Buzz
This compilation serves as a continuation of ‘10 Things You Ought to Know‘. Once again, the facts presented here are sourced from ‘The Book Of General Ignorance‘, inspired by the British TV program ‘Qi’. Authored by John Lloyd with a foreword by Qi’s host Stephen Fry, the book is packed with fascinating tidbits from the show. While all the facts are intriguing, I’ve learned from previous lists that there can be debates about their accuracy. However, to the best of my knowledge, they are true—and utterly captivating!
10. Tallest Mountain
Where can the tallest mountain be found?
It’s located on Mars. The colossal volcano known as Olympus Mons (Latin for Mount Olympus) stands as the largest single mountain in the solar system and, currently, in the known universe. Towering at 14 miles (22 km) high and spanning 388 miles (624 km) across, it is nearly three times the height of Mount Everest and so vast that its base could cover Arizona or the entirety of Britain. Its crater is so enormous that it could easily engulf London. However, Olympus Mons defies traditional perceptions of a mountain; its slopes are so gentle that climbing it wouldn’t even make you break a sweat.
9. Nostrils
How many nostrils do you have?
Four. Two are visible, and two are hidden. This revelation came from observing how fish breathe. Fish extract oxygen from water, and most possess two pairs of nostrils—a forward-facing set for drawing water in and two ‘exhaust pipes’ for expelling it. Since humans evolved from fish, where did the extra nostrils go? The answer lies in their migration inward, toward the back of the head, where they became internal nostrils known as ‘choannae’—Greek for ‘funnels.’ These connect to the throat, enabling us to breathe through our noses. Recent studies suggest that each nostril may play a role in detecting different types of smells.
8. Headless Chickens
How long can a chicken survive without its head?
Approximately 2 years, though only one chicken has achieved this feat so far. On September 10, 1945, a young rooster in Fruita, Colorado, had its head removed but continued to live. Remarkably, the axe missed the jugular vein and left enough of the brain stem to keep the rooster alive and even chirping. Named Mike, this headless chicken became a national sensation, even appearing in Time magazine. His owner, Lloyd Olsen, showcased him in sideshows across the U.S., charging twenty-five cents to see ‘Mike the Headless Wonder Chicken.’ At his peak, Mike earned around $4,500 weekly and was valued at $10,000. He was fed and hydrated using an eyedropper, but tragedy struck when his owner forgot the eyedropper at a previous show. Unable to clear his airways, Mike suffocated and died.
7. Toilet Water
In which direction does toilet water swirl when flushed?
The direction depends not on your location relative to the equator but on the design of your toilet bowl. Contrary to popular belief, the Coriolis force, caused by the Earth’s rotation, does not influence the spiral of toilet water. While this force impacts large-scale, long-lasting phenomena like hurricanes and ocean currents, it is far too weak to affect household plumbing. The swirl of the water is instead determined by the bowl’s shape, the angle at which water enters during flushing, and the vortices created when the flush is initiated.
6. Camel Humps
What is stored in a camel’s hump?
Fat, not water. The humps of camels serve as reservoirs for fat, which acts as an energy source. Water is distributed throughout their bodies, primarily in their bloodstream, making them highly efficient at preventing dehydration. Camels can survive up to seven days without water, but when they do drink, they consume massive amounts—up to 225 liters (50 gallons) in one go! That’s enough to quench the thirst of a family of four on the hottest summer day. Interestingly, camel racing in the United Arab Emirates has adopted robot jockeys, replacing traditional child riders. These remote-controlled jockeys were introduced after the ban on using children under 16 in races.
5. US States
How many states make up the United States of America?
Technically speaking, there are only 46 states. Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts are officially designated as Commonwealths. This title doesn’t grant them any unique constitutional privileges; they simply adopted the term after the War of Independence. Virginia, named in honor of the ‘Virgin’ Queen Elizabeth I, was among the original 13 states (hence the 13 stripes on the U.S. flag—a well-known fact in America but an interesting tidbit for non-Americans). It became the first Commonwealth in 1776. Pennsylvania and Massachusetts soon followed, and Kentucky, previously a county of Virginia, joined as a Commonwealth in 1792.
4. Thai Capital
What is the capital of Thailand?
Bangkok, though it hasn’t been officially called that for about 200 years. Locally, the city is known as Krung Thep (pronounced Grung Cape), and this is how it’s referred to across Thailand. Only foreigners continue to use the name Bangkok. Krung Thep translates to ‘City of Angels,’ similar to Los Angeles, and is a shortened version of its full name, which is arguably the longest place name in the world. The complete official name is ‘Krungthep Mahanakhon Amorn Rattanakosin Mahintara Yudthaya Mahadilok Pohp Noparat Rajathanee Bureerom Udomrajniwes Mahasatarn Amorn Pimarn Avaltarnsatit Sakatattiya Visanukram Prasit.’ In Thai, this is written as a single 152-letter word. Roughly translated, it means ‘Great City of Angels, the supreme repository of divine jewels, the great land unconquerable, the grand and prominent realm, the royal and delightful capital city full of nine noble gems, the highest royal dwelling and grand palace, the divine shelter and living space of reincarnated spirits.’ Quite a mouthful, wouldn’t you agree?
3. Evolution
From what did humans evolve?
This is likely the most well-known fact on this list, but it’s worth reiterating. Neither Charles Darwin, Herbert Spencer, nor any reputable evolutionary biologist has ever suggested that humans evolved directly from chimpanzees or any other ape. The theory of evolution by natural selection explains that Homo sapiens share a common ancestor with all members of the ape family. This ancestor lived over five million years ago. This ancient organism evolved from squirrel-like tree shrews, which themselves descended from hedgehogs, and even earlier, from starfish.
2. Sound Barrier
What was the first invention to surpass the speed of sound?
The whip. Originating in China 7,000 years ago, it wasn’t until the advent of high-speed photography in 1927 that the ‘crack’ of the whip was revealed to be a miniature sonic boom, not the leather striking the handle or floor. This sound is produced by a small loop formed during the whipping motion. As the loop travels along the whip, it accelerates until, at the tip, it exceeds the speed of sound at approximately 742 mph! The first aircraft to achieve this feat was the Bell X-1, piloted by Chuck Yeager in 1947.
1. Ice Age
When did the most recent ice age conclude?
We are still in it. According to geographers, an ice age is defined as a period in Earth’s history when polar ice caps exist. Our current climate is in an ‘interglacial’ phase, meaning the ice has retreated to the poles due to warmer temperatures, not that we are between ice ages. This phase began 10,000 years ago, during what is considered the fourth ice age. Predicting when this ice age will end is uncertain, with estimates ranging from 12,000 to 50,000 years (without human influence). The causes of natural global temperature fluctuations remain unclear, with theories including the positioning of continents, atmospheric composition, Earth’s rotational axis, and even the Sun’s location within the galaxy.
