12 Very Mind-Blowingโ Facts That Sound Totally Made Up By โขThe Internet (But Aren’t)
A seemingly innocuous suggestion to use theโข poundโ symbol (#) on Twitterโค inโ 2007 sparked a dialogue revolution, but that’s just one โof many astonishingly true facts that defyโข belief. From โthe surprising origins of everyday objects to bizarre โฃpast occurrences,โ the world โขis full of โrealities stranger then fiction. Prepare to question everything you thought you knewโ with these 12 mind-blowing truths.
Theโ internet age has fostered a breeding ground for misinformation, making it increasingly difficult to discern fact from fabrication.However,these facts,meticulously documented and verified,demonstrate that reality ofen surpasses the wildest imaginations. Understanding โขtheseโ surprising truths not only expands our knowledge but also highlights the importance of critical thinking and source verification in a world saturated with information.
1. hashtags Were Inspired by โIRC: Chris Messina, a product designer, first proposed using the hashtag symbol (#) โon Twitter in August 2007 as a way to group topics. He envisioned it as a wayโฃ to “create an instant channel that anybody can โjoin andโ participate in.” Messina even pitched the idea to Twitter in person,โฃ but โit wasn’t initially adopted.
2. Twitter Officially Adopted Hashtags in โ2009: Despite initial โreluctance, โคTwitter integrated hashtag hyperlinkingโค in 2009 after โคseeing organic use during โmajor โevents like โthe San Diego wildfires. This โคultimately โขmade hashtags standard across allโ social mediaโค platforms.
3. Cleopatra Lived โขCloser to theโค Invention of theโ iPhone Than to the Building of โขthe Great Pyramid of Giza: Cleopatraโฃ VII,โ the last active โขruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdomโข of Egypt, died in 30 BC. The Great Pyramid of Giza was completed around 2560 BC. This means roughly 2,530 years separate Cleopatra fromโค the pyramid, while only approximately 2,023 years separateโ herโ from the iPhone’s โค2007 โrelease.
4. Octopuses Have Three Hearts: two hearts pump โbloodโ through the gills, while theโข third circulates blood to the organs. Interestingly,โค the organ โheart stops beating when the โoctopus swims, which is โwhy they prefer to crawl.
5. Honey Never Spoils: Due โฃto its low water content, high acidity, โand the presence of hydrogen peroxide, honey can last for โcenturies without โspoiling.โค Archaeologists have foundโ edible honey in ancient Egyptianโค tombs.
6. There’sโ a Planet Madeโค of Diamond: 55 Cancri e, twice the size of Earth and eightโฃ times its mass, is believed to be composed largely of pure, crystallized diamond. It orbits aโข sun-like โคstarโ 40 light-years away.
7. A Group of Owls is Called a Parliament: This collective noun dates back to the 15th century and is thought to reflect the owl’sโ perceived wisdom and solemnity.
8. The Eiffel Tower Can Grow Taller in the Summer: Due to thermal expansion, the iron inโ the Eiffel Tower expands in warmer temperatures, causing it to โgrow up to 6 โinches taller during the summerโข months.
9.โค Kangaroos Can’t Walk Backwards: Their large feet and โpowerfulโ tails make backward movement impossible. This is a โคphysical limitation due to their anatomy.
10. The “smell of Rain” Has a Name: Petrichor: This earthy โคscent is caused by oils secreted by plants, combined with chemicals produced by soil-dwelling bacteria. The smellโ is particularly noticeable after a long period of dryness.
11. Nutmeg is a Hallucinogen: In large doses (around 2 tablespoons),nutmeg contains myristicin,a chemical โขthat can cause hallucinations,nausea,and dizziness. It’s not a safeโ or recommended โขway to experience altered states of consciousness.
12.The โขinventor of โPringles was buried โฃin a Pringles can: Fredric Baur, the organic chemist who designed the iconicโ Pringles can, โrequested thatโข his ashes โฃbeโ buried in one. His children honored his wish in 2008.