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Cold Facts: Unveiling the Mysteries of the World Have you ever wondered about the number of bees that would be needed to produce a jar of honey or why flamingos are pink? There are endless mysteries in the world that can leave us baffled and curious. Here are 417 cold facts that are not only interesting, but also might spark your interest in some new areas of research:
1. According to Oxford University, there are only 23 pairs of chromosomes that separate humans from chimpanzees.
2. Bees have to fly more than 550 miles and visit over two million flowers to produce just one jar of honey.
3. Crocodiles have not evolved in over 200 million years.
4. The human nose can detect over one trillion scents.
5. The Earth is not perfectly round, but is slightly flattened at the poles and bulging at the equator.
6. The spider's silk is actually stronger than steel.
7. Flamingos are born gray, but their color changes due to the pigments found in the algae and crustaceans that they consume.
8. Giraffes only sleep for 30 minutes each day.
9. The average person has 100 billion neurons in their brain.
10 The world's largest living organism is a fungus in Oregon that covers an area of more than 2,200 acres. 1
1. Snails can sleep for up to three years. 1
2. The smallest bird in the world is the Bee Hummingbird, which weighs only
2.5 grams. 1
3. Elephants can recognize themselves in a mirror, a sign of high intelligence. 1
4. The number of possible different combinations of a standard deck of cards is greater than the number of atoms that make up the Earth. 1
5. Sharks have been around longer than the dinosaurs. 1
6. There are more stars in the universe than there are grains of sand on Earth. 1
7. A cockroach can live for weeks without its head. 1
8. Cats purr between 25 and 150 hertz, which can help heal their bones and muscles. 1
9. The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is the world's largest living structure, and is visible from space. 20. The world’s largest bird is the ostrich and can run at speeds up to 43 miles per hour. 2
1. The average person will spend six months of their life waiting for traffic lights to change. 2
2. The fastest animal on the planet is the peregrine falcon, which can reach speeds of up to 240 miles per hour. 2
3. A group of flamingos is called a flamboyance. 2
4. Octopuses, unlike other invertebrates, have highly evolved brains, and can even learn and remember puzzles. 2
5. In ancient Rome, it was considered fashionable to dye hair blonde using pigeon excrement. 2
6. The first known writing system, cuneiform, was invented in Mesopotamia over 5,000 years ago. 2
7. The largest ocean on Earth, the Pacific, covers an area of 60 million square miles. 2
8. The Amazon Rainforest produces more than 20% of the world's oxygen. 2
9. A cockroach can survive for up to 40 minutes in the vacuum of space. 30. The human tongue has around 10,000 taste buds. 3
1. Butterflies have taste sensors on their feet. 3
2. The length of a day on Earth increases each year by a few millionths of a second, due to the friction from tides on the Earth's crust. 3
3. Seals can hold their breath for up to two hours. 3
4. Snakes use their tongues to smell the air, which is why they stick it out so often. 3
5. The fastest growing plant in the world is bamboo, which can grow up to 91 centimeters in a single day. 3
6. Black holes are so dense that their gravity is strong enough to prevent light from escaping. 3
7. The human baby has around 94 more bones than an adult, which fuse together as we grow up. 3
8. The Eiffel Tower was only intended to remain standing for 20 years, but it was saved by its use as a radio tower. 3
9. The sun weighs over 2 million trillion tons. 40. The world's largest species of fish is the whale shark, which can reach lengths of up to 60 feet. 4
1. The human eye can distinguish around 10 million different colors. 4
2. Dolphins have the ability to heal from serious injuries, such as shark bites, within weeks or even days. 4
3. Every two minutes, we take more photos than were taken in the entire 19th century. 4
4. The probability of flipping a coin and getting heads 100 times in a row is over 7%. 4
5. The craters on the Moon were formed by asteroids and meteors that impacted its surface. 4
6. The longest river in the world is the Nile, stretching 4,135 miles long. 4
