12 Fresh Trivia Tidbits for Monday, September 9, 2024
The world’s smallest vacuum cleaner and the world’s fastest fruit fly. Science is incredible.
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Sticking Their Heads Out the Window of a Moving Car Is Like Doing Coke and Shrooms for Dogs
A moving car is a feast for the senses to a dog. The wind in their face allows them to snort up more mind-blowing information than they could ever hope to on the ground, and because they’re better at spotting moving objects than stationary ones, the whole world snaps into captivating focus.
The Most American Bald Eagle in the Land
The Missouri Department of Conservation caught a bald eagle they thought was injured, but upon inspection found that it was just “too fat to fly.”
9 Percent of Parents Regret Their Choice of Baby Name
A study of 478 parents found that 15 percent of them had heard their baby’s name mocked, 15 percent preferred their baby’s middle name, 20 percent preferred a nickname and 10 percent said the name just didn’t fit the kid.
Y’all Ain’t From Around Here, Are Ya?
The winner of the Kentucky State Fair baking competition took home the blue ribbon for her “Peachy KEEN-tucky Cake,” but locals are up in arms because she’s actually from Pennsylvania. But the rules don’t say anything about coming from in-state, as they do in the Ohio and Indiana state fairs.
Altoids Sours Have Been Gone Longer Than They Existed
Altoids Sours were only around from 2001 to 2010. After many failed change.org petitions, the company is resurrecting the candy, after 14 years in stasis.
Heist, Interrupted
A crack team attempted an old-timey train heist in Chicago. They cut a hole in a fence, drove a flatbed truck in and loaded it up with expensive electronics being transported by the train. They were caught by police, mid-heist.
The World’s Smallest Vacuum Cleaner
A 23-year-old student in India broke the Guinness World Record for the smallest vacuum cleaner, using pen parts to build a device a quarter of an inch thick.
If the Earth’s Oceans Are One Big Body of Water, Shouldn’t They All Be Equally Salty?
Water’s whole thing is that over time, it will spread any soluble substance evenly. Well, the ocean has had plenty of time, but there are still some parts that are far saltier than others. So what gives? It basically comes down to evaporation: Water closer to the equator evaporates more quickly, leaving that salt behind and upping the salinity substantially.
The Cheapest and Most Expensive Taco Bells in the Country Are Just 15 Miles Apart
Someone built an interactive map that shows how expensive Taco Bell items are around the country. Bafflingly, the cheapest menu is in Deerfield Beach, Florida, while the most expensive is a 40-minute drive away in Fort Lauderdale.
Great News: Mice Are Invisible Now
Scientists have figured out how to turn certain tissues in mice transparent, temporarily, which will help them study their guts more easily.
The Most Popular Cat Names in America
Analyzing data from pet insurers, U.S. News found that Oliver, Milo and Luna are the top three pet names in the country.
Treadmills for Fruit Flies
Scientists built tiny treadmill-like devices to push fruit flies to their physical limits, and study how movement is controlled by the nervous system. Along the way, they broke a world record for “fastest walking speed” among fruit flies. Great work, everyone.