I Few people know that Winona Ryder's birth name is Winona Laura Horowitz. Her father's favorite female songstress was Mitch Ryder, hence her stage name. She grew up spending a lot of time reading books because her family used to live in a hippy commune in California with only eight families residing in the secluded area, including theirs. II Ryder is aquaphobic due to an unfortunate incident when she was only 12. She almost drowned, and this fear made it hard for her to shoot the underwater scenes in the 1997 film Alien: Resurrection. III Ryder could have been Mary Corleone in 1990's The Godfather III. However, she backed out because she was exhausted. The role was instead given to Francis Ford Coppola's daughter, Sofia. Unfortunately, the latter was smashed by critics due to her terrible performance, with many accusing her father (the film's director) of nepotism. IV Like many of the successful celebrities we look up to today, Ryder has had her failings. In 2001, she reportedly shoplifted items valued at $5,500. Eight prosecutors filed four felony charges against the actress who was required to pay for the stolen goods. V On top of her shoplifting spree, Ryder was also accused of using drugs that weren't prescribed and condemned for vandalism and grand theft. She was reported acquitted of a burglary charge. The actress was given three years of probation in 2002, community service for a total of 480 hours, fined $3,700, tasked to compensate $6,355 to victims, and required to undergo counseling. VI In spite of her hiatus, Ryder, fortunately, made her comeback. The actress has been playing the role of Joyce Byers in the '80s-based supernatural series Stranger Things since 2016, which garnered her a total of six award nominations. Out of these, she won two.

I Experienced and trained free divers are able to hold their breaths for up to ten minutes or more, which is far more than the average person. It takes years of training to do this, but intermediate free divers can usually hold their breath for about three minutes underwater. II The world record for the longest underwater breath-hold stands at a whopping twenty-four minutes and three seconds and was set by Aleix Segura Vendrell, a Spanish multiple World Champion free diver. Just to be clear, Vendrell can literally watch an entire episode of a Netflix show in a single breath. III Swimmers have much more flexible ankles and toes than most people, and can often flex them into a straight line. This takes years of practice to develop, but is well worth the effort, and provides swimmers with a large boost in speed by reducing drag. IV Did you know that you actually sweat in the pool during intense workouts? Australian researchers recently discovered that your average swimmer loses about 200ml of sweat per mile of swimming. Thats why its important to keep hydrated even when practicing water sports. V According to a recent survey that was taken in 2014 by the American National Red Cross organization, over fifty percent of Americans claim they cant swim. African-Americans are responsible for a large portion of that since their higher bone density makes then non-buoyant. In other words, they dont float. VI Swimmers often shave their entire bodies from neck to toe. This isnt just an aesthetic decision but is actually related to underwater performance. According to various studies, shaved skin is more sensitive to water, which means that swimmers without body hair have a better feel for the water when swimming.

I Swimming goggles are an important tool for a swimmers vision and eye health, as they prevent our eyes from getting into contact with salty ocean water or a pools chlorinated water. The worlds first swimming goggles originated during the 14th century in Persia and were made mostly from tortoise shells. II Due to water pressure, the deeper you dive, the more uncomfortable your swimming glasses tend to become. Past a certain depth, rubber goggles will stop working, and youll have to use a diving mask. These types of masks equalize pressure, which keeps them effective in deeper waters. III Researchers discovered the worlds oldest swimming pool in Pakistan by mistake. It was found in Mohenjo-Daro, Pakistan, and is referred to as The Great Bath. Experts have estimated that this wonderful structure dates back to more than two-thousand years ago, somewhere around 300 BC. IV In the United States, there are just over ten million residential swimming pools, and over a quarter-million public swimming pools. With more than three-hundred million citizens living in the United States, there is about one pool for every thirty residents. V Most public pools contain some form of chlorine, but almost nobody knows exactly what it does. This substance is very effective at killing various forms of bacteria, which is why we can swim in the same water as hundreds of other people without worrying about getting sick. VI Unfortunately, chlorine doesnt immediately kill all forms of bacterias. While it can usually eradicate any form of E. coli in just under a minute, other types of germs can take up to ten days to die. This is why chlorine and pH levels are often checked on a daily basis.

