- The world’s oldest known joke is a Sumerian joke written on a cuneiform tablet dating back to 1900 BC. Jokes have been entertaining people for thousands of years!
- Honey never spoils. Archaeologists have discovered pots of honey in ancient Egyptian tombs that are over 3,000 years old and still perfectly edible.
- The average person will spend about six months of their life waiting for red traffic lights. That’s a lot of time spent at intersections!
- The shortest war in history occurred between Britain and Zanzibar in 1896. It lasted just 38 minutes before Zanzibar surrendered.
- A group of flamingos is called a “flamboyance.” Just imagine a flamboyance of flamingos gracefully gathered together!
- The world’s oldest known living organism is a 5,000-year-old bristlecone pine tree named Methuselah, located in the White Mountains of California.
- In Japan, there are square watermelons. They are grown in boxes and are much easier to stack and store.
- The average person walks the equivalent of three times around the world in their lifetime. That’s a lot of steps!
- The national animal of Scotland is the unicorn. Despite being a mythical creature, the unicorn holds a special place in Scottish folklore and symbolism.
- Astronauts cannot cry in space. Due to the lack of gravity, tears don’t fall down their faces, but instead, form into little floating balls.
- The world’s largest snowflake was recorded in Montana, USA, in 1887. It measured 15 inches in diameter!
- Cows have best friends. These social animals form strong bonds with their herd mates and can become distressed when separated.
- The shortest war in history occurred between two African tribes in 1963. It lasted only 45 minutes before a ceasefire was called.
- Wombat poop is cube-shaped. This unique shape prevents the droppings from rolling away on uneven surfaces.
- The electric chair was invented by a dentist. Dr. Alfred P. Southwick, a dentist from Buffalo, New York, proposed the idea as a more humane method of execution.
- The Hawaiian alphabet consists of only 13 letters. It includes five vowels (a, e, i, o, u) and eight consonants (h, k, l, m, n, p, w, and the ‘okina, a glottal stop).
- The oldest known living tree is a bristlecone pine named Prometheus. It was over 4,900 years old when it was accidentally cut down in 1964.
- Sea otters hold hands while sleeping to prevent drifting apart. They form “rafts” by holding onto each other, ensuring they stay together.
- The world’s largest rubber duck is over six stories tall and weighs over 11 tons. It has made appearances in various harbors around the world.
- The Eiffel Tower can grow by about six inches during the summer due to the expansion of the iron in the heat.