Buzz
It's widely believed that our solar system comprises eight planets, cucumbers are fruits, carrots are vegetables, and the Wright brothers achieved the first powered flight. However, these commonly accepted facts can vary based on where you reside.
In Brazil, the Wright brothers are not credited with the first powered flight. New Mexico recognizes nine planets in the solar system, while Oklahoma classifies watermelon as a vegetable. Discover more location-specific truths below.
10. Pluto Is Still Considered a Planet in New Mexico
Pluto retained its planetary status until April 24, 2006, when the International Astronomical Union (IAU) concluded it failed to meet the necessary criteria. According to the IAU, a celestial body in our solar system must be spherical, orbit the Sun, and possess sufficient gravitational force to dominate its orbital neighborhood to qualify as a planet.
While Pluto is spherical and orbits the Sun, it doesn't satisfy the third requirement. Its orbit is heavily influenced by Neptune's gravity and shared with objects in the Kuiper belt. Consequently, Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet, reducing the number of recognized planets in our solar system to eight.
New Mexico lawmakers, however, disagreed. In 2007, they enacted legislation designating Pluto as a planet whenever it is visible in New Mexico's skies. They also established March 13, 2007, as Pluto Planet Day. This decision was influenced by Clyde Tombaugh, the discoverer of Pluto, who hailed from New Mexico and taught astronomy at New Mexico State University.
9. In the US, Pizza Qualifies as a Vegetable
Due to a decision by the United States Congress, pizza can be considered a vegetable if it includes at least two tablespoons of tomato sauce. In 2011, Congress debated the budget for the federal school meal program managed by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). During these discussions, they determined which foods would be served in schools.
Simultaneously, the USDA aimed to enhance the quality of meals served in schools. They sought to eliminate unhealthy options like pizza and chips, which contribute to obesity, and replace them with nutritious alternatives such as vegetables. However, lobbyists from the frozen food industry intervened, persuading Congress to prevent the USDA from removing pizza from school menus—and they succeeded.
Since the school meal program mandates that contractors provide vegetables, lobbyists convinced Congress to classify any food containing two tablespoons of tomato sauce, including school pizzas, as a vegetable. This decision effectively redefined pizza as a vegetable.
8. Brazil Recognizes Alberto Santos-Dumont as the Pioneer of Powered Flight
While Wilbur and Orville Wright are widely acknowledged as the inventors of powered flight, Brazilians hold a different view. In Brazil, Alberto Santos-Dumont is celebrated as the true pioneer. Brazil’s commitment to this claim is so strong that their educational materials omit any reference to the Wright brothers.
In October 1906, Santos-Dumont achieved what Brazilians consider the first powered flight. He flew 60 meters (197 ft) in his aircraft, the 14-bis, in front of an audience in France. At the time, news of the Wright brothers’ 1903 flight had not reached France, leading to Dumont being hailed as the pioneer of powered flight.
The narrative shifted two years later when the Wright brothers arrived in Paris with their plane. They conducted multiple flights and disclosed their 1903 achievement. While Brazilians acknowledge the Wright brothers’ 1903 flight, they argue it wasn’t a true powered flight, attributing it instead to strong winds.
7. The US and Russia Both Claim Victory Over Nazi Germany
It’s widely accepted that the Allies triumphed in World War II. However, the question of which ally played the most significant role in defeating Germany remains contentious. Both the United States and the Soviet Union claim primary credit, each asserting the other played a secondary role.
A survey conducted in May 1945, immediately after Germany's surrender, revealed that 57% of French citizens credited the Soviet Union with defeating Germany, while only 20% attributed the victory to the United States. However, a 2015 YouGov UK study showed a shift in opinion, with 47% of French respondents believing the US contributed the most to Germany's defeat, compared to 15% who favored the Soviet Union.
The YouGov study highlighted that perceptions of World War II vary based on national biases. EU citizens leaned toward the US, while British respondents credited their own nation. In Germany, 37% believed the US defeated the Nazis, 27% favored the Soviet Union, and 4% thought Germany caused its own downfall. Meanwhile, a 2009 study found that 63% of Russians believed the Soviet Union could have defeated Germany single-handedly.
It’s worth noting that the Soviet Union endured the heaviest blows from the German military. Most German forces were deployed against the Soviets, and 93% of Nazi casualties occurred on the Russian front. Joachim von Ribbentrop, Nazi Germany’s foreign minister, later stated that their defeat resulted from the Soviet Union’s unexpected resilience, the Allies’ air superiority, and the weapons supplied by the US to the Soviets.
6. Oklahoma Classifies Watermelon as a Vegetable
While most consider watermelon a fruit, the Oklahoma House of Representatives officially declared it a vegetable in April 2007. The legislation designated watermelon as the state’s official vegetable, as the strawberry had already claimed the title of the state’s official fruit.