I Just like with white and brown sugar, people often assume that brown eggs are healthier or of better quality than white eggs. While they usually cost more, this has nothing to do with their quality. In fact, the only reason they cost more is that brown eggs are produced by larger chickens. II Most people would prefer to purchase free-range eggs rather than regular ones if the costs were the same. However, free-range doesnt actually mean what you think it means. "Free-range" hens can theoretically go outside, but farmers often install tiny doors that are hard to go through to prevent it. III You can easily check how fresh an egg is by putting it into a body of water. If it floats, this means that the egg has accumulated an air pocket inside it, meaning it's old. You're better of tossing it out and going with another. IV The average egg contains about 370ml of cholesterol, which is 70ml more than the recommended daily 300ml intake for your average adult. While this is largely debated among doctors and health professionals, its definitely something you want to stay aware of if your family has a problematic cardiovascular health history. V Early in the 1950s, The United States Food and Drug Administration banned all use of hormones in poultry. These were mostly used by farmers to accelerate the growth speed of their livestock, thus saving on expenses. This means that as a general rule, eggs today are completely free of hormones. VI There is a common misconception that the egg white and egg yolk contain different amounts of protein. Generally, they both contain about three grams of protein each. This means that there's no benefit to leaving out the yolk when it comes to protein intake.

I While spiked dog collars are mostly used today as a way to create an air of threat around dogs, these were actually a very important tool back in the day. They were invented in ancient Greeks and were mostly used to save dogs from wolves, who often attack the throat. II There were a lot of benefits to being extremely short in Ancient Egypt, as Egyptians believed dwarves were blessed by the gods. They bestowed them with everything from expensive gifts to official positions. In-fact, Ancient Egyptians even went as far as making it illegal for anyone to mock them. III Peanut butter is one of the most energy-efficient foods in the world, as your average jar contains over 2,000 calories and hundreds of grams of protein. It was originally invented around three-thousand years ago by the Ancient Aztecs, who made this superfood an important part of their daily lives. IV The worlds first recorded and named person in history was named Kashim. He lived around 3200 BC in Mesopotamia. Researchers were surprised to discover that he was not a king or a noble but simply worked as an accountant. An accounting log of his was found with his name signed on it. V While most people today prefer having a slender and toned facial structure, ancient Mayans viewed large noses as the pinnacle of beauty. For them, the bigger the nose, the more beautiful someones face was. In-fact, Mayans with smaller noses actually wore prosthetics to make them appear larger. VI The worlds first prenuptial agreements were discovered in ancient Egypt and were often signed by pre-married couples. These contracts listed the assets of both parties and served to compensate the wife in case of a divorce on the part of her husband.

I The most common letter in the English language is E. It appears in almost every word, making it extremely difficult to write a full sentence without the letter. In fact, one in every eight words in English ends with the letter E. II English is currently the fourth most common language in the world, with just over half a billion people speaking it. The only three languages that are more popular than English are Chinese, Hindi and Spanish, with a combined total of almost two billion speakers. III The letter B doesn't appear in any English number before 999,999,999. If you were to write down consecutive numbers in English starting from zero, youd have to get to a billion before finally encountering the letter B. IV Thanks to a ruling by the United States International Civil Aviation Organization, English is the standard language used in all air-control operations worldwide. Whether youre in China or Great Britain, pilots are mandated to identify themselves on flights using the English language. V Shakespeare, the world-renowned playwright who wrote Hamlet and Romeo & Juliet is known as one of the most important word-creators of the English language. He came up with various words and phrases which are often used today. Examples of his creations include the words fashionable, advertising and laughable. VI While a lot of poetry is and has been written in English, the language is quite challenging due to having many words that simply dont rhyme. Youd be hard-pressed to find perfect rhymes for words such as month, orange and silver. Want a bigger challenge? Try rhyming the word discombobulate.

I The word coffee only caught on sometime during the 16th century after a long journey of adaptations. It was originally coined in ancient Arabic and was called qahwa. After traveling to Europe, coffee began morphing into the classic Dutch koffie and Italian Caffe. II Coffee was extremely popular in the 15th century Constantinople, Turkey, the city that eventually became Istanbul. It was found in practically every street corner and was so beloved by the Turkish people that women could legally divorce their husbands for failing to provide them with coffee. III Although coffee is generally harmless and even healthy in certain cases, it can be dangerous when used in excess. Caffeine increases your blood pressure and heart rate, leading to an increased risk of cardiovascular issues. People who take certain medications are most prone to coffee-related health risks. IV The world's largest grower and exporter of coffee is currently Brazil. The country currently produces about a third of the coffee that ends up being sold and consumed worldwide. Next on the list is Vietnam, which produces about half the coffee that Brazil does. V The word espresso literally means pressed-out, which is a direct reference to how the drink is made. Espressos are produced by pressing boiling water against a ground of coffee. Not everyone has a taste for them, but they are definitely an integral part of the coffee experience. VI According to a study that was done by Harvard Health Publishing, moderate consumption of coffee has been linked to reduced cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and Parkinson's. It is also correlated with longer life spans, although experts are still puzzled when it comes to the cause of this wonderful link.

