Weird Facts Most People Don’t Know

April 4, 2019 | Miles Brucker

Weird Facts Most People Don’t Know


50. What’s the Deal With Airplane Food?

Our sense of taste and smell are cut down by 50 and 20 percent during flights. This is why airplane food doesn’t taste so great. "That's what I've been telling you!" said every airplane food chef ever.

Fun Facts To Tell At Your Next PartyWikimedia Commons

51. Counting Calories

A weight-loss craze that was very popular in the late Victorian era was known as the “tapeworm diet,” and yes, it was as disgusting as it sounds. In order to lose weight, people literally swallowed tapeworms and other parasites in the hopes that they would do the work on their inner parts for them. The worst part? The celebrity opera singer whose reputation of having done this sparked the fad is now believed never to have actually done it. So yeah, don’t spread rumors if they might end up getting parasites into people’s bodies!

Weird World Factsdeviantart

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52. Larvae Tacos

Escamoles are the larvae of a venomous ant species that lay their eggs deep down in the roots of agave or maguey plants in Mexico. The larvae are said to have a consistency akin to cottage cheese and taste somewhat nutty; they’re normally eaten as the filling in a taco or omelet. They look remarkably similar to rice, so maybe take an extra close look the next time you're chomping into a fresh taco.

The World's Weirdest Foods factsBUGSfeed

53. Weird Experiments

If I told you that the CIA experimented with LSD to try and create a mind-control drug, you'd tell me that's the plot of a bad movie—except that it's true. Project MKUltra took place between 1953 and 1973 and involved extremely unethical experiments on unsuspecting subjects. It even resulted in one death when a man threw himself out of a window. The CIA tried to destroy all the files related to the project and bury it forever, but many of them were accidentally put with financial records, where they were discovered in 1977 when the truth came out.

Plot Twists factsPixabay

54. Think Ink

The body of Ötzi the Iceman contains the earliest tattoos known to human history. Having lived between 3370 and 3100 BC, he probably didn’t have access to those trendy designer parlors, but he did have 61 tattoos, featuring dots and lines of carbon ink. He was so well preserved that the tattoos are still visible!

Wicked Random FactsMental Floss

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55. Should Have Taken the Stairs

Sneaking a boy into your bedroom is perhaps not that unusual, but killing him while doing it is. In 1667, James Betts died from asphyxiation after being sealed in a cupboard by his lover, the young Elizabeth Spencer, when her father unexpectedly returned. Sadly, destroyed by guilt and grief, Elizabeth committed suicide shortly after. This all took place at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, and the young lovers' ghosts are said to haunt the grounds to this day.

Unusual Deaths facts

56. What a Train Wreck

It sounds like a stupid idea, but it actually worked: In the early 1800s, a railroad marketer set up a head-on collision between two trains as a publicity stunt. 40,000 people came to watch, and the resulting boiler explosion killed three spectators. But ticket sales skyrocketed, and railways everywhere staged train crashes right up until the Great Depression.

Weirdest Fads factsindie db

57. Wet Moon

We have long been searching for extraterrestrial life, but maybe instead of on other planets, we should be looking on other moons! Europa, one of Jupiter's many moons, may have massive liquid oceans under its surface. Can you imagine what kind of crazy dolphin aliens could be living under there? Time will tell...

Science facts Unbelievable Wikia

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58. Shocking Odds

Men are five times more likely to be struck by lightning than women. This is thought to be because men are more likely to be unaware of the dangers (or to take more risks). Young men also account for 80% of drowning victims in Canada.

Twisted Facts # 2Zoom magazin

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59. The Graveyard on Everest

No one really knows exactly how many bodies are on Mount Everest, but there are hundreds, and recovering them could pose serious risks. Any altitude above 8,000 meters (26,000 feet), on Everest or any other mountain, is referred to as the “death zone." On Everest, most deaths occur in the death zone, but more happen during descent than during ascent. At least they made it to the top first, right?

Twisted AF FactsBBC

60. Pinocchio, No!!

The Disney film Pinocchio was based on an Italian children’s story from the 1880s. The story does feature a cricket (though the name “Jiminy Cricket” is a Disney invention), but his story takes a rather dark turn. In the original, Pinocchio kills the cricket after it tries to give him some advice, and the cricket comes back as a ghost to continue advising him.

