r>1. "The Blood of a Seahorse is Green" Did you know that seahorses have green blood? That's right -- unlike most animals whose blood is red due to the presence of iron, seahorses have green blood that contains copper instead. This unique adaptation helps them to better oxygenate their bodies while swimming.
2. "Cats can't taste sweet" If you've ever tried to give your cat a piece of candy, you might have noticed that they don't seem to be all that interested. That's because cats can't taste sweet flavors. This is due to a genetic mutation that occurred in their ancestors, and it has also resulted in a more sensitive sense of smell.
3. "The World's Oldest Leather Shoe" In 2008, archaeologists uncovered a 5,500-year-old leather shoe in Armenia. It's believed to be the world's oldest leather shoe, and it was amazingly well-preserved due to being buried in sheep dung. The shoe was made out of cowhide and features laces that were found in the same area.
4. "Penguins Propose with Pebbles" When it comes to romance, penguins don't mess around. Male penguins will search for the perfect pebble to present to their desired mate as a proposal. If she accepts the pebble, they'll then proceed to build a nest together and start a family.
5. "The Human Nose can Smell over 1 Trillion Scents" Believe it or not, our noses are incredibly powerful -- they can detect more than 1 trillion different scents. That's thanks to the about 400 olfactory receptors that are contained within our nasal cavity.
6. "Tardigrades can Survive in Space" Tardigrades, also known as water bears, are famously resilient creatures that can survive in nearly any environment. But did you know that they can even withstand the vacuum of space? Scientists have discovered that tardigrades can survive being exposed to the vacuum and radiation of space, opening up exciting possibilities for interstellar travel.
7. "The World's Smallest Mammal" The bumblebee bat, also known as the Kitti's hog-nosed bat, is the smallest mammal in the world. These tiny bats weigh only 2 grams and can fit onto a person's fingertip.
8. "Butterflies Taste with Their Feet" Butterflies don't have mouths that are designed for eating -- instead, they feed by sucking nectar through a long proboscis. But did you know that they actually taste with their feet? Butterflies have tiny receptors on their feet that help them detect the sweetness of flowers and other sources of nectar.
9. "In Japan, Square Watermelons are a Thing" Japan is famous for its quirky inventions and trends, and one of the most unique products is square watermelons. These watermelons are grown in special molds that shape them into a cube, making them easier to pack and transport.
10 "Ravens Hold Grudges" Ravens are incredibly intelligent birds that have been observed using tools and even solving puzzles. But they also have a surprisingly human-like quality: they can hold grudges. If a raven is mistreated or wronged by another raven, they will often remember the incident and avoid that bird in the future. 1
1. "The World's Shortest War" Believe it or not, the shortest war in history lasted only 38 minutes. In 1896, the Anglo-Zanzibar War broke out between the British Empire and the Sultanate of Zanzibar. The British forces quickly overwhelmed the Zanzibari troops, and the conflict was over less than an hour after it began. 1
2. "The Fear of Long Words is a Real Phobia" If you're afraid of long words, then you might have hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia. That's right -- the fear of long words is a real phobia, and it's obviously named to be as difficult to say as possible. 1
3. "Cows can Sleep Standing Up" Cows might seem like lazy creatures, but they actually are capable of sleeping while standing up. This is because their muscles can lock in place, allowing them to rest without falling over. 1
4. "The Oldest Tree in the World" The famous bristlecone pine tree, located in California's White Mountains, is believed to be the oldest living organism in the world. This tree is estimated to be over 5,000 years old, and scientists have been able to date it by counting the rings in its trunk. 1
5. "The Color of the Sun is White, not Yellow" Lastly, did you know that the sun is actually white, not yellow? The yellow color that we see is due to atmospheric scattering, which filters out the bluer wavelengths of light and leaves behind a yellow tint. But if you were to view the sun from space, it would actually appear white.