Information online doesn’t always have to be valuable to gain attention. Trivia also draws a lot of curiosity, and a good example is theHow Everything WorksInstagram page.The account has nearly four and a half million followers. It features images containing random facts about different facets oflife, from 400-year-old ocean predators to rare, expensive fruits. The posts are entertaining and informative; you will likely learn something new.This post may includeaffiliate links.
Information online doesn’t always have to be valuable to gain attention. Trivia also draws a lot of curiosity, and a good example is theHow Everything WorksInstagram page.
The account has nearly four and a half million followers. It features images containing random facts about different facets oflife, from 400-year-old ocean predators to rare, expensive fruits. The posts are entertaining and informative; you will likely learn something new.
This post may includeaffiliate links.
For some experts, there is power in knowing what is deemed useless, trivial information. According to product design veteranStephen Marshall-Rees, staying curious can enhance our problem-solving skills.“What may seem trivial or irrelevant today could be the key to unlocking tomorrow’s breakthroughs,” hewrote.
For some experts, there is power in knowing what is deemed useless, trivial information. According to product design veteranStephen Marshall-Rees, staying curious can enhance our problem-solving skills.
“What may seem trivial or irrelevant today could be the key to unlocking tomorrow’s breakthroughs,” hewrote.
“A butterfly wing transplant is a delicate procedure carried out to repair a butterfly’s damaged wing, enabling it to fly again. This involves carefully removing the damaged part of the wing and replacing it with a similar piece from a donor butterfly of the same species, typically one that has died naturally. The donor wing is usually attached with a light adhesive, like a non-toxic glue.This kind of procedure is most likely to be successful on larger butterfly species, such as Monarchs, where the size of the wings makes the process easier.However, it requires an understanding of the butterfly’s anatomy, extreme precision, and a gentle hand, due to the delicate nature of the wings and the scales that cover them.”
Humans seem naturally drawn to facts that won’t necessarily add value to our lives. Some are even willing to endure slight pain to know useless information.University of Melbourne psychologist Stefan Bode conducteda studyin 2021 in which he showed participants a series of coin flips. Each side of the coin had a small monetary reward, but the participants were unaware of which ones came with the prize.
Humans seem naturally drawn to facts that won’t necessarily add value to our lives. Some are even willing to endure slight pain to know useless information.
University of Melbourne psychologist Stefan Bode conducteda studyin 2021 in which he showed participants a series of coin flips. Each side of the coin had a small monetary reward, but the participants were unaware of which ones came with the prize.
“Researchers have observed a male Sumatran orangutan, Rakus, using medicinal herbs to treat a facial wound, suggesting orangutans possess advanced cognitive abilities.Rakus chewed leaves from the Fibraurea tinctoria plant, known for its medicinal properties, and applied the juice directly to the wound, which subsequently healed.This marks the first documented instance of a wild animal using a plant with known medicinal properties to treat an open wound.The findings offer insights into the origins of human wound care, possibly dating back to a common ancestor shared with these primates.”
Bode then made an offer: participants would know the payouts of each coin flip. But in exchange, they would have to endure a brief but harmless flash of heat to the forearm.Knowing how much they were getting did not affect the outcome of the coin flip, and they would earn the same amount regardless of whether they knew the values.
Bode then made an offer: participants would know the payouts of each coin flip. But in exchange, they would have to endure a brief but harmless flash of heat to the forearm.
Knowing how much they were getting did not affect the outcome of the coin flip, and they would earn the same amount regardless of whether they knew the values.
“A knife makes a straight cut, but paper acts like a saw blade and does more damage to nerve endings. Paper also leaves behind tiny fibres, irritating the wound even more”
The results were telling. In 75% of the experiments, participants were willing to handle the flash of heat to the forearm if it meant knowing how much the payouts were. And when the amounts increased, so did their willingness to endure more pain.
“Farmers put earmuffs on calves during the winter to protect them from the harsh cold and prevent frostbite.These young animals are particularly vulnerable to the cold due to their age and size, requiring additional measures to ensure they remain warm during the winter months.”
University College London neuroscientistTali Sharotwas amazed at the lengths certain people would go to for the sake of knowing something trivial. According to her, the value of information increases with higher uncertainty.“Humans value information even when they cannot use it to change outcomes,” she pointed out.