Twisted Facts #4Walmart

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61. Rat King

What's worse than a rat? Try a whole group of rats who have fused together, their tails intertwined with hair and other substances such as gum or sap. In ancient times, the rat king was deemed an omen of misfortune, but today they're so rare some people even question whether the phenomenon even exists. However, museums like the Mauritianum in Altenburg, Thuringia claim to have a mummified rat king on display. I dare you to test that thing and prove them wrong.

Twisted FactsPinterest

62. Peel Me

Bananas share 50% of their DNA with humans. Maybe that's why we find them so appeeling...I'll see myself out.

Banana Popsicle EditorialShutterstock

63. Vanishing Hitchhiker

An urban legend suggests that the ghost of a girl named “Resurrection Mary” who was hit and killed by a car in the 1930s visits passersby on a road outside of Chicago, hitching a ride only to disappear into thin air without a trace when her driver passes the local cemetery. Honestly, I bet there are much worse hitchhikers you could pick up.

Weird World Factswikia

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64. A Tuna Jell-O Treat

Most people associate gelatin with desert—who doesn't love a strawberry or lime Jello-O? Well, back in the mid-20th century, Jell-O wasn't all about sweet treats. Dig into some old cookbooks and you'll find Jell-O flavored with tuna and tomato soup, with recipes that included chicken, eggs, fish, and cheese. Bon appetit!

The World's Weirdest Foods factsMy recipes

65. Long Term Parking

Richard III was the English king to die in battle, meeting his end at the Battle of Bosworth Field. Despite his royal sacrifice, Richard’s body didn't exactly end up in the most hallowed ground. It was discovered under a parking lot in 2012.

Wicked Random FactsHistory.co.uk

66. I’m not Joking

British comedian Tommy Cooper suffered a fatal heart attack in the middle of a variety show that was broadcast live in 1984. While the unknowing audience continued to laugh, the show went to a commercial break. Cooper's unresponsive body was eventually pulled off the stage, but the other actors continued and finished the variety show.

Unusual Deaths facts

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67. This One Is Not for Cat-Lovers

Some historical fads would cause abject horror now. In 17th and 18th-century France, cat-burning was a popular pastime: People would gather dozens of cats in a sack, then suspend them over a bonfire. Onlookers apparently shrieked with laughter at cries of the animals.

Weirdest Fads factssupermano blog

68. Weird Nation

If Walmart were its own country, it would have the 24th largest GDP in the world, more than countries like Argentina, Norway, and Austria. In 2017, the retail giant made $485.14 billion in revenue worldwide. If its workforce of 2.3 million gathered together, their numbers would be greater than the population of Botswana, Macedonia, and Luxembourg.

Twisted Facts # 2The Intercept

69. Not What You Think…

Zombie tits (better known as Great tits) are a species of bird that have learned to track down tiny bats, split open their skulls, and feed on their brains.

Twisted Facts #4HBW Alive

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70. Wife Swap

In 1973, one of the weirdest scandals in sports occurred when New York Yankees players Fritz Peterson and Mike Kekich decided to trade families. They traded wives, children, even dogs! After the couples became close friends, Peterson fell in love with Kekich’s wife and vice-versa. “It’s a love story. It wasn’t anything dirty,” Peterson told a reporter in 2013. Peterson is still married to the former Mrs. Kekich, though Kekich and his new love, the former Mrs. Peterson, have since split.

Twisted Facts #4Deadspin

71. Kissy Kissy

Parasitic worms and bacteria can be transmitted through saliva when we kiss. Triatoma insects, also known as "kissing bugs," can be transferred this way and, after burrowing into a person's heart, can cause something called Chagas disease, which can be potentially deadly. How about a hug instead...through a plastic bubble?

Twisted FactsRD

72. Glutton for Punishment

Currently, more people in the world suffer from obesity than hunger. I think that's a good thing?

Human Attraction factsShutterstock

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73. Auspicious Date

The deaths of both Adolf Hitler and Osama Bin Laden were announced to the public on the date of May 1st, in 1945 and 2011, respectively. Is this some kind of Illuminati conspiracy, or just a really bad horoscope day for evil mass murderers?

Weird World Factsbathak

74. This Coffee Tastes Like...

The most expensive coffee in the world comes from coffee cherries selected not by discerning humans, but by Asian palm civets. The small cat-like (but non-feline) mammals eat the cherries, then excrete them in their feces, where they are harvested by farmers and processed into coffee. Some say the selection process, as well as the digestion by the civets, gives the beans a superior flavor. A kilogram of civet coffee, also known as kopi luwak, can fetch up to $700 US!

