Many myths exist, such as the idea that lightning never strikes the same spot twice, that the Great Wall of China can be seen from space, or that we only employ 10% of our brains. They are so prevalent in popular culture that they are practically taken for granted. Occasionally, however, we discover scientific truths that are so strange and unexpected that we simply must share them. You can wow your pals with these facts. Even while some of them aren’t as odd as they seem, they’re nonetheless excellent one-liners to use at your next gathering.

#1: Radioactivity in Bananas

Although potassium-40, a radioactive isotope, is naturally present in bananas, eating one banana exposes you to such a small amount that it is not harmful to your health. To feel any significant radiation consequences, you would need to consume millions of bananas in one session, and 100 bananas to match the radiation you are exposed to on a daily basis from natural sources such cosmic rays and radon gas.

#2: The majority of Earth’s oxygen is produced by the oceans.

Oceanic plankton, which are microscopic photosynthetic plants, algae, and bacteria, provide around half of the oxygen on Earth. 20% of the oxygen in our biosphere is produced by one species, Prochlorococcus, which is more prolific than all of the tropical rainforests put together! Whether you live in the city or the highlands, microscopic marine life is what keeps you alive!

#3: Three-Heart Octopuses

The three hearts of octopuses circulate blood throughout their bodies, while the other two pump blood through their gills to obtain oxygen. However, their primary heart stops beating when they swim, which makes swimming exhausting. Octopuses use copper-rich hemocyanin, which is less effective at delivering oxygen but performs better in cold, low-oxygen water, in place of iron-based hemoglobin.

#4: Honey Is Always There

In ancient Egyptian tombs, archaeologists have found honey that is thousands of years old and yet edible! Because bees contribute an enzyme to nectar that breaks down sugars into gluconic acid, which helps stop bacteria and mold from forming, and because it has a low water content, which dehydrates and kills microorganisms before they can spread, its special qualities prevent spoiling over time.

#5: On Venus, a day lasts longer than a year.

A day on Venus is longer than a year because it takes 243 Earth days for it to complete one rotation on its axis, but only 225 Earth days for it to complete one orbit around the Sun. The planet’s surface is dragged by Venus’s thick, turbulent atmosphere, which slows its rotation and keeps it from tidally locking to the Sun.

#6: Humans and bananas have 60% of the same genes.

Bananas share a recognized 60% of human genes that are involved in vital life processes including oxygen consumption and cell division. In actuality, just around 1% of our complete DNA is identical to bananas; the 60% resemblance only applies to genes. Humans and mice share 85% and 61% of their DNA, respectively, demonstrating that despite their extreme differences, organisms can have remarkably similar genetic backgrounds.

#7: Three States Can Have Water at the Same Time

Because molecules continuously receive and lose energy, water can exist as a solid, liquid, and gas all at once at a particular temperature and pressure known as the “Triple Point,” when ice melts, water evaporates, and steam condenses. The Kelvin temperature scale, a crucial tool for scientists, is defined by this phenomena, which is so fundamental.

#8: Earth’s Trees Outnumber the Milky Way’s Stars

According to scientists, there are up to 30 times as many trees on Earth as there are stars in the Milky Way, which are thought to number between 100 and 400 billion. There would be roughly 420 trees for every person on Earth if trees were distributed equally, however they are primarily found in Canada, Siberia, and Scandinavia.

#9: Cold water does not freeze as quickly as hot water.

Under some circumstances, the “Mpemba Effect” may cause hot water to have weaker hydrogen bonds, which reorganize as it cools, facilitating and accelerating the formation of ice. Theories to explain the occurrence include the following: either hot water has stronger convection currents, which transfer heat more effectively as it cools, allowing it to freeze faster than stationary cold water, or hot water loses more mass through evaporation, lowering the amount of liquid that needs to freeze.

