Category: factfizz
-
Before your phone buzzed you awake, people used burning ropes as alarm clocks! In ancient China, around the 4th century, folks would tie knots in a rope, light one end, and let it burn slowly overnight. The knots were spaced out to mark time—when the fire reached a knot, it would burn through and drop…
-
A pig once beat humans in a painting contest—brush and all! In 1997, a South African pig named Pigcasso (yes, really) made headlines when she picked up a paintbrush with her snout and started creating art. Her owner, Joanne Lefson, had rescued her from a slaughterhouse and noticed Pigcasso loved playing with brushes in the…
-
Trees might seem silent, but they’re chatting underground! Scientists have discovered that trees can “talk” to each other through a network of fungi called mycorrhizae, which connect their roots like a forest internet. This underground web lets trees share nutrients, warn each other about dangers, and even help their neighbors survive. It’s been dubbed the…
-
Raindrops might seem gentle, but they can fall faster than a speeding car! In a big storm, the largest raindrops—about the size of a housefly—can reach speeds of up to 50 miles per hour as they plummet to the ground. That’s faster than a car cruising at 40 mph in a school zone! The speed…
-
In a tiny Norwegian town, the mayor barks instead of speaks—because it’s a dog! In 2019, the residents of the island of Værøy, off Norway’s coast, elected a dog named Tassen as their honorary mayor. Tassen, a fluffy Norwegian Lundehund, was chosen as part of a publicity stunt to boost tourism, and the locals loved…
-
The Slinky, that bouncy toy we all played with as kids, was a total accident! In 1943, a naval engineer named Richard James was working on a project to stabilize ship instruments during World War II. He was testing tension springs at a shipyard in Philadelphia when one of them fell off his desk. Instead…
-
That iconic yellow smiley face you see everywhere? It was created for just $45! Back in 1963, a Massachusetts insurance company, State Mutual Life Assurance, was struggling with low employee morale after a merger. They hired a graphic designer named Harvey Ball to come up with a cheerful symbol to boost spirits. Ball spent 10…
-
Ever heard of a goat running for mayor? In 1986, the tiny town of Lajitas, Texas, elected a beer-drinking goat named Clay Henry as its mayor! Lajitas, a small border town near Big Bend National Park, had a population of just a few hundred and a quirky sense of humor. The town’s general store owner,…
-
Popping bubble wrap is one of life’s simple joys, but did you know it was originally invented to be… wallpaper? In 1957, two American engineers, Alfred Fielding and Marc Chavannes, were trying to create a unique plastic wall covering with air bubbles trapped inside. They thought the textured look would be a trendy addition to…