400/500
A Tiger Stalked and Killed a Poacher for Revenge

In 1997 Russia, a poacher shot and wounded a tiger, and then stole part of its kill. The tiger later staked out the poacher’s cabin, waited for 12 to 48 hours, and then attacked and ate him.

399/500
A Costa Rican Man and a Crocodile Became Friends

In Costa Rica, a fisherman once nursed a crocodile back to health after it had been shot in the head. Even though he released the crocodile back into the wild, it refused to go and stayed outside the man’s house. The reptile then lived as a part of that man’s family for over 20 years.

398/500
H.B. Reese Named Candy Bars After His Kids

In the early days of his career, H. B. Reese, the creator of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, made two very similar candy bars. The “Lizzie Bar” was named for his daughter and the “Johnny Bar” was named for his son. The main difference between the two was that the latter contained nuts.

397/500
“Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library” Mails Free Books to Kids

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library mails free, high-quality books to children, no matter their family’s income. This book-gifting program is open to kids from birth to age five.

396/500
Taking Time to Observe Nature Improves Your Mood

Taking some time to notice nature, literally, “stopping and smelling the roses,” can help improve your happiness and well-being. This can be anything from a houseplant to a bird or simply the Sun shining through the window.

395/500
Sharks Can Survive in Freshwater

There are sharks that can live in freshwater. Scientists initially thought that the sharks in Lake Nicaragua were a separate species of freshwater sharks. But it later turned out that they were just bull sharks that had adapted to living in freshwater.

394/500
Maleesha Kharwa, a Girl From the Slums Who Has Become a Model

This is Maleesha Kharwa. She is a 15-year-old girl from the slums of Dharavi, Mumbai who has now become the face of a luxury beauty brand called Forest Essentials, as part of their new “Yuvati Selection” campaign!

393/500
A Woman Caught Her Boyfriend Cheating Using His FitBit Activity

A woman once caught her boyfriend cheating when his Fitbit showed a spike in physical activity at 4 a.m. The woman was alerted to this because the couple had synced their devices.

392/500
Cebu City, Philippines, Had a Tsunami Scare in 2012

In 2012, after a 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck Cebu and Negros in the Philippines, someone in Cebu called out “Chona Mae” for their daughter. This was misheard as “Tsunami” and led to a mass panic.

391/500
In China, Panda Keepers Wear Panda Costumes

Chinese panda keepers wear panda costumes sprayed with panda urine and feces to keep the animals from forming human attachments.

390/500
Spiders Can Fly Even Though They Have No Wings

Spiders can fly hundreds of miles on threads of silk using the Earth’s electric field. This is known as “ballooning,” and spiders have been found 1,000 miles out to sea and two-and-a-half miles up in the air.

389/500
Sir Frederick Banting Sold His Insulin Patent for $1

In January 1923, Sir Frederick Banting sold his insulin patent for $1. He said, “Insulin does not belong to me, it belongs to the world.”

388/500
Elvis Presley Used To Wear a Cross, a Star of David, and the Hebrew Letter Chai

Elvis Presley used to wear a Star of David, a cross, and the Hebrew letter chai. He said that he didn’t “…want to miss out on Heaven due to a technicality.”

387/500
Turkey Gifted a Puppy to Mexico

In a moment of kindness between nations, Turkey has gifted Mexico a puppy. This was because when Mexico had sent their canine search-and-rescue units after the earthquake in February, one of the dogs passed away. Turkey now hopes that the new puppy will carry on the previous dog’s legacy.

386/500
George Clooney Gave $1 Million to 14 Friends

In 2013, George Clooney gave $1 million to 14 friends as a surprise. Some of them were going through some hardships at the time. These were the friends that had helped him before he became famous. He also paid their taxes for the year.

385/500
There Are “False Eyes” on the back of a Tiger’s Ears

Tigers have “false eyes” on the back of their ears that are thought to help discourage other animals from attacking them from behind. This makes them seem bigger and more alert.

