Buzz
Irrespective of your age, this world never fails to leave you in awe with its intriguing truths.
Throughout the expansive journey of history and society, a multitude of peculiarities, inventions, and majestic natural wonders have graced our existence. Even when you think you possess extensive knowledge or exceptional intelligence, knowledge remains an infinite abyss impossible to fill.
Hence, at any age, there will always be truths that astonish us about this world. While they may not significantly impact our daily lives, they undoubtedly leave us surprised about the objects and events around us.
1. A messy bed is better for our health.
Maintaining order and cleanliness undoubtedly makes our living environment more refreshing and comfortable. However, making the bed seems to contradict this standard.
According to a recent study from Kingston University, leaving the bed in disarray can exterminate approximately 1.5 million dust mites, thereby enhancing our health more than neatly folding the sheets upon waking.
2. Men have longer tongues than women
A widespread misconception that women talk more than men is challenging to assert. However, concerning tongue length, men are unquestionably leading. A study conducted at the University of Edinburgh confirmed that the average tongue length for adult women is 7.9 cm, while for men, it's 8.5 cm.
3. The Eiffel Tower can be taller by 15 cm in the summer
One of the most renowned landmarks in Europe is undoubtedly the Eiffel Tower. Besides its symbolic nature, the slight height variation of this architectural marvel throughout the seasons also leaves many in awe.
During summer, when temperatures exceed 40°C, the Eiffel Tower gains nearly 6 inches (about 15 cm) in height. This phenomenon is easily explained by the expansion of metal materials in high temperatures, leading to an increase in the tower's height. Additionally, the heat can cause the top of the tower to tilt up to 17 cm in the summer.
4. YouTube's unconventional beginnings as a dating app
When we think of YouTube, an internationally renowned video-watching platform, an emblem of the robust growth of social media platforms comes to mind. However, few are aware that initially, it wasn't created with its current purpose in mind.
According to co-founder Steve Chen, when YouTube launched on Valentine's Day, February 14, 2005, the initial idea was to allow people to upload their own videos, where they would discuss their romantic interests and the type of partner they were seeking, akin to a 'video profile' for finding a date. Later, people started sharing everything about themselves, forming the YouTube community we know today.
5. Men with daughters tend to live longer
While we can't be certain if fathers with daughters are happier than those with sons, having daughters may be associated with longer life for fathers, according to a study.
A group of scientists discovered that the number of daughters positively influences the lifespan of their fathers. On average, their lifespan increases by an additional 74 weeks for each daughter born. In contrast, the number of sons has no notable impact on the lifespan of fathers.
6. Homework, once deemed harmful to children's health
Assigning homework to children, while not inherently malicious, has been a debated issue. In the United States, a ban on homework was imposed in 1901 in California for students under 15 years old. Some doctors and teachers argued that homework negatively affected children's health by causing excessive stress.
However, assigning a moderate amount of homework proved challenging to reject, leading to the reinstatement of homework in 1917.
7. Lobsters were once prison food
Despite being a pricey delicacy often found in upscale restaurants, few know that lobsters were once a meal reserved for prisoners.
In the 1880s, lobsters were so abundant that they covered the shores of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the United States. Consequently, they were affordable and referred to as the 'poor man's protein,' serving as the preferred food choice for inmates in prisons.
8. Invention of eraser comes 200 years after the pencil
Despite pencils being our companions for over 400 years, it took quite a while for the small, handy eraser at the end of the pencil to make its appearance - precisely around 200 years later.
In the 18th century, before rubber became a primary material for erasers, people used bits of sponge or even crumbs of bread to cover up pencil marks or erase writing mistakes.
The use of rubber to create erasers originated from a serendipitous incident in 1770 when Joseph Priestley used a plant-based rubbery substance to eliminate pencil marks. Since then, the invention of erasers based on the properties of rubber began.
Source: Bright Side