7. The largest continent on Earth is Asia, covering an area of 1
7.2 million square miles. 4
8. Cows have best friends and can become stressed when separated from them. 4
9. The Big Bang occurred around 1
3.8 billion years ago, and is still expanding today. 50. A polar bear's fur is not white, but is actually transparent and hollow, which reflects light and makes it appear white. 5
1. Fireflies use light to communicate with each other, and some species can even synchronize their flashing. 5
2. The average person's handprints are unique, like fingerprints. 5
3. The Great Pyramid of Giza contains around
2.3 million stones, each weighing up to two tons. 5
4. The world's highest mountain, Mount Everest, is located in Nepal and stands at 29,029 feet tall. 5
5. Silica gel, the small packets found in shoeboxes, are used to absorb moisture and prevent mold. 5
6. The human heart beats around 100,000 times per day. 5
7. The largest egg in the world is laid by the ostrich and is more than five inches long. 5
8. The world's largest diamond was the Cullinan, weighing in at 3,106 carats. 5
9. Glass takes a million years to decompose. 60. The average person will have over 70,000 thoughts in a single day. 6
1. The scent of freshly cut grass is actually a plant's distress signal, which warns other plants of potential danger. 6
2. The longest word in the English language, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis. 6
3. The average person will spend over six months of their life waiting for elevators. 6
4. The northern lights, or aurora borealis, are caused by particles from the sun colliding with the Earth's atmosphere. 6
5. The world's largest spider is the Goliath Birdeater, which can grow up to one foot in length. 6
6. An ostrich can run faster than a horse, but can only sustain its speed for short distances. 6
7. The world's largest flower is the Rafflesia arnoldii, which can grow up to three feet in diameter. 6
8. The human brain can process up to 70,000 thoughts or signals per second. 6
9. The average lifespan of a taste bud is around 10 days, and they are constantly being replaced. 70. The shortest war in history was between Britain and Zanzibar in 1896, lasting only 38 minutes. 7
1. The world's largest volcano, Mauna Loa in Hawaii, measures over six miles high and 60 miles wide. 7
2. The human body contains enough fat to make seven bars of soap. 7
3. Researchers have found that plants grow faster when they are talked to, as the sound waves can stimulate their growth. 7
4. The world's largest rodent is the capybara, which can weigh over 140 pounds. 7
5. The human brain is the only organ that can understand its own complexity. 7
6. Sliced bread was not invented until 192
8. 7
7. The world's largest land animal is the elephant, which can weigh up to 14,000 pounds. 7
8. The longest living creature on Earth is the ocean quahog, a type of clam, which can live for up to 500 years. 7
9. There are more possible iterations of a game of chess than there are atoms in the universe. 80. The world's smallest mammal is the bumblebee bat, which weighs only two grams. 8
1. The highest recorded temperature on Earth was 134 degrees Fahrenheit in Death Valley, California, in 191
3. 8
2. The world's largest rodent, the capybara, is often kept as a pet in South America. 8
3. The human body contains enough iron to make a two-inch nail. 8
4. The world's largest cat species is the Siberian Tiger, which can weigh up to 660 pounds. 8
5. The human body contains enough potassium to produce a small explosion, if it were all reacted at once. 8
6. The world's tallest living animal is the giraffe, which can stand up to 18 feet tall. 8
7. The largest organism on Earth is not a whale or an elephant, but a fungus in Oregon that covers an area of more than 2,200 acres. 8
8. The human body produces enough saliva in a lifetime to fill two swimming pools. 8
9. The world's largest mammal is the Blue Whale, which can grow up to 100 feet long. 90. The first recorded use of a parachute was in 852 AD by a Muslim soldier named Abass Ibn Firnas. 9
1. The world's largest turtle is the Leatherback, which can weigh over 2,000 pounds. 9
2. The human body has enough fat to produce 70 bars of soap. 9
3. The world's largest bird is the ostrich, which can run at speeds of up to 43 miles per hour. 9
4. If you could fold a piece of paper in half 42 times, it would be thick enough to reach the moon. 9
