12 Equal Portions of Trivia Scooped From the Whole
All laid out on a plate, very artistically.
The Longest Muscle in the Human Body
The longest muscle in the human body is the sartorius, which runs from the hip down past the knee.
Catherine of Aragon Was Betrothed From the Age of Three
She could barely walk or talk before her hand was promised to the man she'd marry twelve years later, Prince Arthur.
The World's Tallest Tree Is 115 Meters Tall
A redwood tree named Hyperion is the world's tallest tree. The picture above shows what it would look like in the midst of Cologne, Germany.
Galileo Invented the Thermometer
Or at least, the “thermoscope,” which monitored change in temperature but did not measure it.
Damascus Has Been Continuously Inhabited Since the Third Millennium B.C.
Which makes it one of, if not the oldest, continuously inhabited city in the world.
Only One Instrument Is Played Without Being Touched
Nikola Tesla Once Worked for Thomas Edison
Given their bitter feud, some might not know that at one point, Nikola Tesla was an employee of Thomas Edison, though only for six months.
The Origin of the Name ‘Pacific Ocean’
Though natives had names that predated it, the modern name comes from Ferdinand Magellan who named the ocean in question mar pacifico, meaning peaceful sea in Spanish or Portuguese.
Baby Eels Aren’t That Cute, But Their Name Is
The correct term for a baby eel is an “elver.”
The Danish Flag Is the Oldest Flag in the World
At least, the oldest flag that's still in use today.
Seabirds Can Drink Saltwater
We know that for most animals, seawater isn’t a viable form of hydration. Conveniently, given their habitat, many seabirds have natural filtration systems that allows them to drink seawater without issue.
The Word Salary Comes From Salt
Because of its value, Roman soldiers were occasionally paid in salt, which is the root of the term “salary.”