The legislature argued that watermelon could be categorized as a vegetable due to its relation to the cucumber family. Interestingly, the cucumber is technically a fruit, despite being commonly perceived as a vegetable.
5. In the US, Tomatoes Can Be Classified as Either a Fruit or Vegetable
The debate over whether tomatoes are fruits or vegetables has persisted for centuries. This controversy even reached the US Supreme Court in the 19th century, which ruled that tomatoes are botanically fruits but should be treated as vegetables for tariff purposes.
To clarify once and for all: the tomato is both a fruit and a vegetable. Its classification depends on your profession and possibly your location. Scientists define it as a fruit because it develops from the ovary of a flower and contains seeds. However, chefs treat it as a vegetable due to its savory culinary applications. (The cucumber shares a similar duality.)
Similar to the watermelon, some US states have officially weighed in on the tomato’s classification. Ohio recognizes it as a fruit and designated it the state fruit. New Jersey, on the other hand, declared it the state vegetable, while Arkansas honors it as both the state fruit and vegetable.
4. The European Union Officially Labels Carrots as Fruits
Politicians are well aware they can influence how fruits and vegetables are classified, and they seize every opportunity to do so. The European Union has designated the carrot as a fruit, despite its botanical classification as a vegetable. However, this reclassification applies only when carrots are used in jam production.
This change was introduced as part of the European Union Jam Directive, which sets standards for labeling products as jam or marmalade. Marmalade, a jam variant containing citrus fruits, sparked debates within the EU. Some nations sought to redefine it, while others argued it should remain classified as jam.
In addition to carrots, the EU also ruled that other foods, such as cucumbers, pumpkins, and sweet potatoes, can be categorized as fruits when used in jam.
3. Both the US and Canada Claim Victory in the War of 1812
The United States and Canada were engaged in a war spanning from June 1812 to February 1815, and both nations now assert victory. At the time, the US had recently expelled Britain during the Revolutionary War less than 30 years prior.
However, Britain, known for its involvement in other nations' territories, maintained significant influence in Canada, which was still its colony. Simultaneously, Britain was embroiled in the Napoleonic Wars with France. Britain demanded the US cease trade with France, while France insisted the US halt trade with Britain.
Both Britain and France enacted laws that put US ships at risk of seizure if they adhered to either nation's regulations. While France generally avoided targeting US ships, Britain frequently boarded them to search for navy deserters and forcibly recruit American citizens into the British Navy.
Tensions escalated due to conflicts involving Native Americans along the US-Canada border, leading to war. The US invaded Canada and set fire to Toronto (then called York). In retaliation, British and Canadian forces invaded Washington, DC, and burned down the White House.
Today, Americans who recall the war argue that the US emerged victorious by successfully defending its independence and territory against Britain. Canadians, on the other hand, claim victory by repelling the US invasion. Historians, however, conclude that the war ended in a draw.
2. The Himba People Believe Blue Is Not a Distinct Color
Does the color blue truly exist? The Himba people of Namibia argue it does not. They perceive blue as a variation of green and struggle to differentiate between the two. Intriguingly, few ancient cultures regarded blue as a separate color. The ancient Egyptians were an exception, recognizing blue as unique due to their creation of blue dye.
While modern languages have a word for blue, the Himba language does not. Researcher Jules Davidoff visited Namibia to study why the Himba people don’t recognize blue. He showed them an image with 12 squares, asking them to identify the odd one out. Despite 11 squares being green and one clearly blue, they couldn’t distinguish it. Some eventually identified blue, but only after multiple errors.
This may seem unbelievable to us, but would we be able to identify a color that lacks a name in our language? The answer is likely no. Most of us would simply associate it with the closest named color we know.
Davidoff demonstrated this by showing the Himba people an image with 12 green squares, where one square was a slightly different shade. The Himba people easily identified the distinct green because their language has more terms for green shades than English. However, most English speakers would struggle to notice the difference.
1. Both India and Pakistan Claim Victory in the 1965 Indo-Pakistani War
Since gaining independence from Britain in 1947, India and Pakistan have fought multiple wars and conflicts. One such conflict was the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, and both nations now assert that they emerged victorious.
The conflict erupted when Pakistan deployed around 30,000 armed personnel to incite an insurgency in the Indian-controlled part of the disputed Kashmir region. India uncovered the plan and mobilized its military to counter the insurgents. Pakistan then deployed its army to back the insurgents, escalating the situation. India further intensified the war by launching an attack on Pakistan's Punjab province.
Following a series of offensives and counteroffensives, the international community intervened, prompting both nations to agree to a ceasefire and return all occupied territories. Today, India claims victory, asserting that Pakistan failed to seize Kashmir. Conversely, Pakistan argues it won because India did not capture key cities like Lahore and Sialkot in Punjab.