University College London neuroscientistTali Sharotwas amazed at the lengths certain people would go to for the sake of knowing something trivial. According to her, the value of information increases with higher uncertainty.
“Humans value information even when they cannot use it to change outcomes,” she pointed out.
“Even if ideas can’t make you money, friends, or a six-pack, it can still make your model of reality a little more accurate. And an accurate model of reality is useful to have, even if any particular idea that helps you form it is not,” he wrote inan article.
“Scientists have discovered reindeer use a special form of night vision to help them find food in the colder months.The surface of their eye changes from golden-orange in summer to a rich blue colour in the winter.Experts think their vision might have evolved to help them see in snowy conditions and explains why they are able to see food so well in the dark.”
“That nodosaurid, described in 2017, is a mummy: the Tutankhamen of the dinosaurs. Its exceptional state of preservation after 112 million years makes it one of the most fascinating jewels of paleontology, one that allows researchers to study one of the most intriguing processes of fossilization: natural mummification.”
“Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder in which people interpret reality abnormally.Schizophrenia may result in some combination of hallucinations, delusions, and extremely disordered thinking and behavior that impairs daily functioning, and can be disabling.”
“A village in the Italian Alps is finally basking in winter sunlight thanks to a giant mirror installed on a mountain top to reflect the sun’s rays into the main square.Viganella, with a population of less than 200, lies in a valley so steep that each year from November 11 to February 2 it hardly receives any sunshine.That was until Mayor Pierfranco Midali decided to do something about it.Now a 5-metre (16-foot) high, 8-metre (26-foot) wide mirror tracks the sun’s movement and reflects its rays into Viganella’s historic piazza.The mirror, which cost around 100,000 euros (67,000 pounds), was unveiled on Sunday to the delight of the inhabitants.”
Not everything we learn in school has a practical application. But all those tedious activities are also a form of practice whenentering the real world. Cognitive psychological scientistDr. Cindy Nebelexplains how.“It’s also possible that one day in the future, that student may need to sit through a truly pointless meeting, one that does not affect them in any way,” Dr. Nebelwrote. “Wouldn’t it be great for them to have some practice appreciating the information set before them, trying to make it relevant to their own lives, or simply appearing engaged?”
Not everything we learn in school has a practical application. But all those tedious activities are also a form of practice whenentering the real world. Cognitive psychological scientistDr. Cindy Nebelexplains how.
“It’s also possible that one day in the future, that student may need to sit through a truly pointless meeting, one that does not affect them in any way,” Dr. Nebelwrote. “Wouldn’t it be great for them to have some practice appreciating the information set before them, trying to make it relevant to their own lives, or simply appearing engaged?”
“To Mountain Gorillas, anyone who keeps direct eye contact is a challenger and an enemy who has come to disrupt the family. Direct eye contact will, therefore, trigger the silverback to charge and fight you in defense of his family. If you want peace with Gorillas, avoid direct eye contact.”
Since this list is all about “useless” but interesting facts, here’s one about sharks. According to the USNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), these ocean predators occasionally enter a daze.“When you flip a shark upside down, they go into a trance-like state called tonic immobility. This is the reason why you often seesawfishflipped over when our scientists are working on them in the water.”
Since this list is all about “useless” but interesting facts, here’s one about sharks. According to the USNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), these ocean predators occasionally enter a daze.
“When you flip a shark upside down, they go into a trance-like state called tonic immobility. This is the reason why you often seesawfishflipped over when our scientists are working on them in the water.”
“They’re called crinkle crankles. A single leaf wall over that distance would need brick piers approx every 1.5-2m if it was a retaining wall it would need to be at least 9” wide (2 bricks). The crinkle crankle has more strength due to it’s curved nature so can be 4” wide or a single leaf of bricks. For the maths if we can assume they’re true semi-circles then each semi circle would be 1/2piD or 1.57D whereas a double leaf wall would be 2D for the same length D Therefore using 21.5% less bricks than a double leaf wall hope that clears things up”
“Puffer fish range in size from the 1-inch-long dwarf or pygmy puffer to the freshwater giant puffer, which can grow to more than 2 feet in length. They are scaleless fish and usually have rough to spiky skin. All have four teeth that are fused together into a beak-like form”
“The life cycle of a strawberry plant typically begins with the germination of seeds or the planting of runners. From there, the plant grows into a mature plant with leaves, flowers, and fruits. After pollination, the flowers develop into strawberries. Once the fruits are harvested, the plant continues to grow, producing new runners and potentially new plants, completing the cycle.”