5. The world's largest mammal predator is the polar bear, which weighs between 880 and 1,700 pounds. 9
6. The human body contains enough carbon to make 9,000 pencils. 9
7. The world's largest rodent, the capybara, is also considered to be the world's friendliest animal. 9
8. The Great Wall of China is the world's largest man-made structure, stretching over 13,000 miles long. 9
9. The human body can survive for up to eight weeks without food, but only a few days without water. 100. The first animal to orbit Earth was a dog named Laika, sent by the Soviet Union in 195
7. 10
1. The world's largest flower is the Rafflesia arnoldii, which can weigh up to 22 pounds. 10
2. The human body contains enough phosphorus to make 2,200 matches. 10
3. The world's smallest mammal is the bumblebee bat, which can fit on a human thumbnail. 10
4. The heaviest recorded object moved by humans was a stone monument in Lebanon that weighed over 1,600 tonnes. 10
5. The world's largest indoor aquarium is located in Dubai and contains over 10 million gallons of water. 10
6. The human body can produce over four million skin cells in a single day. 10
7. The world's fastest land animal is the cheetah, which can run up to 70 miles per hour. 10
8. The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is the world's largest living organism, and is home to over 1,500 species of fish. 10
9. The world's largest spider, the Goliath Birdeater, eats not only birds, but also mice and small snakes. 1
10 The human body contains enough sulfur to kill all fleas on an average dog. 11
1. The world's largest carnivorous plant, the Nepenthes rajah, can trap and digest rats, mice and small birds. 11
2. The human body can produce over 25 liters of saliva in a single day. 11
3. The world's largest outdoor heated swimming pool is located in Chile and is over 1,000 feet long. 11
4. The human body contains enough nitrogen to fill up a small balloon. 11
5. The world's largest waterfall by volume is located in Venezuela and is called Angel Falls. 11
6. The human body can produce over one liter of mucus in a single day. 11
7. The world's largest cave is located in Vietnam and is called Son Doong. 11
8. The human body contains enough zinc to make a single penny. 11
9. The world's largest desert is located in Antarctica and covers an area of over 14 million square miles. 120. The human body contains enough copper to make 25,000 pennies. 12
1. The world's largest living thing is a fungus that covers over 2,200 acres in Oregon. 12
2. The human body can produce over 500 gallons of urine in a single lifetime. 12
3. The world's largest iceberg was recorded in 1956 and measured around 208 miles long and 62 miles wide. 12
4. The human body contains enough calcium to make a bundle of chalk. 12
5. The world's largest salt flat is located in Bolivia and is called Salar de Uyuni. 12
6. The human body can produce over 100 gallons of sweat in a single lifetime. 12
7. The world's largest diamond was discovered in South Africa and weighed over 3,000 carats. 12
8. The human body contains enough iron to make a single nail. 12
9. The world's largest man-made lake is located in Russia and is called the Kuybyshev Reservoir. 130. The human body contains enough sodium to fill a small salt shaker. 13
1. The world's largest volcano is located in Hawaii and is called Mauna Loa. 13
2. The human body can produce over six million tears in a single lifetime. 13
3. The world's largest pyramid is located in Mexico and is called the Great Pyramid of Cholula. 13
4. The human body contains enough magnesium to make a bundle of matches. 13
5. The world's largest sand dunes are located in Algeria and are called the Grand Erg Oriental. 13
6. The human body can produce over 5,000 pounds of feces in a single lifetime. 13
7. The world's largest dam is located in China and is called the Three Gorges Dam. 13
8. The human body contains enough potassium to light a small bulb. 13
9. The world's largest cave system is located in Kentucky and is called Mammoth Cave. 140. The human body can produce over 100,000 hairs in a single lifetime. 14
1. The world's largest stadium is located in North Korea and can hold up to 150,000 people. 14
2. The human body can produce over six million red blood cells in a single day. 14
3. The world's largest telescope is located in Chile and is called the Atacama Large Millimeter Array. 14