The World's Weirdest Foods factsXalqinfo

75. When Your Time Is Up

Pizza deliveryman Brian Wells was killed when a time bomb fastened around his neck exploded. Wells had just robbed a bank and contended that he had been forced to and told authorities that the time bomb would explode if he didn’t follow instructions. Police later determined that Wells was actually involved in the robbery plot with two others. The film 30 Minutes or Less involved an extremely similar plot, and Wells' family expressed their disgust upon the movie's release, but Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group denied that the screenwriters were aware of Wells' case before making the film.

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76. Biggest Show in Town

A Paris morgue needed help identifying bodies in the 1860s, so they decided to open their doors to the public. They probably underestimated people’s morbid curiosity, though—soon 40,000 visitors a day were coming to look at corpses.

Weirdest Fads factsatlas obscura

77. Snoring His Way to Freedom

During the 1980 siege of the Iranian Embassy in London, hostages had to decide amongst themselves who would be released. Among those chosen? A pregnant woman, and a man whose loud snoring at night annoyed the other hostages and the terrorists. Hey, I'd take it.

Twisted Facts # 2The USA Times

78. Write What You Know

In the 1980s, DC Comics created a character called Snowflame, who got his powers from cocaine. His only weakness? Cocaine Addiction. One can only imagine how they got the idea for such a character…

Twisted Facts #4 DC Wikia

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79. We Appreciate It, Bill

The Battle of Hastings, where William the Conqueror took over England, had even more far-reaching consequences than people realize. After the battle, he parceled out England to those who had fought with him. As a result, 70% of the land in England is still owned by 1% of the population, who are largely descended from members of William's army.

Twisted Facts #4The Big Domain

80. Croc-Contraceptive

Ancient Egyptian women used crocodile dung as an early contraceptive. A pessary made of the dung, plus honey and sodium carbonate was inserted inside the vagina. However, since crocodile dung is slightly alkaline, like modern-day spermicides, it's possible it actually could have blocked or killed sperm. Still though...

Twisted FactsShared

81. Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely

The loneliest creature on earth is a whale that has been calling for a mate for two decades. Researchers identified the whale's abnormally high call over 20 years ago. The unknown whale is called "Lonely" because it communicates at a frequency not used by any other whale in the North Pacific, and so far, it has never received a response.

Quiz: Sounds Fake But TruePixabay

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82. Getting Political

Dustin the Turkey, a hand-puppet from an Irish TV show, has campaigned for president of Ireland in two separate elections—representing the “Poultry Party.” What else?

Weird World Factsmarc roberts

83. Death by Scarf

Isadora Duncan was a dancer famous for the long, flowing scarves she always wore. Duncan was strangled to death when one of these scarves caught under the wheel of the car she was riding in.

Unusual Deaths facts

84. What Happens in Vegas

In the 1950s, everyone wanted to go to Las Vegas, not for the casinos, but for the nuclear bomb tests. Before they realized the dangers of fallout, people would flock to Las Vegas—Atomic City, USA—for bomb-viewing parties featuring girls in mushroom cloud bikinis and specially themed cocktails.

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85. Bugs for Lunch

FDA regulations allow for a certain amount of insects to be present in the food you eat. In fact, ten insects and 35 fruit fly eggs per eight ounces of raisins is perfectly acceptable. The FDA is also cool with five rodent hairs and 150 bug fragments to remain present in one pound of peanut butter. This totally killed my craving for some Raisin Bran with my peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Ugh, who am I kidding? Pass the peanut butter, please...

Twisted FactsMax Pixel

86. Hypocritical?

Pepper spray and tear gas are increasingly common crowd-control tactics used by police in times of protest all over the world. But while these weapons continue to be used domestically, but they are technically classified as chemical weapons and thus are forbidden in warfare.

Twisted Facts #4Thrillist

87. It's Naht a Toomah!

There are some tumors that are able to grow hair, teeth, and their own organs—it's like having another person growing inside of you. In 2008, doctors in Colorado Springs in the US took out a tumor from a baby that contained a partially formed foot, a hand, and a thigh. In 2007, doctors removed a lump from a Japanese woman's right ovary that had an eye and internal organs. You may be a huge sci-fi fan, but reality is always stranger than fiction, baby!

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88. You Like Politics?

Chances are higher that you become president than win the lottery. In case being struck by lightning didn’t entice you.

People filling out lottery coupon, elevated view, close-upGetty Images

89. Side Interests

When he wasn’t busy fighting wars and serving as the Emperor of France, Napoleon Bonaparte found the time to write a romance novel, called Clisson et Eugénie. Because why not?

Weird World Facts

90. Assassination by Umbrella

Georgi Markov, a Bulgarian dissident, was killed when a bullet filled with ricin, fired from a modified umbrella, entered his calf. No one has ever been charged for the crime. However, ten days before the murder, an attempt was made to kill another Bulgarian defector named Vladimir Kostov in the same manner. In this case, however, the coating of the pellet was damaged during the shot or before, which caused the ricin to leak. Only a tiny portion of the poison got into his blood, causing only fever. KGB defectors including Oleg Kalugin and Oleg Gordievsky have claimed that both of these incidents were the work of the KGB.

Unusual Deaths facts

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91. Keep an Eye on This One

In this day and age, no one is shocked by tattoos anymore. Instead, those who really want to rock the boat are getting eyeball tattoos. This toe-curling—and dangerous—procedure involves permanently dying the whites of your eyes a different color—black is especially popular.

Weirdest Fads factsthe loop

92. Neighbors

In 1913, Adolf Hitler, Sigmund Freud (that's the psychology and dreaming guy), Joseph Tito, Joseph Stalin, and Leon Trotsky all lived within two square miles of each other in Vienna, Austria. I wonder if they ever had sleepovers?

Twisted Facts #4Youtube

93. Tongue-Twister

Vulcan Point in the Philippines is the world’s largest island within a lake that is itself on an island in a lake on an island…. Got that? An island (Vulcan Point)… in a lake (Main Crater Lake)… on an island (Taal Island)…. in a lake (Lake Taal)… on an island (Luzon)… in the Philippine Sea. Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines, which is an archipelago of over 7,000 islands!

Twisted Facts #4Filae

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94. Destiny

Your mother was already carrying the egg that became you when she was born. You were late to the party.

Real Life Experiences Didn’t Live Up to Disney Movies factsShutterstock

95. Oldest Joke in the Book

If anyone thinks that “your mom” jokes are solely within the domain of immature teenagers, internet memes, and wild comedies, think again—a 3,500-year-old one was found on an ancient Babylonian tablet in Iraq back in 1976. Sadly, we don't have the full joke, and even more sadly, we don't have the answer, but we know part of it was "...of your mother is by the one who has intercourse with her. What/who is it?" I'm sure it was uproarious.

Weird World Factsepic loot drop

96. Creature Comforts

Alcatraz, one of America’s most notorious and impenetrable prisons, was for a time the only prison in the United States to provide inmates with hot showers. Alcatraz is on an island in San Francisco Bay, and the hot showers were thought to hinder escape, by making sure inmates didn’t get acclimatized to the freezing cold Bay water they would need to swim through to get to shore.

Twisted Facts #4Getty Images

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97. Even Death Shall Never Part You

Becoming widowed in ancient India did not mean that the widow could mourn and move on—or at least not in life. A practice known as Sati was based on the belief that a woman basically had no entitlement to live without her husband, and she would either have to be burned alive in her husband’s funeral fire or be buried alive next to his corpse. Both were pretty gruesome ways to go, so women probably prayed that they died first (of natural causes of course).

Ancient World factsAgency Nation

98. A Jarring Thing To Wake Up To

Russia's Peter the Great was infamous for his terrifying temper, but when his wife cheated on him, he absolutely lost his mind. He cut off the other man's head and then forced his wife to keep it in a jar by her bedside at all times.

Weird FactsGoodFreePhotos

99. Whodunit

In 1886, Ludwig, the Mad King of Bavaria, took a walk along the shore of Lake Starnberg with his doctor. Their bodies were found floating in the lake the next morning. Neither had water in their lungs, but Von Gudden’s body showed signs of strangulation and bludgeoning. The mystery has never been solved, though modern historians suggest that Ludwig and his doctor may have been murdered by Ludwig's enemies while he was attempting to escape captivity.

Ludwig of Bavaria factsMunich et la Bavière, Louis II et Richard Wagner

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100. Spiders Pouring From the Walls

Susan and Brian Trost from Missouri bought a home for $450,000, unaware that it was swimming with Brown Recluse spiders. Sadly, they didn't know about the spiders until they started coming out of the walls. Pest control experts claimed that there were close to 5,000 of these spiders in the house. Just one bite can lead to pain, nausea, swelling, itching, and potentially organ failure. Naturally, the couple sued the original homeowners.

Twisted FactsGood Day Sacramento

Sources1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13


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