I More than 200 different viruses are responsible for causing the common cold, with Rhinovirus being the most common one. It accounts for ten to forty percent of all colds and mostly affected the nose and throat. II Common colds normally last for about a week, although they could also pass in a day or two, depending on the individual. They are currently the most often cited reason for doctor visits in the United States. III Colds are often very contagious due to their translatability. They are transferred from person to person via tiny fluid droplets that contain the cold viruses, which is why they tend to make us sneeze. IV While most common colds are harmless, there are a few groups of people that have a high risk of developing fevers and other conditions from a common cold. These include young people, seniors, pregnant women, and smokers. V Contrary to popular opinion, you do not catch a cold by being outside when its cold. While cold weather may irritate an existing respiratory condition, the only way to actually get sick is by coming into contact with a virus, regardless of the temperature. VI The best way to defend yourself from catching a cold is to stay away from people who are sick, especially if they are visibly coughing or sneezing. Another important factor is to sanitize your hands as often as possible, as well as keeping them away from your eyes, mouth, ears, and nose.

I The sun is almost a million times bigger than the earth. You could fit the entire size of planet earth 960,000 times inside the sun, with room left to spare. If you only measure in-terms of volume, you could fit the earth 1,300,000 times inside the sun. II Most people severely underestimate just how large and heavy the sun is. More than 99% of the Solar Systems mass is concentrated inside it. In terms of sheer weight, the sun weighs more than 300,000 times the mass of the, despite being mostly Hydrogen and Helium. III There are no perfect spheres or boxes in nature, but the sun is the closest thing to a perfect geometrical shape in the world. It is almost a perfect sphere, with only a 10-kilometer difference between its polar and equatorial diameters. IV After the sun has burned all of its Hydrogen, it will begin burning helium for about 130 million years. This will be a period of expansion, where the sun will basically eat up all the nearby planets, including Mercury, Venus, and the Earth, turning into whats called a red giant. V After becoming a red giant, the sun will gradually shrink and transform into what physicists and astronomers refer to as a white dwarf. These are the remains of suns that have exhausted their nuclear fuel, shrinking into a dense planet approximately the size of the earth. VI Light travels from the sun to the earth at about 300,000 kilometers per second and travels a distance of 150 million kilometers. It takes eight minutes for the light to reach the earth, which means that when we look at the sun, were actually seeing it from eight minutes ago.

I Despite common misconceptions, the closest star to our planet is actually the sun and not the moon. Its 150 million kilometers away, or about eight minutes if you travel the speed of light. The next closest stars are Alpha Centauri A and B, which are 4.3 light-years away. II All stars begin their lives as forming clouds of cold molecular hydrogen. As time progresses, these materials collapse onto themselves, forming a star with a nuclear fusion at its core. They also share the same starting chemical compound, consisting of about three-quarters hydrogen and one-quarter helium III There are about three-hundred billion stars in our galaxy alone. Outside our galaxy, there are about 500 billion galaxies all across the universe, each containing as many or more stars. Just to put things in perspective, there are potentially around 200,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 stars. IV Stars are extremely far from each other, with the closest stars to our planet being more than four light-years away. Meaning that it would take four light years to travel between them, and would likely take us about 70,000 years to get there. V When looking at the stars on a clear night, we can generally see a few thousand of them, not millions. Also consider that almost every star you see at night is actually bigger than our sun, which itself is about a million times bigger than planet earth. VI One of the most fascinating things about stars is that when we look at them, we dont see them as they currently are, but as they were before their light got here. For example, when you look at Alpha Centauri A, youre actually seeing how it looked four years ago.

I Did you know that chocolate can be considered a vegetable? Both milk and dark chocolate are made from cacao beans, which grow on cacao trees. While this might be a technicality, based on the classic definition of the word, this makes chocolate a vegetable. II Just because white chocolate shares the same family name as milk and dark chocolate, doesnt mean that its part of the family. In fact, white chocolate doesnt even contain most of what makes chocolate, well, chocolate. The only ingredient it does share with the group is cocoa butter. III The Aztecs, a Mesoamerican civilization which existed in central Mexico during the 14th, 15th and 16th century, loved chocolate to the point of making it an integral part of their lives. They made the delicacy a part of their rituals and even went as far as using it as currency. IV The most commonly eaten type of chocolate is milk chocolate, and it was originally invented in Switzerland. Back in 1875, Daniel Peter, a Swiss candle maker whose business recently failed, worked for eight years straight trying to create the sweet delicacy. He eventually figured out the trick was condensed milk. V Marie Antoinette, the last queen of France who became infamous for her iconic let them eat cake quote, was a huge fan of hot chocolate. While many of her people were starving, she was enjoying an infinite supply of the sweet liquid. Napoleon Bonaparte was also a huge chocolate fan. VI One thing thats unique about chocolate is its extremely low melting temperature. It actually melts at a lower degree than any other edible substance on earth, turning into a liquid at just around 93 F, which is lower than our body temperature. This is why chocolate melts when we hold it.