#10: The Number of Neck Vertebrae in Humans and Giraffes Is Equal

A giraffe’s neck can grow eight feet long and weigh 600 pounds, yet their next vertebrae can be up to 12 inches long, while ours are just around half an inch tall. Despite this, giraffes nonetheless adhere to the seven-bone rule, much like most animals. Beyond their canonical seven cervical vertebrae, scientists think giraffes have additional flexibility because of the first thoracic vertebra, which functions more like a neck bone.

#11: In the summer, the Eiffel Tower may rise six inches.

Thermal expansion, a process where heat causes metal to expand, is what causes the Eiffel Tower to swell in the summer. As a result, the Tower may rise a few millimeters in hot weather and then fall in the winter, losing the height it had gained in the summer. Furthermore, the Tower may tilt slightly in a curved motion when the sun warms one side of the building.

#12: There is enough energy in a single bolt of lightning to toast 100,000 slices of bread.

More than five billion joules of energy are released by a single lightning bolt, which is sufficient to run a 1,000-watt toaster for fifty-eight days. A lightning bolt could theoretically toast 100,000 slices of bread—a lifetime supply of breakfast in a flash—because a toaster uses roughly 100–200 joules each slice.

#13: The Known Universe Has More Possible Iterations of a Game of Chess Than Atoms

Since there are only roughly 10⁸⁰ atoms in the known universe, compared to the estimated 10¹²⁰ possible game variations in chess, the game is significantly more intricate than the universe. This astounding figure was determined by mathematician Claude Shannon in 1950, demonstrating that chess is too intricate to be solved by brute force. Players have already made nearly 69 trillion different possible games with just five moves apiece.

#14: Chimpanzees and humans share 98% of their DNA.

Despite having 98.8% of the same DNA, humans and chimpanzees differ by just 1.2%, which results in over 35 million genetic variants. These variations affect brain function, appearance, and even resistance to disease. Humans have “turned up” more genes linked to brain growth, which helps to explain why our brains are bigger and more intricate. We are more closely connected to chimps than chimps are to gorillas, notwithstanding our differences!

#15: The Heart of a Blue Whale Is the Size of a Golf Cart

Beyond even the largest dinosaurs, the blue whale is the largest mammal to have ever inhabited the planet. When fully grown, it can weigh more than 200 tons and measure 108 feet in length. Despite having a huge heart that is roughly five feet long, four feet wide, and 400 pounds in weight, it is not quite as big as a Volkswagen Beetle, despite what some beliefs say. It resembles a tiny golf buggy in size.

#16: Our Solar System’s Hottest Planet Is Venus

Venus is hotter than Mercury even though it is the second planet from the Sun. The surface temperature rises to a searing 464°C (867°F) due to the heat being trapped by its thick atmosphere. The majority of Venus’ atmosphere is made up of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that traps heat and causes excessive surface temperatures because heat from the Sun is absorbed and never returns to space.

#17: The number of hair follicles in humans is comparable to that of chimpanzees.

Although chimpanzees and humans both have roughly 5 million hair follicles, humans appear less hairy due to our shorter, finer hair. Terminal hair, which is found on the scalp and face, and vellus hair, which is found on the rest of the body, are the two forms of human body hair that have a variety of uses, including protection and temperature regulation.
#18: Clouds Weigh More Than a Million Pounds on Average

One hundred elephants, or roughly 1.1 million pounds, make up an average cumulus cloud. Because their water droplets are dispersed and their total density is smaller than that of dry air, clouds float in spite of their weight.

#19: About 6 billion tons would make up a teaspoon of a neutron star.

About 6 billion tons, or the weight of Mount Everest, would make up a teaspoon of neutron star material. A sphere only 305 meters across might contain the mass of the entire Earth due to how densely packed the stuff is in a neutron star. “Neutron degeneracy pressure,” which stops neutrons from compressing further, keeps a neutron star’s amazing density.

#20: Cube-Shaped Wombat Excrement

Because of a peculiar variation in intestinal elasticity that results in sharp corners in their feces, wombats are the only animals known to make bowel movements that are cube-shaped. In order to establish their territory and possibly communicate with other wombats or attract mates, wombats deliberately position their cube-shaped BMs around logs or rocks.