4. The human body contains enough gold to make a small ring. 14
5. The world's largest sandstone arch is located in Utah and is called the Rainbow Bridge. 14
6. The human body can produce over 100 trillion blood cells in a single lifetime. 14
7. The world's largest bird sanctuary is located in Peru and is called the Paracas National Reserve. 14
8. The human body contains enough platinum to make a small wedding ring. 14
9. The world's largest saltwater lake is located in Russia and is called the Caspian Sea. 150. The human body can produce over 50,000 skin cells in a single day. 15
1. The world's largest ocean is the Pacific, covering an area of more than 60 million square miles. 15
2. The human body can produce over 100,000 nail cells in a single day. 15
3. The world's largest living creature is a fungus in Oregon that covers over 2,200 acres. 15
4. The human body contains enough tin to make over 2,500 tin cans. 15
5. The world's largest river is the Amazon, stretching over 4,000 miles long. 15
6. The human body can produce over six million white blood cells in a single day. 15
7. The world's largest cave fish is located in China and is called the Blind Cavefish. 15
8. The human body contains enough lead to make 102 pencils. 15
9. The world's largest freshwater lake is located in Russia and is called Lake Superior. 160. The human body can produce over 1,000 skin cells in a single hour. 16
1. The world's largest estuary is located in Brazil and is called the Amazon River Estuary. 16
2. The human body can produce over 25,000 skin cells in a single minute. 16
3. The world's largest wind farm is located in China and contains over 7,000 wind turbines. 16
4. The human body contains enough mercury to fill up a small thermometer. 16
5. The world's largest glacier is located in Antarctica and is called the Lambert Glacier. 16
6. The human body can produce up to 50 million skin cells in a single day. 16
7. The world's largest solar power plant is located in China and contains over 8 million solar panels. 16
8. The human body contains enough nickel to make a small coin. 16
9. The world's largest waterfall is located in Venezuela and is called Angel Falls. 170. The human body can produce over 100,000 lung cells in a single day. 17
1. The world's largest underground river is located in Mexico and is called the Rio Secreto. 17
2. The human body can produce over 1,000 hair cells in a single hour. 17
3. The world's largest artificial island is located in Dubai and is called the Palm Jumeirah. 17
4. The human body contains enough arsenic to kill multiple insects. 17
5. The world's largest mud volcano is located in Indonesia and is called the Sidoarjo Mud Flow. 17
6. The human body can produce over 100,000 skin cells in a single second. 17
7. The world's largest man-made forest is located in China and is called the Saihanba National Forest. 17
8. The human body contains enough chromium to make a small spring. 17
9. The world's largest monolith is located in Australia and is called Uluru. 180. The human body can produce over a billion skin cells in a single lifetime. 18
1. The world's largest underground lake is located in the United States and is called Lake Vostok. 18
2. The human body can produce over five million hair cells in a single day. 18
3. The world's largest oil rig is located in the Gulf of Mexico and is called Perdido. 18
4. The human body contains enough cobalt to make a small blue pigment. 18
5. The world's largest waterfall by volume is located in Zambia and is called Victoria Falls. 18
6. The human body can produce over a million skin cells in a single minute. 18
7. The world's largest artificial reef is located in the United States and is called the USS Oriskany. 18
8. The human body contains enough manganese to make a small battery. 18
9. The world's largest coral reef is located in Australia and is called the Great Barrier Reef. 190. The human body can produce over a billion skin cells in a single day. 19
1. The world's largest natural arch is located in Utah and is called the Landscape Arch. 19
2. The human body can produce over five million hair cells in a single day. 19
3. The world's largest power station is located in China and is called the Three Gorges Dam. 19
4. The human body contains enough molybdenum to make a small light bulb. 19
5. The world's largest sand dunes by height are located in China and are called the Badain Jaran Desert. 19
6. The human body can