I Despite what you may think, Broadway is actually the longest street in New York City. It begins in Lower Manhattan at Bowling Green and runs north for 33 miles through the Bronx all the way up to Albany - outside of New York City itself!. II Sometime in Broadways early days, the row I was banned from ticket sales (while A-H and J-Z stayed). This decision was made after many uncomfortable and violent incidents that occurred when theatergoers with row I on their ticket rushed to the first row, thinking the rows were numerical. III Back in the 20th century, Broadway was actually called the Theatre District, and had the nickname of the Great White Way. The street received its nickname thanks to an abundance of dazzling white lights. New Yorkers loved the lights so much that they forced the city to keep them up even during WWI. IV One Broadway show endured longer than any other in history, and it happens to occur in a theater. In 1988, The Phantom of the Opera opened its doors and has since been performed almost weekly for over three decades now. With over 12,500 performances, it shows no sign of stopping. V The Lion King is likely to remain Disneys most popular animated film of all time, and its success on Broadway has been unparalleled. The films musical performance has grossed over $1.4 billion in the last two decades. Theres no wonder why Julie Taymor, its director, received a Tony Award. VI While there are many Broadway Theaters in New York, only four out of the 41 in the city actually reside on Broadway Street. These are the Winter Garden, The Roundabout, The Marquis, and The Broadway Theatre. These theaters are the only ones deemed eligible for Tony Awards.

I Despite the common use of the phrase, the dark side of the moon is a myth and doesnt actually exist. This mistake is caused by the moon revolving around earth at a rate that makes it so that we only see one side of the moon. II If youre a fan of waves and tides, there are two factors to be grateful for - gravity and the moon. The moons gravitational pull is what causes waves all around the globe. Without this force, all of the oceans waters would have been almost entirely still. III So far, only twelve people have physically walked on the moon, and all of them were from America. The first person to step on the moon was Neil Armstrong, who arrived thanks to the Apollo 11 mission. The last person to walk the moon was Gene Cernan in 1972. IV We have a lot of factors to be grateful for on planet earth, with one of these being the atmosphere. Due to the moon not having one, its skies always appear pitch black, there is no sound, and temperatures shift wildly to an almost uninhabitable degree. V During the 50s, the United States and Russia were in an aggressive race towards landing on the moon. Whichever country ended up landing there would have established technical and national superiority at the time. The United States actually considered detonating a nuclear bomb on the moon as a show of strength. VI While many spaceships were sent to the moon, the first one to actually come into landing distance from was Luna 1. The ship reached this milestone all the way back in 1959. It was a Soviet aircraft and was launched from the USSR.

I Dalmatian dogs are best known for their movie worthy black spotted white furs, but did you know that they are actually born without any spots? They spend the first week of their lives with plain white coats and only begin showing spots later on. II Most people think that dogs sweat through either their skin or their tongues, but it's actually neither. They sweat through their footpads. Pant is merely a dogs way of keeping its body cool with the outside air. Kind of like a fan. III The worlds tallest dog was a 44 inches tall Great Dane named Zeus. This translates to about 1.17 meters. When standing on his hind legs, he was 3 ft 8.0 inches (1.118 meters) tall. Zeus died from natural causes at five years old. IV Cheetahs are known as the worlds fastest running animal, but Greyhounds can actually compete and beat them in long-distance races. According to Psychology Today, these dog breeds can run 7 miles at about 35 mph, while cheetahs can only maintain their amazing speed for about 250 yards. V Three dogs actually survived the sinking of the Titanic after it sank in the North Atlantic Ocean on the morning of April 15, 1912. The dogs were considered royal dogs and belonged to wealthy individuals. Two of them were Pomeranian and one was a Pekingese. VI Bloodhounds are known as the best tracking dogs in the world due to their impeccable sense of smell. In fact, their sense of smell is so respected that it can legally be used as evidence in a court of law.

