The
Amazing World of Cold Knowledge We often hear the phrase “knowledge is power” and it’s true. Knowing things can give us an advantage in life and improve our understanding of the world. However, some knowledge is more intriguing than others, and cold knowledge is one of the most fascinating types out there. Here are several astounding facts to expand your horizons:
1. A Cockroach Can Live for Weeks Without Its Head We all know that cockroaches are resilient creatures, but did you know they could live without their heads? Cockroaches have an open circulatory system and can breathe through little holes in their body, which means they don’t necessarily need their heads to survive. However, eventually, they die from thirst because a headless cockroach cannot drink water.
2. The Smallest Creature Can Be Found in Antarctica Tardigrades, also known as water bears, are tiny creatures with eight legs and a segmented body. They can be found almost anywhere on Earth, but some species of tardigrades can survive the harshest conditions. In Antarctica, some tardigrades can survive in temperatures as low as -328 degrees Fahrenheit (-200 Celsius).
3. The Shortest War in History Lasted Only 38 Minutes On August 27, 1896, the Anglo-Zanzibar War broke out between the British Empire and the Sultanate of Zanzibar. Zanzibar was ill-prepared, with only 3000 soldiers, while the British Empire had five warships with strong armament. The war started at 9:02 am and ended at 9:40 am, with the Sultanate surrendering. This means that the entire war lasted only 38 minutes, making it the shortest war in recorded history.
4. The World’s Largest Snowflake Was 15 Inches Wide and 8 Inches Thick On January 28, 1887, in Fort Keogh, Montana, USA, a snowflake fell that was 15 inches (38 cm) wide and 8 inches (20 cm) thick. It was recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest snowflake ever observed.
5. A Group of Turkeys Is Called a Rafter When it comes to collective nouns, there are some strange ones out there. For example, did you know that a group of turkeys is called a rafter? This is because the turkeys stand close together on the roosting pole, like the wooden beams of a rafter.
6. There Is a Lake in Russia That Turns Living Organisms into Stone Lake Natron in Tanzania is known for its high level of alkalinity, which turns animals that die in the lake into stone. However, there is another lake in Russia called Lake Baikal, which has a similar effect. Lake Baikal has high levels of dissolved minerals that can make small living organisms like crustaceans, snails, and plants turn into stone over time. Conclusion These are just a few examples of the amazing world of cold knowledge, and there are countless more out there waiting to be discovered. Learning about these fascinating facts can broaden our knowledge and give us a deeper appreciation of the world around us.