Comets apparently smell like rotten eggs, burning matches, urine, and almonds. While it can be challenging to prove, the chemical components may give an idea.Here’s an explanation fromBBC’s Science Focus Magazine: “Traces of hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, sulfur dioxide, and hydrogen cyanidewere all foundin the makeup of the comet67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.”
Comets apparently smell like rotten eggs, burning matches, urine, and almonds. While it can be challenging to prove, the chemical components may give an idea.
Here’s an explanation fromBBC’s Science Focus Magazine: “Traces of hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, sulfur dioxide, and hydrogen cyanidewere all foundin the makeup of the comet67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.”
“Dr. Gary Greenberg’s photographs magnify grains of sand 100 to 300 times, exposing swirling microscopic shells, eroded crystals and colorful coral fragments.”
“Candelabra cactus sounds like a cactus and looks like one, but is actually a euphorbia. Its botanical name is euphorbia ingens. Ingens in Latin means “massive” or “extraordinary,” and indeed, Euphorbia ingens can eventually become a massive 30 foot plus tree spreading equally as wide. However, it can take 20 years for the plant to reach that point under ideal conditions, making it accessible for many people to enjoy in smaller spaces for a long period of time.”
“An ancient Maya ceramic figurine with a removable helmet, dating back approximately 1,500 years, discovered in El Perú-Waka’, Petén, Guatemala. The figurine is a testament to the advanced craftsmanship and the cultural significance of attire and equipment in Maya civilization. The removable helmet indicates a possible ritualistic or societal status usage, reflecting the complexity of Maya social structures and their ritualistic practices. Such artifacts are invaluable for archaeologists to decipher the societal norms, roles, and beliefs of ancient civilizations.”
See Also on Bored Panda
“Meteors appear in different colors, depending on the chemical composition of the space rock and the air it is passing through. A meteor with high iron content, for instance, will appear yellow. A meteor with high calcium content may appear as a purple streak of light.”
“His shoulder touched a live wire and the current passed through his entire body, including the optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain. The effect was two bizarre star-shaped electrical burns in his eyes, according to The New England Journal of Medicine.”
“The Tsar Bomba mushroom cloud was approximately 25 miles wide at its base and over 40 miles high!!”
Continue reading with Bored Panda PremiumUnlimited contentAd-free browsingDark modeSubscribe nowAlready a subscriber?Sign In
Continue reading with Bored Panda Premium
Unlimited contentAd-free browsingDark mode
Unlimited content
Ad-free browsing
Dark mode
Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber?Sign In
“Arctic hares live in Canada’s icy tundra regions, where their biggest defense against the extremely cold environment is their furry coat. In winter, their coat is a brilliant white colour. Not only does it keep them warm, but it also acts as camouflage, making it harder for predators like wolves, foxes, polar bears and snowy owls to see them in the snow. When the snow melts a little in summer, the hare’s coat becomes an ashy grey-brown colour to blend in better with the surrounding grassy, rocky tundra. Despite these seasonal changes, Arctic hares always have a fluffy white tail.”
“Members of Indonesia’s Buton tribe have piercing blue eyes due to the fact that they all suffer from a genetic condition known as Waardenburg syndrome. Bright sapphire eyes are one symptom of the disorder.”
“Golden langurs have evolved to be very wary of humans. These animals are naturally shy and secretive, and they have learned to avoid people whenever possible.This is likely because humans have been known to hunt and kill golden langurs for their meat and fur.In addition, humans have been responsible for destroying the forests where golden langurs live, which has put these animals at even greater risk.As a result, the golden langur is one of the most elusive primates in the world, and it’s very rare to see one in the wild.”
“An “Aircraft Listener” photographed in around the 1920s using scoop-shaped reflectors that direct the sound into large-diameter tubes in order to try and locate aircraft at a distance due to their loud engines.”
“Tokyo, Japan, is the largest city on Earth, with a population of 37.4 million people.”