I Throughout his long and highly-successful writing career, the legendary William Shakespeare wrote a total of about 37 plays and over 150 poems. Unfortunately, some of them have been lost or destroyed, but the majority have been preserved. II For such a famous playwright, not much is known about Shakespeare's earlier years particularly his childhood. Although historians do believe his childhood was a bright one. Even Shakespeare's precise date of birth is still in question to this day and is considered nothing more than an educated guess. III Did you know that William Shakespeares wife was called Anne Hathaway? He married her in 1582 and they had three children together. Their children were called Susanna, Judith, and Hamnet. But Hamnet, Judith's twin brother died early on at age 11 due to poor health. IV The Globe theater in London has an extremely long and dynamic history, which involves William Shakespeare. The young poet worked for a theatre company called Lord Chamberlains Men, which performed on a weekly basis in a place called The Theatre. It was destroyed and eventually rebuilt elsewhere as the Globe. V William Shakespeare had a lot of social and political influence with some of the countrys most powerful men and women. He was adored by royalty and got invited regularly to perform with his company in the royal court. His most famous fans were Queen Elizabeth I and James VI of Scotland. VI Back when Shakespeare was alive, females were not allowed to act in theaters. This forced male actors to dress as women and play their parts. If thats not enough, theater-goers were also much rowdier, to the point of throwing food and failing actors while they were performing on stage.

I Sharks have a very unique body and actually dont possess any bones. Their bodies are made from cartilaginous, the same material that forms the tip of your nose. Thanks to their boneless build, sharks are extremely fast, buoyant and can easily maneuver underwater. II Most sharks actually have decent eyesight and can even see colors! Contrary to popular opinion, these fish have a natural form of night vision and can even see things from a distance even in low-light situations. They are truly the apex predators of the ocean. III In case youve never had a chance to rub a sharks skin, you might be disappointed to know that its not too much fun. Sharks have very rough skin, and many have claimed that it feels exactly like sandpaper. Their skin is made up of tiny teeth-like structures. IV Sharks are some of the oldest big living creatures on planet earth and actually date all the way back to almost 500 million years ago. Thats quite a lot, even in evolutionary terms, which is one of the reasons why so many species exist. V If you catch and flip a shark from its belly to its back, it will actually go into a deep trance and completely stop moving. This is called tonic immobility. Its often used by fishermen and other sea expediters to catch sharks, usually because it works so well. VI There are more than 500 different species of shark. Of those 500, more than 140 are considered vulnerable or facing the threat of extinction. This state has dramatically improved in recent years, although Sharks are still considered endangered by many marine biologists

I More than 130 million books have been published since 2010, and that number went up dramatically since digital books became a popular trend. Now that everyone can basically become an author from their laptop, the number is estimated to be closer to 200 million books. II The worlds most expensive book ever purchased was Codex Leicester by Leonardo Da Vinci. It was bought by Microsofts founder and worlds richest man, Bill Gates, who paid over $30 million for it. Luckily for Gates, he made more money than that in the following few days. III Theres actually a word for that great feeling you get when smelling a well-aged book. Its called Bibliosmia, and it means The smell and aroma of a good book. The word for someone who loves to read or collect books is Bibliophile. IV According to Barnes and Noble, the worlds longest printed sentence is 823 words. It appeared on Victor Hugos masterpiece, Les Miserables. The sentence is an extremely long description of a man but is nevertheless captivating from start to finish. V Nowadays, its almost unheard of to have a book without its authors name on the cover, but back in the day, it was the norm. Books were considered a piece of art and were often covered in drawings, leather or gold. Citing the authors name is a relatively new trend. VI The three most widely read books are The Holy Bible, Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-Tung, and Harry Potter. The Bible and Harry Potter have been translated into almost every known language, but the second book is mostly read by Chinese people, which comprise about 1.4 billion of the worlds population.

I While many people outside the U.S. believe that the Statue of Liberty is located in New York City, it is actually located in Jersey City, New Jersey. The statue was given to the Americans as a gift from France to commemorate their alliance during the American revolution. II The tallest mountain in the world is not Mount Everest, because theres actually a mountain twice as high in the United States (when measured from the seafloor). The mountain is called Mauna Kea and it can be found in Hawaii. It stands more than 32,000 feet high. III Americans love pizza. When polled about their pizza habits, 93% of Americans claimed they ate at-least one in the last 30 days. If you lay out all the pizza that is eaten in the United States, youd get about 36,500 acres of pizza annually (or 27,500 football fields). IV Women got the right to vote in the United States in 1920 thanks to the 19th amendment. This was quite a contentious topic, as voting was normally associated with the draft (which women were exempt from). To commemorate this event, a Womens Rights National Historical Park was founded in Seneca Falls, NY. V The worlds largest office building is the United States Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, which houses the United States Department of Defense. It currently stands at 41 acres long and had cost $83 million to build in 1943, which is about $1.32 billion when adjusted for inflation. VI One of the tensest times in the United States history was the early 20s when the government tried to ban alcohol with the 18th amendment. It took only 14 years for the law to be dismissed with the 21st amendment, as riots and crime went through the roof.