384/500
The First Manned Mission to Mars Should Be All Female

It makes practical sense to have an all-female crew for the first manned mission to Mars. On average, a female astronaut requires 29% less oxygen, 26% fewer calories, and 18% less water than the average male astronaut.

383/500
The Space Shuttle Used To Have a White External Tank

The Space Shuttle‘s external tank used to be painted white. They eventually stopped painting it and saved about 600 pounds of weight.

382/500
Octopuses May Be Cognitive

There is growing consensus that octopuses may be cognitive due to their learning ability, possession of pain receptors, response to painkillers, and more.

381/500
Our Moon Is One of the Dimmest Things in the Solar System

Earth’s moon is one of the dimmest things in the solar system. If Triton, one of Neptune’s moons, were in its place, it would be about seven times brighter in our night sky.

380/500
Bicycles Had a Major Impact on Women’s Liberation Movement

The arrival of bicycles had a major impact on the early 20th century women’s liberation movement. Bicycles gave freedom to women who, until then, had to rely on men for transportation. It was also a huge reason for corsets and long skirts eventually falling out of fashion.

379/500
The 2008 Writers Strike Caused Breaking Bad Season 1 to be Shorter then Planned

In 2008, the writers strike caused Breaking Bad‘s first season to be two episodes shorter than intended. It also meant that the character Hank Schrader (played by Dean Norris) was not killed off in Season 1 as was initially planned.

378/500
The Deepest Scuba Diving Record

The deepest scuba diving Guinness World Record, at a depth of 1,090 feet, was set in 2014 by a man named Ahmed Gabr. He spent about four years preparing for the attempt. While the descent took only some 12 minutes, returning to the surface took him about 15 hours.

377/500
Japan Has Popsicles that Don’t Melt

Japan has popsicles that do not melt. In the aftermath of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, some experts were trying to salvage strawberry crops that had yet to completely recover. They accidentally found that liquid polyphenol extracted from strawberries could solidify cream. This then led to “Kanazawa Ice” – popsicles that retain their shapes even under the heat of a hair dryer.

376/500
Shorter People Tend to Be More Aggressive

People who are shorter are more likely to be violent and aggressive than people who are tall.

375/500
A Mom Once Put Out an Ad to Borrow an Orange Cat

In 2018, a mom put up an ad asking to borrow an orange cat. She wanted the feline so her kids could have a lasagna dinner with “Garfield.” And, she found a cat!

374/500
A Couple Has Decided to Live Permanently on Cruise Ships

A couple decided to live permanently on cruise ships because doing so was cheaper than paying off their mortgage.

373/500
People Mistook a Pair of Glasses as Modern Art

In 2016, when a teenager laid down a pair of glasses on the floor of an art gallery, people mistook it for an art installation and gathered around to view it and click pictures.

372/500
In Dubai, You Can Take an UberCHOPPER Ride

In Dubai, you can book an UberCHOPPER ride, just like a ride in a taxi.

371/500
What Is the Cause of Procrastination?

Scientific studies suggest that procrastination is not caused by laziness or poor time management. Rather, it is a result of poor mood management.

370/500
NASA Calibrated Satellite Cameras Using a Name on a Field

In the 1990s, a Texas farmer decided to clear several miles of brush on his property to spell out his last name, “Luecke,” producing what might be the world’s largest signature. NASA scientists have used these letters to calibrate satellite cameras on space shuttles.

369/500
Sadio Mané is Transforming his Senegalese Hometown

Sadio Mané, who plays professional football for Bayern Munich, is transforming Bambali, his hometown in Senegal. He has helped build a hospital and a school, and pays €70 a month to families living there. He also provides them with a 4G network and has helped build a petrol station.

368/500
Zach Galifianakis Made an Unlikely Friend at a Laundromat

When he was just a struggling actor, Zach Galifianakis befriended an old lady named Elizabeth “Mimi” Haist who worked and lived at a laundromat. Even after he became successful, Galifianakis always checked in on her. He also found her an apartment, paid for her rent and utilities, and brought her to movie premieres.