“The image comes to us from Metrocosm, the website of data visualization expert Max Galka.Bangladesh and three provinces in India, which are highlighted in red, take up just 160,000 sq. mi (415,000 sq. km) - that’s smaller than California. Together they hold more population than all of the blue territories on the map.That’s right, the blue area contains the entirety of many significant countries, such as Canada, Australia, Norway, Sweden, and Saudi Arabia. The blue even includes parts of China, the United States, and most of Russia.”
“A Chimpanzee who suffers from alopecia shows how muscular these primates actually are underneath their usual coat of hair.Chimpanzees are considered to be humans’ closest living relative, according to evidence from fossils and DNA sequencing and share between 95 - 98% of the same DNA. However, in relation to muscular strength, the two species cannot be compared. As per wildlife experts, chimps are incredibly strong and fast, so humans are easily overpowered.According to biologist Alan Walker, the chimps are in fact at least four times as strong as humans and based on scientific research, the difference in strength between the two is relative to how well the muscles perform. In chimps, the muscle fibres closest to the bones - deemed to be the source of strength - are much longer and more dense. In other words, a chimp is able to generate more power despite using the exact same range of motion. Though, unlike humans, they don’t possess much control over how they use their muscles and end up using more strength than necessary.”
“These are four different pencil grip techniques, each with a specific name based on the positioning of the fingers and thumb. The Dynamic Tripod and Dynamic Quadrupod grips involve three and four fingers, respectively, working together to control the pencil’s movement. In contrast, the Lateral Tripod and Lateral Quadrupod grips rely on the thumb and index finger to grip the pencil from the side, with the other fingers providing support. Understanding these grip classifications can help educators and occupational therapists assess and improve children’s handwriting skills, as an efficient and comfortable pencil grip is essential for developing proper writing techniques.”
“Indulge in nature’s rare jewel: the mesmerizing allure and delectable taste of black diamond apples. A feast for the eyes and a treat for the taste buds."
Modal closeAdd New ImageModal closeAdd Your Photo To This ListPlease use high-res photos without watermarksOoops! Your image is too large, maximum file size is 8 MB.Not your original work?Add sourcePublish
Modal close
Add New ImageModal closeAdd Your Photo To This ListPlease use high-res photos without watermarksOoops! Your image is too large, maximum file size is 8 MB.Not your original work?Add sourcePublish
Modal closeAdd Your Photo To This ListPlease use high-res photos without watermarksOoops! Your image is too large, maximum file size is 8 MB.Not your original work?Add sourcePublish
Add Your Photo To This ListPlease use high-res photos without watermarksOoops! Your image is too large, maximum file size is 8 MB.
Add Your Photo To This List
Please use high-res photos without watermarks
Ooops! Your image is too large, maximum file size is 8 MB.
Not your original work?Add source
Modal closeModal closeOoops! Your image is too large, maximum file size is 8 MB.UploadUploadError occurred when generating embed. Please check link and try again.TwitterRender conversationUse html versionGenerate not embedded versionAdd watermarkInstagramShow Image OnlyHide CaptionCropAdd watermarkFacebookShow Image OnlyAdd watermarkChangeSourceTitleUpdateAdd Image
Modal closeOoops! Your image is too large, maximum file size is 8 MB.UploadUploadError occurred when generating embed. Please check link and try again.TwitterRender conversationUse html versionGenerate not embedded versionAdd watermarkInstagramShow Image OnlyHide CaptionCropAdd watermarkFacebookShow Image OnlyAdd watermarkChangeSourceTitleUpdateAdd Image
Upload
UploadError occurred when generating embed. Please check link and try again.TwitterRender conversationUse html versionGenerate not embedded versionAdd watermarkInstagramShow Image OnlyHide CaptionCropAdd watermarkFacebookShow Image OnlyAdd watermark
Error occurred when generating embed. Please check link and try again.
TwitterRender conversationUse html versionGenerate not embedded versionAdd watermark
InstagramShow Image OnlyHide CaptionCropAdd watermark
FacebookShow Image OnlyAdd watermark
ChangeSourceTitle
You May Like40 Fun Facts That Might Make You Raise An Eyebrow, But They Are In Fact 100% TrueEligijus Sinkunas80 Funny Facts About Anything And EverythingSaimonas Lukošius40 Memes That Everyone But Especially Women Might EnjoyIlona Baliūnaitė
Eligijus Sinkunas
Saimonas Lukošius
Ilona Baliūnaitė
Funny