12 Thin Slices of Trivia That Need Nothing More Than A Little Olive Oil
Worried you simply don’t know quite enough things of no consequence? Worry no more!
Finland Was the First Country to Declare the Internet A Legal Right
All the way back in 2010, the Finnish government decided that every citizen had the right to a minimum of 1Mbps internet access, with a promise that it would reach 100Mbps connection for everyone by 2015. Not blazing fast speeds by any means, but much better than sitting next to some weirdo at the library.
Banyan Trees Grow Down to the Ground Instead of Up
Violating our widely held belief that all plants grow from the earth, banyan trees’ roots actually grow down from branches into the ground. Not only that, they’re parasites of a sense, with their seeds landing on other trees and using them as a host. Intense!
Atlanta Was Originally Known As “Terminus”
Atlanta’s first official name was Marthasville, but was called “Terminus” because it was at the end of the Western & Atlantic railroad line. It wasn’t long before the name was changed to Atlanta, which clearly stuck, denying us all of that sick-ass cyberpunk sounding moniker.
Wondering What SPF Actually Stands For?
The ubiquitous sunscreen acronym “SPF” stands for “Sun Protection Factor,” a measurement that’s, in theory, meant to indicate what amount of solar energy they will protect you from. In practice, actually trying to use this measurement for anything other than knowing if one sunscreen is stronger than another is pretty futile.
Dracula’ s Original Name Was “Count Wampyr”
We know, from a crossed-out note made by Bram Stoker himself, that at one point the name of Dracula’s titular sucker was not Count Dracula, but Count Wampyr. Given that that’s basically like naming him “Mister Vampire,” we should all be glad he took another stab at it.
Leap Seconds Are Added to the Calendar Just Like Leap Days
We just had a leap day this past week, and those are generally pretty noticeable. What you might not have known existed, however, are leap seconds — i.e., single seconds occasionally added on usually either December 31st or June 30th to account for the fact that the rotation of the Earth is constantly, imperceptibly slowing. Dark!
In the Middle Ages, Pregnant Women Avoided Strawberries
In medieval times, medical knowledge was wanting. So, can we fault people back then for believing red birthmarks on children might be caused by strawberries? Yes, we can, because that’s outlandishly stupid. Nevertheless, this was one of many oversimplified beliefs in terms of how to have a happy, healthy, pristine child.
The Most Confusingly Named Apple of All Time
The apple above is known as a Blenheim Orange. That shouldn’t be allowed.
The Pituitary Gland Is Nicknamed “The Master Gland”
The pituitary gland is nicknamed the “master gland,” which sounds like some sort of very pornographic rapper. The reason is simple: It controls many of the other endocrine glands.
The Thinker Is Thought to Be Modeled on Dante
The statue we know as The Thinker was actually part of a larger work, Rodin’s The Gates of Hell, inspired by the Divine Comedy. Knowing that, it makes a lot more sense that the Thinker is intended to represent the book's author, Dante Alighieri.
In Brazil, People Wear White to Celebrate the New Year
If you’re ever headed to a Brazilian New Year’s Eve party, make sure to pick out your palest finery. It’s tradition in Brazil to wear white to celebrate the New Year, owing originally to a tradition from the African religion Condomble.
The Name “Brooklyn" Meant Marshland in the Original Dutch
The modern Brooklyn comes from a Dutch word spelled as, among other variations, Breuckelen. It means “marshland,” and anyone who’s gotten close enough to smell the Gowanus can vouch it’s still not entirely inaccurate.
