We all love a good random fact that can help us start a conversation with a friend, colleague or someone we’re trying to impress. This can also help maintain a healthy sense of wonder about everything around you, which can sharpen your intellect, give you a sense of happiness, deepen your relationships, and even increase your productivity.
People love fun facts that make them feel smart, so be sure to bring these up next time you see your friends. After all, there is something extremely satisfying about sharing a surprising, yet random fact that will have anyone wondering if you’re an actual genius. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of 10 random facts you may use to break the awkward silence.
1. Chicago is slowly sinking
You might be familiar with the well-known fact that Venice is sinking, but Chicago is sinking as well—and just as fast. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has recently reported that the city of Illinois is sinking one to two millimeters every year (four to eight inches per century). Venice, on the other hand, is lowering at a rate of about 2 millimeters every year.
The phenomena is the result of a glacier melt that occurred approximately 10,000 years ago. It resulted in certain regions rising once the weight of the ice had been removed. The ground is now settling, which implies it is sinking again.
That’s a random fact I bet you didn’t know before!
2. High heels were worn by men back in the dayÂ
Watch out for this surprising random fact! Did YOU know that high heels were initially created for men to wear? But their purpose was not fashion related at all. Unlike these days, where high heels are mostly worn by women, it hasn’t always been this way.
In the 9th century AD, horse riders from the Near East were the first to wear this type of shoe. The rider’s feet were easier to place in the stirrups because of the high heels. This was discovered on a vase from the 9th century in Persia. Cowboy boots, which are still in use today, bear witness to this use.
Fast forward in time, high heels represented a symbol for aristocracy to showcase status in the European society in the 17th century. The reason behind it was that only someone who did not have to work would be able to wear something that is not practical.
So, if males were the primary users of high heels, why did women begin to do so? They are, after all, uncomfortable and can be challenging to walk in. Why would a woman want to wear such things? Well, these shoes were initially worn by women to portray male authority and to match the more socially dominant men of those times.
3. Most serial killers were born in the month of NovemberÂ
Surprisingly, the majority of serial murderers we’ve heard of were born in the month of November. After that, April seems to be the second most popular month. On the other hand, September is the least likely month for a serial murderer to be born. That just shows how revengeful Scorpios can be…
In any case, serial killers like Ted Bundy, Charles Manson, Joseph James DeAngelo, and Jeffrey Dahmer are among them. So, in the month of November, some of the most scary people in history were born. That’s a terrifying random fact!
But does this mean that people born in November are more likely to become serial killers? Of course not! These statistics shouldn’t be taken too seriously. But it might just have something to do with the zodiac sign. Although, that’s for you to decide.
4. Chicken or the eggÂ
You’ll love this random fact. The famous question we all ask ourselves has got to come to an end. Therefore, let’s break it down. Theoretically, the egg is much older than the chicken. Many types of species laid eggs before chickens even existed.
That being said, the egg definitely came first. But if you ask the question on whether the chicken came first or it’s egg, that’s a different story. Or maybe an egg that a chicken hatched from? Chickens are the same species as Southeast Asia’s red jungle fowl, even though they were probably hybridized with the grey jungle fowl 10,000 years ago when they were domesticated.
But that’s not so important; when there were no chickens, two birds similar to a chicken ended up mating and laid an egg that hatched into the first chicken ever. If you’re willing to label that egg a chicken’s egg, it’s safe to assume that the egg came first. Otherwise, the chicken would have come first, and the first chicken’s egg would have been laid.
5. The Loch Ness monsterÂ
A random fact that stirred a lot of confusion is regarding the Nessie monster. Loch Ness is one of the UK’s deepest and maybe most mysterious lakes, with more water than all the lakes in England and Wales combined. There have been stories of a monster living in Loch Ness for years, but no genuine proof has ever been found, save for a falsified image of the ”monster” taken in 1934.
Many individuals who have seen Nessie would say YES, since the monster has been seen enough times and there have been so many reports that we can’t ignore the fact that there must be substance to the legend.
