women can face up to 30 days in jail for impersonating Santa Claus!
There are some crazy laws in our states. Apparently, every man in Brainerd, Minnesota is required to grow a beard. It’s illegal to tease skunks and women can face up to 30 days in jail for impersonating Santa Claus in Minnesota.
A Michigan law says it is illegal to make love in a car unless it is on your own...
In the prehistoric times, there was a flightless...
In the prehistoric times, there was a flightless bird that ate horses!
We may laugh at the flightlessness of birds like ostriches and penguins nowadays but you did not want to mess with their oldest ancestor, Phosurhacida. Aka: The Terror Bird. It was the largest species of predators in South America between 62 million to 2 million years ago.
They were roughly 3 to 10 feet tall and munched...
Play-doh was created by accident!
Play-doh was created by accident!
Although I suppose that just adds to it’s whimsy. Play-doh was originally developed as wall paper cleaner. However, it was soon noted that it was really bad at being wall paper cleaner and much better at being modeling clay.
When it first came out, the only color available was white. However, it only took a year for play-doh to paint itself with...
TV is not an American invention!
TV is not an American invention!
As it turns out, Americans did not invent the most American appliance known to man. The television was invented by a Russian engineer named Boris Rosing who, in 1907, used a cathode ray tube to receive images and figured out how to transmit light to a receiving screen.
In 1925, a Scottish scientist named John Logie Baird transmitted moving images to a...
Muse may have hidden a word using Morse code in...
Muse may have hidden a word using Morse code in one of their songs.
You’ve probably heard of bands hiding backwards messages in their songs, but this one is older and nerdier. Some clever fans realized that the beginning of the Muse song “Starlight” had a word in Morse code.
The song starts with clapping drums that spell out “__ .. __ …” which spells out the...
Americans officially hate hipsters.
Americans officially hate hipsters.
Public Policy Polling has built a reputation for being a pretty reliable pollster. However, they also have some fun when they do some polls by adding in funny, quirky and strange poll questions just to see what people respond.
A new survey by them found that only 16% of Americans have a favorable opinion of hipsters, while 42% of people view them...
51% of US coupled-adults cheat on their...
51% of US coupled-adults cheat on their partners… on Netflix!
A recent survey found that over half of US adults in committed relationships commit what they’re humorously calling ‘Netflix adultery’ on their significant others. Netflix Adultery is when you secretly watch a video on Netflix that you’re supposed to be watching together with your partner.
Netflix...
Navy Dolphins recently found a 130-year-old...
Navy Dolphins recently found a 130-year-old torpedo!
Yes, the Navy has trained dolphins that aid the military branch in underwater exploration. In this case, the dolphins found a piece of history off the coast of San Diego.
Built about 130 years ago, the type of torpedo they found is called a Howell and it’s one of the first torpedoes built that can propel itself. Only 50 of the...
An Indian tradition has mothers throwing their...
An Indian tradition has mothers throwing their babies from 50-feet high!
Every year, in Sholapur, India, moms from around the region come to fulfill a tradition that is supposed to secure good luck to their children: Dropping them from a 50-foot-tall building.
The babies are caught by people holding a bed sheet down below. Check out the video below to see it in action!
(Source)...
The Big Mac had 2 failed names before a secretary...
The Big Mac had 2 failed names before a secretary coined its famous name!
The Big Mac was invented by Jim Delligatti, one of the earliest McDonald’s franchisees, who operated in the Pittsburgh area. Delligatti’s McDonald’s kitchen in the Ross Township of suburban Pittsburg was the birthplace of the Big Mac in 1967.
The sandwich had 2 names before McDonald’s settled...
An Italian bank takes Parmesan cheese as...
An Italian bank takes Parmesan cheese as collateral!
If you’re in the market for a bank loan in Italy, you can use cheese as your collateral. There’s a special cheese bank that has state of the art security features to protect the 300,000 wheels of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese stored in there.
Here’s how this business works: Parmigiano-Reggiano takes a long time to properly...
Alaska is both the east- and westernmost state in...
Alaska is both the east- and westernmost state in the US!
The Aleutian Islands of Alaska cross the 180 degree-meridian longitude. This means that these islands are part of the Eastern hemisphere. This means that Alaska is the state that is farthest north, east & west in the United States!
If you don’t believe in that technicality, the easternmost state is Maine, then Alaska...
You will never count to one trillion.
You will never count to one trillion.
This one might be a no brainer if you’ve thought about it before. How many numbers can you count to in five seconds? For fast counters, out loud is about twenty seven seconds. In your head, it might be closer to thirty five.
Of course because higher numbers take longer to say, a fast counter can typically hit around 200 in sixty seconds. If you...
If you turn in a tax cheat, the IRS will give you...
If you turn in a tax cheat, the IRS will give you at least 15% of what they collect!
Being a tattle-tale pays if we’re talking about turning in tax cheaters to the IRS. It’s no secret that the US tax system is complicated and messed up in more ways than one. The large amount of rules, regulations, exemptions and loopholes makes it easy for people to cheat by paying less than what...
Fiat trolled Volkswagen using Google Maps!
Fiat trolled Volkswagen using Google Maps!
This is a great example of good corporate sense of humor (or dickery, depending on your point of view). Here’s what happened: Google sent one of it’s trademark Street View cars to take pictures in Sweden. When Fiat realized this, they decided to have some fun with it.
They sent a brand new Fiat 500 to trail the Google Street View car....
Russell Brand takes homeless people out for...
Russell Brand takes homeless people out for breakfast!
Russell Brand has a bad rep for being kind of a dick, but it seems like he has a much softer heart than most people realize. He has been spotted taking homeless people out for breakfast several times.
One time he was seen eating with a group of homeless people at a Café in West Hollywood. Another time, he was seen giving a man a shirt...
