#1: There is a country where twins are most likely to
be born.
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| By LaWr123 - Source: Wikimedia Commons |
Benin, a country in Central Africa, is famous for having the highest
birth rate of twins in the world. While the world averaged only 13 twins per
1,000 births, Benin more than double that level, in almost 30 twins per 1,000
births. There is no single factor that causes this, but genetics, diet, and
even the height of the mother is considered to play a role.
#2: The maps have shown an island that doesn’t exist
for 100 years.
Almost nothing is known about Sandy Island, land mass the size of
Manhattan in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Australia. Supposedly, James
Cook found it in 1774, and began to appear on the sea map in 1908. Only in 2012,
when the Australian scientist team departed to survey the island, they found
there was no island there at all. The scientists suspect that Cook might
actually see the “pumice” of volcanic stones and volcanic gas floating. Sydney
Morning Herald even published obituaries for Sandy Island.
#3: The famed “Typhoid Mary” infected more than 50
people by cooking for them.
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| By Unknown artist - According to NOVA this illustration appeared on 20 June 1909 in The New York American - Source: Wikimedia Commons |
“Typhoid Mary” was a real historical person who became notorious in the
early 1900s. She was an Irish woman named Mary Mallon who immigrated to the
United States in the 1880s. Though she had no symptoms of typhoid fever, she
carried the bacteria in her blood and could pass it on to other people. Because
no doctor could convince her that this was true and she didn't feel sick, she
insisted on working as a cook. During her career, she infected at least 51
people, three of whom died, before she was isolated in enforced quarantine for
the last decades of her life.
#4: Sea lions can dance to a beat.
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| By Rhododendrites - Source: Wikimedia Commons |
There are only two mammals on earth with the proven capacity to move
their bodies over time with an external rhythm: humans (but not all humans, to
be fair) and sea lions. When researchers from the University of Santa Cruz
saved a stranded sea lion in 2013, they found that she was very intelligent and
that she was even able to learn to dance. Although parrots can also keep a
rhythm, we previously thought that only animals capable of complex vocal
learning could do so.
#5: The Comic Sans font came from an actual comic
book.
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| By Talmoryair - Source: Wikimedia Commons |
Nowadays, most adults who know anything about graphic design are moving
away from the use of the Comic Sans font in formal documents. The font was
designed by Vincent Connare, who was directly inspired by his favorite comics,
in particular the famous surveillance series of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons.
#6: The legend of the Loch Ness monster goes back
nearly 1,500 years.
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| Source: Wikimedia Commons |
There is a story written in the year 565 AD who talks about an Irish
monk traveling through Scotland. During his stay, Saint Columba heard stories
of a “water beast” which attacked and killed the local population when they
went to the river. Wanting to help, the monk used his friend as bait to attract
the beast in sight, how much Columba ordered him to “go no further”, and the
creature stopped and swam upstream. This river is now known in Scotland under
the name of River Ness, which streams from the famous Loch Ness.
#7: The first iPhone wasn’t made by Apple.
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| By Carl Berkeley from Riverside California - Source: Wikimedia Commons |
The first mobile device to be called “iPhone” was manufactured by Cisco,
not Apple. It allowed the user to use Skype’s vocal functions without a
computer. Apple announced its own product only 22 days later, and Cisco
continued for brands. The trial was finally settled amicably and the two
companies were authorized to continue using the name. However, you have
probably never heard of the iPhone Cisco.
#8: Nutmeg can be fatally poisonous.
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| By Marco Verch Professional Photographer - Source: Flickr |
A little pinch of nutmeg in a pumpkin pie or on your egg lace can give
it an additional flavor and a nice spicy perfume. Too much nutmeg, however, can
be toxic. Two to three teaspoons of raw nutmeg can induce hallucinations,
convulsions, pain, nausea and paranoia that can last several days. Real deaths
are rare, but they have occurred.
#9: Rolls-Royce makes the most expensive cars in the
world.
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| By J Harwood Images - Source: Wikimedia Commons |
Currently, the most expensive car in the world is a Sweptail Rolls-Royce
which has sold for $13 million. However, even if you have this kind of dough,
you will not be able to buy it - only one has been done, and it was built to
measure from zero depending on the buyer's specifications. But new personalized
cars have nothing on second -hand classics; the recent sale of a Ferrari GTO in
1963 for $70 million is supposed to be the highest price ever paid for a car.
#10: Chinese police use geese squads.
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| By John Romkey from USA - Source: Wikimedia Commons |
You have heard of police dogs, but police geese? In 2013, 12 police
stations in a rural area of China began to use the geese as sentries. These
are alert animals and, as you probably know, can create a lot of noise and
agitation, including creative agents of the application of Chinese laws
benefit. Although this trend does not spread throughout China, Dongwan police
say that geese have already stopped at least one thief.
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