I Africa is the worlds second-biggest continent, right after Asia, and it houses more than 1.2 billion people. Its most common language is Arabic, followed by English, Swahili, French, and multiple other languages. It houses some of the worlds most unique locations but is also subject to many issues. II The continent has some of the worlds highest fertility rates, especially when compared to the developed west. In-fact, Africans have so many kids that the continent is expected to double its population within the next 35 years alone. Contrarily, Europes population is actually expected to decline by that time. III Its no secret that Africa has had to deal with an exceptional number of diseases, including aids and malaria. Fortunately, thanks to modern health advancements, these diseases have been on a steady decline, with malaria death rates declining by over 90% in the last two decades alone. IV A massive chunk of Africas economy revolves around Agriculture, which represents almost a third of their entire gross domestic product. More than two-thirds of the continents labor force is engaged in some form of agriculture job. This trend is only expected to increase over the years as technology develops. V Africa is a massive continent. Its actually bigger than China, India, the United States, and most of Europe - combined. Just the Sahara alone is bigger than the entire continent of the United States. VI Africa is the hottest continent on earth and the second driest in the world after Australia.

I Speeding tickets began being issued with the turn of the 20th century, with the worlds first speeding ticket being issued in 1902. It was given to a car owner who was driving a sad 45 miles per hour, which was considered quite fast at the time. II Formula 1 cars are built to accelerate extremely quickly and are aerodynamic to the max. This means that a Formula 1 car can actually drive upside down at a tunnel when driving over 120mph. This is due to a phenomenon called downforce, which bolts a car to the ground. III There are more than 60 million new cars produced every single year, which means that every minute, more than 115 new cars have been produced. The United States is the worlds biggest importer of vehicles and imports almost $200 billion worth of cars every year. IV If you could drive in a straight line to the moon, it would take you about a month to get there at an average of 60 miles per hour. The moon is about 239 thousand miles away from earth, which sounds much better when you look at it through this lens. V Volkswagen is a popular and easily recognizable automaker, but its also a massive conglomerate that owns some of the worlds most famous European car brands. The company currently owns twelve iconic car brands, including Audi, Seat, Skoda, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Porsche, Ducati, Scania, and MAN. VI Countries like Sweden give drivers different speeding tickets fines based on how much money they were making. This is meant to discourage rich people from breaking the law. The worlds largest speeding fine was 1,000,000 and was given to a Swedish man doing 180 miles per hour.

I Musicians have always been known as tormented souls, but it appears that they also have a much shorter life span than the average person. A study conducted by a University of Sydney professor found that musicians lived an average of 25 years less than your regular person. II One of the worlds best-selling musicians is none other than the late Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Just how commercially successful is the 18th-century composer? He actually sold more CDs than some of the worlds biggest names in music, including Adele, Drake, and Beyonc. III A large number of studies have found that listening to music can actually help us perform better when doing physical challenges. The right music helps us breathe better, produce more strength, and have more stamina and endurance. Next time you have a physical test, just put on some music! IV The worlds largest free concert was hosted by Rod Stewart, the legendary British two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inducted singer/songwriter. His 1993 New Years Eve free concert in Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil has more than 4.2 million people attending. V There is one country that stands head and shoulders above all others when it comes to metal. According to the latest statistics, Finland has more metal bands per capita than any other country in the world. In fact, almost one in every 500 people in Finland is part of a metal band. VI The British Navy found a great way to scare of Somali pirates in the high-seas - they simply played them Britney Spears songs. They found that these cultures often have a strong aversion to Western culture and music, which is why "Oops I Did It Again" is highly effective at scaring them away.

I Insects are the worlds most successful creatures when it comes to reproduction and longevity. There are almost 10 million different species of them, with 90% of the worlds living creatures being part of the insects family. They also have some of the only living creatures that could easily survive a nuclear holocaust. II Some factors which contribute to the success of insects include their tiny size, very wide diet, tough exterior shells, ability to fly, and their ability to produce thousands of offspring. Recent studies have even found that they are a lot more intelligent than we think, and work to solve problems in groups. III Its been estimated that there are 10 quadrillion ants currently living on the planet, which means that for every living person, there are more than a million ants crawling around in the world. This is because a single queen ant can lay up to 300,000 eggs in a single day. IV Insects are not mouth breathers like most animals, but actually inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide via holes in their exoskeletons, called spiracles. They also differ from most animals in their cardiovascular systems, which are built as large networks of tubes rather than a heart and veins. V The worlds largest known insect was the Meganeuropsis, a massive flying dragonfly that lived more than 247 million years ago. It had a wingspan of about 2.5 feet and was likely able to eat creatures as big as dogs and cats. VI In terms of definitions, all bugs are considered insects, but not all insects are bugs. The word bug refers to a group of insects called Hemiptera, which is recognized by having needle-like mouths. The group includes everything from bedbugs to mosquitoes and often lives on drinking the blood of other animals.

