Interesting facts

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6 Secrets Behind the Rorschach Test

You're probably familiar with the concept of the Rorschach test and its inkblots, but how do psychologists actually use it?

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Why Your Voice Sounds Different to You Than to Others

Have you ever cringed in response to hearing your voice on a recording? You're not alone, and we're here to illuminate the science behind this phenomenon.

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Octopuses don’t have tentacles; they have arms.

The most distinguishing feature about an octopus is its set of eight appendages — after all, they’re right there in the name. But don’t confuse that tangle of limbs for tentacles, because octopuses don’t have those — they have arms. For us armchair biologists, the two words seem interchangeable...

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7 Facts That May Change How You See St. Patrick’s Day

What began as a solemn observance in Ireland has evolved into a worldwide celebration — but St. Patrick's Day is more than just shamrocks and Guinness.

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Until recently, only three people knew how to prepare the world’s rarest pasta.

When debating the best pasta shape, a few classic heavyweights are bound to be in the mix: spaghetti, penne, rigatoni, tortellini, and, of course, gnocchi. All of these can easily be made by millions of people worldwide, even those who aren’t fortunate enough to have a nonna in their life. This...

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Norway has a marathon that happens in the middle of the night.

Marathons are one of the most difficult tests of human endurance ever devised. Training your body to run 26.2 miles requires constant practice and determination. Running a marathon at midnight would seem to make a hard task even harder, but that’s exactly what happens every June in the Norwegian...

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Credit cards were invented because a businessman forgot his wallet.

The modern credit card may not exist if it weren’t for a businessman who forgot his wallet more than 75 years ago. In 1949, Frank McNamara was dining with clients at Major’s Cabin Grill in New York City, when he realized he didn’t have any cash on him and couldn’t pay. Accounts differ about...

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Watching a scary movie can burn as many calories as exercise.

We're all familiar with the feelings that come with watching a fright flick — the sense of dread that engulfs us as a character enters a foreboding place, ominous music building, etc. According to a 2012 study commissioned by the video subscription service Lovefilm, these heart-pounding moments...

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There’s a plant with sap that can be used to blow bubbles.

The allure of bubbles spans the ages: Take, for example, their use in 16th-century art as a reminder of life’s fleetingness, or their 2014 induction into the National Toy Hall of Fame. And if you’re looking for a new take on the age-old toy, check out the Jatropha curcas shrub, aka the bubble...

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Be a Model Guest With These Hotel Etiquette Tips

When it comes to hotels, guests play a big role in maintaining a pleasant atmosphere for everyone, so check out these etiquette tips before you check in.

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Carrots weren’t originally orange.

Today carrots are practically synonymous with the color orange, but their auburn hue is a relatively recent development. When the carrot was first cultivated 5,000 years ago in Central Asia, it was often a bright purple. Soon, two different groups emerged: Asiatic carrots and Western carrots...

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The Leaning Tower of Pisa is getting straighter.

Between the 13th and 20th centuries, the Leaning Tower of Pisa’s tilt increased from around 0.2 degrees north to 5.5 degrees degrees south — 5.7 degrees of movement in total. But since the 1990s, that incline has reverted roughly 1.5 degrees back toward center, thanks to a project meant to...

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A volcanic explosion caused a “year without a summer” in 1816 — and inspired “Frankenstein.”

Difficult times can lead to great art. Case in point: the volcanic explosion that caused a “year without a summer” in 1816 — and inspired the novel Frankenstein. The eruption took place at Indonesia’s Mount Tambora, many thousands of miles away from author Mary Shelley’s home in England. In...

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There are vents on the seafloor hot enough to melt lead.

It’s generally understood that ocean water gets colder the farther one gets from the warming rays of the sun, but there’s an exception. Hydrothermal vents can pump out fluids at temperatures above 700 degrees Fahrenheit — hot enough to melt lead. Hydrothermal vents are created by fissures in the...

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Belgium has an annual seagull screeching contest.

Anyone who’s ever had a french fry stolen at the beach can personally relate to humans’ contentious relationship with seagulls. Gulls are scavengers, and yet despite their peskiness, there’s something endearing about them too. It’s in this spirit that Belgium launched a new tradition in honor of...

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High-heeled shoes exert more pressure on the ground than a skyscraper.

Walking in high heels requires a skillful mix of balance and coordination, but for something so graceful, these shoes actually pack a surprising amount of pressure underfoot. Pressure is the amount of force distributed over a specific area, and when that area is small, such as the tip of a high...

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Many TV actors in the 1960s and 1970s looked older for their age than actors do now...
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Certain types of rhubarb have to be harvested by candlelight.

Rhubarb may be best known as a tart springtime ingredient that introduces a bright, distinct tang to otherwise sweet desserts, but not all rhubarb is grown in the light of day, or even in spring at all. In parts of England, a special variety is harvested by candlelight in the depths of winter...

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Grand Central Terminal is radioactive.

Next time you find yourself arriving at Grand Central Terminal, feel free to inform the person sitting next to you that the architectural landmark is radioactive — and, once their expression changes, be sure to also tell them that it’s only by a harmless amount. Located in midtown Manhattan, New...

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