Since the Loch Ness Monster myth has been around for over 1500 years, it seems unlikely that the creature spotted by St Columba in the sixth century is the same monster. Or are we to assume that Nessie is not only large, but also ancient, a true Methuselah among beasts? In other words, there must be several monsters. We’ll let zoologists figure out how many monsters are required to keep the species alive throughout time.
But we would all love to believe that Nessie is a real creature that still exists since the dinosaurs era, but many things lead us to believe that it might just be a huge hoax. Well, that’s a conversation starter!
6. The Bermuda Triangle
The Bermuda Triangle’s enigma continues to fascinate both experts and ordinary people. There are many hypotheses and speculations surrounding it, but no definite findings that reveal the mystery surrounding the strange disappearances of planes and ships going through the Triangle’s borders. Others have proposed invisible hurricanes, air pockets, and cyclones… or simply some weird stuff… but we’ll leave it up to you to come up with a conclusion.
Several ships and planes have mysteriously disappeared in the hypothetical Bermuda Triangle, which is defined by the three cities of Miami, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico. Despite the fact that five Navy planes vanished there on a normal training flight 58 years ago, no one knows what caused them or previous disappearances.
What do YOU think regarding this random fact?
7. Astronauts grow up to two inches in space
Did you know that our height is not the same throughout the day? It fluctuates from the moment you wake up until when you go to sleep. Even though it is not linked to the circadian rhythm, gravity compresses our bodies as we are up and about. When we lie down during the night, gravity no longer pulls us in a way that causes us to get shorter, so our bodies expand and we regain our original height.
This happens to astronauts as well, since their bodies do not experience the pressure of the Earth’s gravity anymore, and this is why this random fact holds an important place on our list. However, the height gain experienced by astronauts during the first three to four days of weightlessness in space is not permanent and comes back to normal once they return to Earth.
Interesting, right?
8. Why do bruises change color?
A bruise is created by bleeding beneath the skin; small capillaries (blood vessels) are shattered, allowing trapped blood to escape. Because the blood is still rich in oxygen, the bruise will seem red at first. The blood begins to lose oxygen and turn purple within one to two days.
Around three days over, bruises begin to turn green, yellow, or grey, due to substances called biliverdin and bilirubin, which break down hemoglobin to allow the body to absorb vitamins and minerals (including iron). The body eventually expels or absorbs the remainder of the waste. To make them go away much faster, you can use this cream that dermatologists often recommend.
9. Dogs can smell fear
You may have heard that dogs can smell fear, but is it actually true? Without a doubt, the average dog’s nose is the primary source of information. For this reason, dogs are frequently utilized as companions in a variety of roles, including searching missing people, detecting drugs and explosives, and diagnosing numerous medical diseases that aren’t noticeable, such as early-stage cancer, post-traumatic stress disorder, and epilepsy.
These things support the theory that dogs can detect chemical changes in human bodies that indicate an impending anxiety attack or seizure. So, indeed, dogs are capable of detecting fear. Or, to put it another way, dogs can sense the chemicals that the human body releases when we are fearful and deduce what those chemicals mean.
Well, that’s a random fact that might be useful!
10. YouTube started as a dating app
Makeup instructions, item reviews, and music videos and not only are all available on YouTube these days. However, the service was intended to be a dating app where singles could upload video profiles when it was first launched on Valentine’s Day in 2005. Years later, Steve Chen, cofounder of YouTube, admitted that they considered dating the obvious option for video content back when they created the platform.
But as time went by, YouTube extended their horizon and ended up as the platform we know today, where creators can share pretty much anything, from historical matters to car reviews, and the list goes on. It’s safe to say that it became a place for people to share information and be creative.
Which random fact surprised YOU the most? Make sure you share with us any other random facts you may know in the comment section below!
And if you enjoyed this article, you might also enjoy: 12 Hidden Messages in Company Logos That Will BLOW Your Mind.