I Most people have mixed feelings about clowns, so a few years ago, researched polled 250 children and tried finding out how many of them actually like clowns. The results? Every single child in the study reported that they found clowns to be frightening. II Different cultures have various different solutions for common problems. In Japan, for example, schools dont employ janitors. Instead, part of a childs education revolves around his daily cleaning habits. This way of approaching it stems from a long-held Buddhist tradition which associates cleanliness with morality. III It has actually been illegal in Germany to homeschool your children since 1919, to the point where parents who homeschool their children can actually have them taken away by child protective services. The government doesnt even take into account how well the child is educated or being taken care of. IV If you want your child to have better control of their tonality and pitch, a great way is to teach them how to speak Mandarin. The language relies on tonality and actually has different meanings for words based on the pitch at which they are spoken. V Many countries are considering replacing the popular skull and crossbones symbol which stands for poison. The reason? Kids think pirates are cool, and could actually be drawn to the symbol. Some people have suggested replacing the icon with an emoji of someone being disgusted or throwing up. VI Kids love playing with legos, but their size makes them a potential health hazard for kids. The lego company dealt with this by installing a small hole on the top of all their toys, which acts as a breathing hole in case they get stuck in a childs throat.

I Dollar bills are actually some of the most unhygienic objects we own. According to a study published in the Southern Medical Journal, its estimated that over 90% of $1 bills are covered in bacteria and viruses, including everything from salmonella and a pathogenic strain of E. coli. II People have tried tearing dollar bills in the name of science and found that it actually takes around 4,000 alternating folds in opposite directions before a note ends up tearing on its own. Luckily, even torn bills can still be replaced by the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing. III Historians discovered the use of money as far back as China in the 7th century. It was used during the Tang Dynasty for over 300 years but only reached Europe more than a thousand years later. It was first issued in 1690 in the Massachusetts Bay Colony to fund war efforts. IV Did you know that living presidents are actually banned from having their faces printed on currency? This was a law legislated during the revolutionary years of the United States, which stated that no living person can have their face engraved on a bill. The only exception? President Calvin Coolidge in 1926. V The only person to ever appear on a dollar bill who was not a president of the United States is Benjamin Franklin. His face was featured on a $100 bill as a way to honor his legacy for being one of the country's premier founding fathers. VI It actually costs more than a penny to make a penny. According to the U.S. Mint, the department of the United States treasury responsible for creating coins, it costs roughly 1.7 cents to make a single cent coin.

I The United States Department of Defense is the single largest employer in the United States. It employs more than three million citizens who work for it both locally and abroad, this is almost three times as many employees as Walmart employees. II The U.S. military is made up of five branches. Each one has its own dominion, codes, and responsibilities. It consists of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Space Force. The Army is the oldest branch and was established by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775. III The Commander in Chief of the U.S. military is the President of the United States, who basically gets to make all final decisions when it comes to the Armed Forces. The Secretary of Defense is the one who actively controls all branches of the military except the Coast Guard. IV The United States Military reached the peak of its nuclear arsenal during the Cold War, in which Soviet Russia and the U.S. were facing the threat of nuclear war. Since then, the United States has reduced its nuclear arsenal by almost 90% but still has thousands of nuclear warheads in storage. V Military Working Dogs have been an important part of the United States military for many years. More than 2,700 of them have been deployed over the years to over 600 war zones. These dogs have helped locate more than 12,500 pounds of explosives just between 2005 and 2010. VI Soldiers in the United States Military are subject to a separate justice system than that which presides over regular American citizens. While it functions in a similar way to the U.S. Judicial System, these military courts have additional standards and rules which specifically relate to the conduct of soldiers and commanders.

I For a long time, people believed that tomatoes were poisonous and avoided eating them completely. This myth was quickly found to be false after desperate times forced people to eat tomatoes to avoid starving. Since then, they have been one of the most popular vegetables in the average persons diet. II There is a long-standing debate about the health consequences of cooking vegetables. Unlike many other foods, vegetables are known to preserve their vitamins and nutrients even when frozen. When it comes to cooking though, things arent so clear. So far, only tomatoes have been found to have improved nutrients when cooked III One of the most common vegetable myths is that spinach contains a lot of iron. This was caused by someone putting the decimal in the wrong place when it came to the iron count in spinach. Many decades later, most people still think that Popeye gets most of his strength from spinach. IV Made a mistake while writing with your pen and need to erase it? No problem. You can actually use a cucumbers outer skin to erase pen writing. Simply peel off the skin and rub it on the ink, it will make it disappear in no time. V Most people avoid eating vegetable skins and usually choose to peel and throw them away. However, these are the most nutritious parts of most vegetables. They are rich in fiber and often include more nutrients than the vegetable itself. Make sure to eat only organic vegetable skins to avoid pesticides. VI Youve probably heard that tomatoes are technically fruits and not vegetables, but there are a few more surprising fruits that are often regarded as vegetables. These include eggplant, olives, peas, avocado, cucumber, pumpkin, capsicum, and zucchini. Theyre considered fruits because all of them have seeds and use them to reproduce.

