amazing facts for you

Amazing facts   for you

By the time you reach adulthood, you are  likely have a pretty good grasp on the ins and outs of the world around you. You've graduated  from high school, you watch the news, and you've even managed to read  a few dozen books over the years. But every now and then, you learn a new fact that completely knocks you sideways.

Humans are the only animals with chins? Grapes light on fire in the microwave? Santa Claus has a pilot's license? Yep, it's all true! To make you think "who knew?!," we've rounded up the weirdest facts that will make you question everything.

1. Bubble wrap was originally invented as wallpaper.

Can you imagine how little you would get done if there was bubble wrap covering your walls? Engineer Al Fielding and Swiss inventor Marc Chavannes probably didn't consider that when, in 1957, they invented bubble wrap while trying to create a textured wallpaper that would appeal to the Beat generation. Fortunately, the partners soon realized that their invention was much better suited as a packing material.

2. Bed bugs have existed since the time of the dinosaurs.

Bed bugs are near impossible to get rid of and can spread faster than water-cooler gossip. But that might also be why they've managed to stick around for so long. Scientists believe that the bugs have existed since the time of the dinosaurs, coming onto the scene about 115 million years ago, according to a 2019 study in Current Biology.

3. Humans are the only animals with chins.

Despite the many differences between humans and other creatures, there are also plenty of similarities. Many other animals have hair, a heart, eyes, and a powerful brain just like ours. But one feature we don't share with any other species is our chins.

4. Breathing Mumbai air for one day during Diwali is the same as smoking 113 cigarettes.

Diwali is the festival of lights, which is why the celebration includes plenty of fireworks. And while the dramatic displays thrill participants and onlookers, they also create a sudden increase in air pollution. According to the India Times, breathing the air in Mumbai during Diwali is "like smoking 113 cigarettes every day for 7 days."

5. You can tell the temperature by counting a cricket's chirps.

If you're not sure what the temperature is on hot summer day, just listen to the crickets. According to the Library of Congress, the musical creatures adjust their signature sounds according to the temperature, which means that if you count how many times a cricket chirps in 15 seconds and then add 37, you'll get a number that is a pretty close approximation of the current temperature in degrees fahrenheit.

6. Dogs evolved "puppy eyes" to manipulate humans.

That puppy-dog look that your canine companion gives you is completely adorable, totally intentional, and something that they've developed since they've become man's best friend. A 2019 study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences explained that domesticated dogs have evolved to have facial muscles around their eyes that wild wolves lack.

7. People used to say "prunes" instead of "cheese" when they took a picture.

You've likely been saying "cheese" for the camera since you were a kid. However, in the early 19th century, people attempted to capture the ideal expression by saying "prunes." Apparenty, the cue helped keep subjects' mouths "prim," according to the Washington Post. Former Full House stars Mary-Kate and Ashely Olsen have reportedly used the same trick for years in order to present the perfectly relaxed pout to the paparazzi.

8. There are around 2,000 thunderstorms happening on Earth at all times.

The number of thunderstorms you witness tends to depend on where on the planet you live. For instance, the U.S. experiences an estimated 100,000 thunderstorms each year. However, overall, there are 16 million thunderstorms annually on Earth. That breaks down to about 2,000 thunderstorms at all times, according to The National Severe Storms Laboratory.

9. Shellac is made from bug excrement.

Shellac is sometimes called "confectioner's glaze," due to the fact that it gives a shiny coating to candies like jelly beans and candy corn. But whatever you happen to call it, shellac, which is also used as a brush-on colorant and a wood finish, comes from the excrement secretions produced by female Kerria lacca insects. In other words, it's bug poop.

10. There's a 1 in 4,400,000 chance of a left-handed person being killed using right-handed equipment.

It's not always easy being a left-handed person in a right-handed world. In fact, it can be downright dangerous. According to The Mirror, more than 2,500 people who are left-handed die every year due to an injury caused by using equipment designed for people who are right-handed. Apparently, "the right-handed power saw is the most deadly item."

11. Snails have thousands of microscopic teeth.

Snails come across as relatively simple animals with notable features like shells and slime. But some snail species have an unexpected attribute: they have a ribbon-like tongue and a jaw—called a radula—with thousands of tiny teeth that allow the hungry critters to rip their food into manageable pieces, according to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles.