Category: Facts

7 Crazy Facts About Frogs That Will Surprise You

Frog peeking out from behind the leaves
Photo by depositphotos.com

Frogs may look simple, but they have an entire world beneath those little bodies: special abilities, interesting adaptations, and surprising quirks. We found some incredible facts about frogs that will let you in on just how remarkable they truly are. Ribbit!

1. Frozen Yet Alive

Certain frog species, like the wood frog, have an extraordinary ability to survive being frozen solid during winter. They literally freeze up, stopping their heartbeat and metabolism. When spring arrives, they thaw and continue with life as if nothing happened. Some of these frogs can remain frozen for up to seven months!

2. The Most Poisonous Animal on Earth

The Golden Poison Frog, native to the Amazon rainforest, is the most toxic animal on the planet. Its skin secretes enough poison to kill multiple adult humans—or even two bull elephants. Indigenous hunters use its toxins to coat their blow darts, making it a lethal companion in the jungle.

3. Frog Dialects

Just like humans, frogs have regional dialects! Each frog species has a unique call, but even among the same species, calls differ depending on the region. Though humans can’t detect these slight differences, frogs can recognize and distinguish between dialects, making communication within their species even more intricate.

4. Frogs and Toads: Same Family

Despite common belief, there’s no strict biological difference between frogs and toads. Toads are essentially just bumpy frogs! The term “toad” is informal and often used to describe certain frog species with rough, warty skin, but scientifically, all toads are classified as frogs.

5. The Ultimate Stomach Reset

Frogs can’t vomit like humans do. When they ingest something harmful, they perform “gastric eversion,” which means they eject their entire stomach out of their mouths to clean it off! Afterward, they simply pull their stomach back into their bodies—an efficient, if extreme, solution.

6. Pet Poison Dart Frogs

In the wild, poison dart frogs are among the most poisonous creatures, but in captivity, they’re completely harmless. Wild poison dart frogs get their toxicity from a diet of specific ants that consume poisonous plants. In captivity, without this diet, they pose no threat and actually make colorful, exotic pets.

7. Frogs as Milk Preservers

Before refrigeration, people in Russia and Finland preserved milk by placing a live brown frog into the milk. The frog would secrete a natural antibiotic through their skin that would kill off bacteria that cause milk to go bad, thereby making the milk last longer.

10 Fascinating Soda Facts That’ll Fizz Up Your Curiosity

Group of various brands of soda drinks in aluminum cans isolated on white with clipping path. Brands included in this group are Coca Cola, Pepsi, Sprite, Fanta.
Photo by depositphotos.com

Who doesn’t love a refreshing soda? It is often easy to take these fizzy drinks for granted, but some of their backstories and tales may actually surprise you. From weird origins to strange lawsuits, here are some interesting facts about soda that go beyond the bubbles.

1. The Case of the Mouse and Mountain Dew

In 2012, a man sued Mountain Dew, claiming he found a mouse in his can. Mountain Dew’s defense? They argued the mouse would have dissolved if it had been in the can that long. Case closed, but it raised concerns about the acidic nature of citrus sodas, which are known to erode teeth and bones over time.

2. Mountain Dew: From Moonshine Mixer to Soda

Before it was a soda, “Mountain Dew ” was slang for homemade moonshine. It was created initially as a mixer with whiskey, designed to go down easily with one’s beverage of choice.

3. Coca-Cola on the WWII Frontlines

During WWII, Coca-Cola sent “Coca-Cola Colonels” to set up bottling plants for troops. They established 64 lines worldwide and provided soda at five cents a bottle, even receiving an exemption from sugar rationing.

4. Fanta’s Wartime Origin

Fanta was created in Nazi Germany when Coca-Cola couldn’t import syrup due to trade restrictions. Using locally available ingredients, Coca-Cola Germany invented Fanta, a new soda just for the German market.

5. Fanta’s Controversial Ad

In Germany, Coca-Cola once ran an ad celebrating Fanta’s 75th anniversary, stating it wanted to bring back “the feeling of the good old times.” The ad was quickly pulled after backlash over its reference to WWII-era Germany.

6. Sprite: From Whiskey Mixer to Household Favorite

Originally, Sprite started out as a lemon-lime flavor of Fanta. In 1959, Fanta introduced this refreshing flavor, and by 1961, it was rebranded as Sprite.

7. RC Cola’s Defiant Beginning

RC Cola’s creator went independent after a Coca-Cola salesman refused him a discount for bulk syrup. Determined, he crafted his own formula, giving rise to the popular RC Cola.

8. White Coke: The Clear Cola for the USSR

In the 1940s, Soviet Marshal Georgy Zhukov requested a clear version of Coca-Cola to avoid the stigma of American branding. Coca-Cola obliged, creating a cola that looked like vodka.

9. Coca-Cola’s Influence Over Research

Coca-Cola funds significant university research but maintains the power to halt studies if the findings are unfavorable. This practice was revealed in a Public Health Policy journal report, sparking debate over corporate influence on scientific research.

10. Coca-Cola vs Pepsi

Between 1922 and 1933, Coca-Cola had three opportunities to acquire Pepsi but turned them down each time. Interestingly, Pepsi was originally called “Brad’s Drink.”

7 Unusual Penguin Facts: What Makes These Birds So Fascinating

Group of king penguins coming back together from sea to beach with wave a blue sky, Volunteer Point, Falkland Islands
Group of king penguins coming back together from sea to beach with wave a blue sky, Volunteer Point, Falkland Islands
Photo by depositphotos.com

Is there anyone who doesn’t find penguins fascinating? One of the most well-known features about penguins is their hilarious waddles, cute appearance, and entertaining behaviors. But behind this cute image, there is a lot of interesting information about these birds that show their history, evolution, and surprising quirkiness. The following are some amazing penguin facts that illustrate just how diverse and captivating their world really is.

1. The Great Penguin Mix-Up

The living birds we today call “penguins” were actually named after an extinct type of bird called the Great Auk, which was referred to as “penguins.” When European sailors first encountered the black-and-white, flightless birds in the southern hemisphere, they noted a strong resemblance with the Great Auk and borrowed the name. Despite similar looks, penguins are not closely related to auks, and they belong to a completely different order, Sphenisciformes.

2. Discovery of Tiny “Wilson’s Little Penguin”

In 2023, New Zealand researchers discovered the remains of a small, extinct penguin species, which they lovingly referred to as Eudyptula wilsonae or “Wilson’s little penguin.” Their long-lost cousin reached a height of only 13.5 inches and weighed about 2 pounds. Although they are long extinct, their close relatives—the little penguins, or kororā—can still be found in some areas of New Zealand, and across Australia and Tasmania.

3. Chinstrap Penguins and Their 10,000 Naps

Chinstrap penguins, known for their bold personality and cranky temperament, have a peculiar sleeping habit. These penguins take thousands of micro-naps every day, each lasting about four seconds. This behavior adds up to over 11 hours of sleep in short bursts, which might explain why they’re so spirited!

4. Giant Penguins Once Roamed the Earth

Some species of penguins reached incredible sizes millions of years ago: as high as six feet and a weight of more than 250 pounds. These penguins could have been found in abundance in waters filled with their staple fish diet, especially surrounding New Zealand. The rise of marine predators, like dolphins, and changes to the ocean ecosystem might have led to its extinction, given that new competitors or even the giants’ predators became possible.

5. Pebble Proposals: Gentoo Penguins‘ Romantic Gesture

The males do things a little differently when courting females of the species. Males “propose” to females with pebbles. If she accepts this pebble, they are then a bonded pair and will use that stone to help build their nest. Really, it’s nature’s sweetest marriage proposal!

6. The Florida Giant Penguin Hoax

A “giant penguin” supposedly materialized in Florida in the late 1940s, leaving enormous three-toed marks on the beach. For ten years, Floridians were captivated by tales of a 15-foot-tall penguin. Decades later, it was finally revealed that some joker had fabricated the footprints using customized heavy lead shoes.

7. The Afternoon Nap Mystery

Scientists studying the sleeping patterns of king penguins discovered that they sleep more deeply in the afternoon. To confirm it, researchers came close to the napping penguins and poked them with a stick. While in the morning it took five pokes for the birds to wake up, in the afternoon—approximately nine. Looks like penguins like siesta, too!

These fun facts about penguins give us a glimpse into their complex history, behaviors, and even their role in curious human tales. Penguins are much more than just cute creatures—each species has its own unique habits and story in the world of wildlife.

11 Facts About George Washington You May Not Know

Detail of George Washinton money portrait, shallow DOF — Photo by shippee
Photo by shippee

“Gentlemen, you will permit me to put on my spectacles, for I have grown not only gray but almost blind in the service of my country.”

These words by George Washington—showing modesty and dedication—elevated him to iconic leadership. From the battlefields to the presidency, his life was filled with wonderful moments that helped shape a young America. Here are lesser-known facts about the first president of America that speak to his character and what he did for history.

1. The Coup That Wasn’t

When Washington’s officers were on the verge of mutiny over unpaid wages, he calmed them by reading a letter from Congress, first putting on his glasses and remarking on his nearly lost vision in service to his country. The gesture moved his men to tears, dissolving the crisis.

2. Borrowed Money for the Inauguration

Despite his substantial land holdings and status, Washington had little cash and had to borrow money to attend his own inauguration in New York City. Part of his motivation to take the presidency was for the salary it provided.

3. A Legacy of Freedom

In his will, Washington directed that all his enslaved people be freed after his wife’s death. This act took effect on January 1, 1801, decades before the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863.

4. A Towering Presence

Standing over 6 feet tall and weighing around 225 pounds, Washington was much larger than the average man of his time. There is even a statue at the Smithsonian of him, in Greek style, as a muscular man.

5. Setting Limits on Power

Washington declined a third term, fearing that his death in office could imply a lifetime appointment for presidents. His choice established the two-term tradition, later solidified in the Constitution.

6. A Fatal Treatment

After developing a sore throat in 1799, Washington asked his doctors to bleed him heavily, as was common then. Sadly, losing nearly 40% of his blood within twelve hours proved fatal.

7. A Commitment to Staying Off English Soil

Allegedly, Washington claimed he would never set foot on English soil again. To honor this, when his statue was placed in London, it was set on American soil brought over for the occasion.

8. Caution Against Political Parties

Washington warned of the dangers of political parties, fearing they would divide the country and lead to conflicts between North and South—a prediction that proved prophetic.

9. Choosing “Mr. President”

Washington set a precedent by opting for the title “Mr. President” rather than “His Excellency” or “His Highness,” which some had proposed, grounding the office in simplicity.

10. The First Execution for Treason

A plot to kill or kidnap Washington was discovered during the Revolutionary War, involving members of his Life Guards. One traitor, Thomas Hickey, was the first person executed for treason in the U.S., witnessed by 20,000 people.

11. The Tooth Trouble

John Adams noted that Washington lost his teeth from cracking Brazil nuts with his jaws. By the time he took office as President, he had only one natural tooth remaining and relied on a set of dentures. Washington wore dentures, but contrary to popular belief, they weren’t wooden! His false teeth were a mix of human teeth, animal teeth, and ivory, often causing him pain. Washington even had to constantly adjust his expressions in paintings to hide his dentures, which gave him the famously stiff look in his portraits. It just goes to show the silent struggles he went through, while leading a new nation.

5 Fascinating Facts About Janitors You Probably Didn’t Know

janitor art

“I was raised to treat the janitor with the same respect as the CEO” – Tom Hardy

Janitors are vital in maintaining the cleanliness and functionality of our environments. Yet, their personal stories reveal that they are much more than just their job titles. From modest origins to remarkable achievements, these individuals demonstrate that even the smallest roles can lead to significant success. Here are some interesting stories about janitors that highlight the diversity and inspiration found in their lives.

1. From Janitor to CEO: The Goldman Sachs Story

Sidney Weinberg began his career at Goldman Sachs as a janitor’s assistant, earning just $3 a week. His duties included tasks like brushing the hats of the firm’s partners. But Weinberg’s work ethic caught the attention of Paul J. Sachs, the grandson of the firm’s founder, who eventually promoted him to the mailroom. After improving his skills and climbing the ranks, Weinberg became a Goldman Sachs partner in 1927. He went on to save the company from near collapse during the Great Depression, ultimately becoming the firm’s head—a position he held until his death in 1969.

2. Kurt Cobain: Janitor to Rock Icon

Before rising to fame as the iconic frontman of Nirvana, Kurt Cobain took on a janitorial job at his former high school. This job helped him fund the band’s first demo, showing that even rock stars sometimes need to scrub floors to get their start.

3. A Medal of Honor Recipient in Disguise

At the U.S. Air Force Academy, a cadet made a surprising discovery while reading about World War II. He came across the name of a janitor who worked at the academy and realized the man was a Medal of Honor recipient. This quiet hero never sought recognition but carried a story of immense bravery, demonstrating that even those who seem ordinary may have extraordinary pasts.

4. Rockstar Janitor: Noodles from The Offspring

Noodles, the guitarist for the band The Offspring, didn’t quit his job as a high school janitor right away when the band hit it big. He promised his boss he’d finish out the school year, sticking to his word even as fame came calling.

5. A Millionaire Janitor’s Simple Secret

Ronald Read, a Vermont janitor and gas station attendant, quietly amassed a fortune of nearly $8 million by the time of his death in 2015. His secret? Living frugally and investing in dividend-producing stocks. Avoiding investments he didn’t understand, Read became a millionaire by sticking to blue-chip companies and holding onto his investments for the long term.

Whether it is a case of building an empire in finances or being legendary in the rock genre, these stories inspire us to see the potential in every path we take.