15 curious facts that you probably did not know

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

They can come in handy to impress or entertain others.

1. Sarcasm enhances creativity

You may not find it the most enjoyable quality, but scientists have concluded that it has a positive effect on creative thinking. And not only the one who jokes, but also the listeners.

Using sarcasm, we build connections between polar ideas, and when comprehending someone's sarcastic statement, we use abstract thinking, which is exactly what is useful for creativity.

2. The chance of getting heads, not tails, not 50/50

The mathematician Percy Diaconis proved that the likelihood that a coin tossed will fall on the side that was on top is slightly higher. And in general, the coin is not flipped randomly. With practice, you can make it fall the way you want it to.

And if the coin is spinning on the edge, then it is more likely to come up tails, because the other side weighs a little more (at least for American cents).

3. There is a formula for calculating the distance to the horizon

When we look at it, the horizon seems to be something unattainable and almost abstract. But in fact, it is quite possible to find out the distance to it. To do this, you need to know how high above sea level you are, and use the formula √ (R + h) ² - R². Here R is the radius of the Earth (6,371 kilometers), and h is the height of the observation point. Of course, you can't calculate it in your head, you have to take a calculator.

4. Paper money isn't really made of paper

Most of the bills are made of cotton and linen fibers. These materials are stronger and more durable than regular paper. And it is thanks to them that banknotes feel the same as we are used to.

5. Orange is the worst interview color

According to polls, candidates in this color make the worst impression. They seem to be unprofessional. But the best colors for an interview are blue and black.

6. Calories are consumed even during sleep

Surprisingly, while we sleep, the body continues to consume energy, especially during REM sleep. The exact number of calories burned depends on the person's weight, metabolic characteristics and sleep duration.

7. The best music for concentration is video game soundtracks

This is because their goal is to help the player focus on the current task. Such music creates an atmosphere, but does not draw attention to itself and does not distract. Try turning it on the next time you need to do some deeper work.

8. Banana is a berry

At least from a botanical point of view. In it, berries are called fruits, consisting of a dense shell, a soft middle and a layer with seeds. In addition, the fruit should only develop from the ovary, and not from other parts of the flower. According to this classification, banana and grapes are berries, but strawberries and raspberries are not.

9. People with light eyes are more likely to develop alcohol dependence

Researchers have found a link between genes that are responsible for eye color and genes that influence addictions. People with blue, gray, green and light brown eyes are more likely to be addicted to alcohol. Moreover, the highest risk is in blue-eyed. This is likely because they are able to drink more alcohol before feeling the effect of it.

10. Chips will help light the fire

They are saturated with oil, which means they will burn well. So, if you don't have paper or dry twigs on hand, use your favorite chips. And if you don’t feel sorry for them, you can burn the entire pack - and not go to fetch firewood.

11. An apple can be broken in half with bare hands

You don't need superpowers for that. Press the bases of your thumbs into the groove at the top, after removing the tail. Then squeeze the apple and spread your arms as if you were opening a book. This trick works best with small, crunchy fruits.

12. There are six times fewer native speakers of English than people for whom it is a second language

You've probably noticed that in many countries there are inscriptions in English, and many know at least a few basic phrases in it. In total, approximately two billion people speak English in the world. But he is only native to 370 million.

13. There is a separate word for rumbling in the stomach

Borborygmus - this is what sounds are called, which often put us in an awkward position. They are distributed when the contents of the digestive tract or gases move through the intestines. This is considered normal.

14. Dogs can recognize human emotions

It turned out that they have intonation-sensitive areas in their brains, very similar to human ones. In one experiment, dogs were able to correctly correlate a voice conveying a particular emotion with a photograph of a person depicting the same emotion. They probably developed this ability because they have coexisted with humans for thousands of years.

15. Hugs speed up recovery

Oxytocin is released during hugging and touching. It helps relieve pain and may even speed up healing by stimulating the immune system.

Of course, if you are seriously ill, you should not refuse medical help and be treated with hugs alone. But using them as an additional measure will definitely not hurt.