I Feeling tired and need something to wake you up? You can ditch coffee and eat an apple instead. These fruits often include very high levels of boron, which has been associated with improved brain function. This is why an apple actually provides more energy and focus than a cup of coffee. II Certain fruits such as apples, peaches, apricots, and cassava roots contain a small amount of cyanide in their seeds. However, the levels of this dangerous chemical are extremely low, which makes them safe. Youll need to consume slightly more than 250,000 seeds for them to become potentially fatal. III Certain fruits and vegetables such as pumpkin seeds and broccoli are highly dense with protein. In fact, they have more protein per calorie than an equivalent stake or ground beef. In terms of numbers, a 100 gram serving of pumpkin seeds has almost 20 grams of protein. IV Avocados are one of the most fat-dense foods and has more fat-per-pound than any other fruit or vegetable in the world. Thanks to their biological makeup, they can be stored on trees between seasons, which also makes them one of the only multi-season fruits. V An episode of The Simpsons joked about a plant hybrid of tomato and tobacco, jokingly referred to as a tomacco plant. But, like many of the shows wild predictions and hypotheses, this one also came true. A farmer in Oregon recently managed to grow a real-life tomacco plant. VI Almost everyone peels oranges and throws the skin away, which is a shame because they actually contain four times more fiber than the actual fruit itself. The oranges skin includes many other health benefits, such as a large number of antioxidants.

I Pools arent exactly known for being the most sanitary of places, but did you know that they can also be dangerous? When someone urinates in a pool, the combination of urine and the pools chlorine actually creates a dangerous chemical called cyanogen chloride, which can cause heart and lung damage. II Next time you weigh yourself on a scale, note that your blood actually makes up between 8% to 10% of your total body weight. In fact, the average adult has around 1.2 to 1.5 gallons of blood flowing in their veins at any given time. III Have you ever asked yourself how exactly do fat cells leave our body? While a tiny amount of it gets lost through sweat and urine, most of our weight loss actually happens through the lungs. More than 80% of burnt fat gets converted into carbon dioxide before being breathed out. IV The average adult has a total of 206 bones in their body, with the majority of them being found in our hands and feet. Each hand contains 27 bones, while each foot contains 26. This means that 106 out of 206 bones are concentrated in the extremities of our bodies. V Swiss researchers went through various mortality statistics and have found that theres one specific day every year in which you are 13.8% more likely to die. Unfortunately, its your birthday. While these statistics are quite consistent, causes of death range from heart attacks to suicide and even fatal accidents. VI Owning a dog could literally make your life longer. Studies consistently find that dog owners have lower levels of cholesterol and blood pressure, which leads to a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. Its unclear whether these changes are due to less stress, or just because dogs often eat your meat.

I On May 22, 2010, someone used 10,000 Bitcoins to order a $40 pizza. What makes this transaction so special? It was the first time anyone has ever used Bitcoin to buy anything. Since then, the price of 10,000 Bitcoins has gone up to roughly $81 million. II Nobody knows exactly who invented Bitcoin. Since the cryptocurrency was invented in 2009, many have tried guessing who is the father or mother of Bitcoin. The only thing known about this person is their pseudonym - Satoshi Nakamoto. Theorists have suggested everyone from Samsung to various billionaires, but to no avail. III There are only 21 million Bitcoins in circulation, as the supply of the cryptocurrency is finite and will never grow. This is similar to gold, which used to be the standard for currency before former United States President Richard Nixon separated the dollars value from gold. IV Back in the day, there was almost nothing you could do with Bitcoin except to hold on to it and hope its value grows. However, in the last few years, many companies from Starbucks, Virgin Galactic, and even Tesla have allowed customers to use it as a currency. V There are more than 2,000 Bitcoin ATMs in the United States alone, which basically allow people to withdraw real-life money using the cryptocurrency. Expect to see an exponential increase in these as the technology improves and becomes more popular among everyday consumers. VI Most people believe that Bitcoin is the worlds first cryptocurrency, but the award actually goes to a completely different digital coin. In 1989, a guy named David Chaum invented Digicash, the worlds first currency that was completely based on cryptographic protocols. Unfortunately, it didnt quite catch at the time.