367/500
Williamina Fleming, a maid, makes astronomical discoveries at Harvard Observatory.

In the late 1800s, the director of the Harvard College Observatory is said to have been frustrated with his male staff and exclaimed that “even his maid could do a better job!” So, he hired his maid. Williamina Fleming discovered the Horsehead Nebula and helped catalog tens of thousands of stars.

366/500
Why Did a Train Driver in Spain Leave 109 Passengers Stranded?

In 2016, a train driver in Spain could not find anyone to take over as the next train driver at the end of his shift. Having legally exceeded his shift hours, he stopped the train at a village and left the 109 passengers onboard stranded.

365/500
An Illegally Demolished Pub Was Rebuilt Brick-by-brick

An about 100-year-old pub in London was demolished illegally in 2015 by developers. They were then ordered to rebuild it, brick-by-brick. This pub, called Carlton Tavern, was the only building on the street to survive the Blitz during World War II.

364/500
An Amsterdam Airport Installed Pictures of Flies in the Urinals

In an attempt to save on cleaning costs, an airport in Amsterdam installed pictures of flies in the urinals so that men could aim at them and avoid urine spillage.

363/500
A Sri Lankan Textbook Features Jesse Pinkman on its Cover

This science textbook from Sri Lanka features Jesse Pinkman (from the hit TV show Breaking Bad) on its cover.

362/500
Shakira Can Speak at Least Four Languages

By the age of 20, Shakira had founded the Fundación Pies Descalzos, an organization that aims to bring quality education to every Colombian child. She also speaks four languages and has partnered with UNICEF as a Goodwill Ambassador.

361/500
Dutch Researchers Once Set Out a Hamster Wheel in the Wild

In a study published in 2014, when some Dutch researchers set out a hamster wheel in nature, numerous kinds of wild animals, including mice, frogs and slugs, were spotted using it.

360/500
Odin – the Hero Dog that Wouldn’t Abandon his Flock of Goats

During the 2017 California Tubbs wildfires, a dog named Odin refused to leave his flock of goats behind when his owners decided to flee to safety. When the owners returned to the property later, they found that Odin had survived. The dog had managed to keep the goats alive and even some deer had gathered with their pack.

359/500
A Philadelphia Woman Has Taped Thousands of Hours of Television

From the 1970s until her death in 2012, a Philadelphia woman named Marion Stokes taped thousands of hours of television programs on more than 70,000 VHS and Betamax tapes. This collection might be the largest known personal archive of television, and the Internet Archive is working on digitizing it.

359/500
Pennsylvania’s Ringing Rocks Park has Rocks that Sound like Bells!

In Pennsylvania, there is a place called “Ringing Rocks Park” where the rocks sound like a ringing bell when struck.

358/500
The Giant Mark Twain Sequoia Tree Was Felled in 1891

This is the Mark Twain giant sequoia tree that was felled in 1891 for exhibition. The tree, which dated back to 550 CE, stood 300 feet (91.4 meters) tall and had a diameter of 16 feet (4.8 meters).

357/500
A Japanese Company Gave its Non-Smoking Employees Extra Days Off

In 2017, a Japanese company decided to give its non-smoking employees an extra six days off to compensate for the smokers taking cigarette breaks. This policy was also meant to encourage people to quit smoking.

356/500
Why do Dogs “Play Sneeze”?

Dogs often “play sneeze” when they are feeling playful and excited. Play sneezes indicate that your dog is having a fun time and it shows other dogs that their behavior is just play.

355/500
How did Brussels Sprouts Become a Popular Dish?

Brussels sprouts used to have a strong bitter taste. But in the 1990s, plant breeders began cross-pollinating it to reduce the level of the chemicals causing the bitterness. As a result, its flavor improved, and Brussels sprouts became more popular.

354/500
A 135-year-old Note Found under the Floorboards

In 2022, an Edinburgh plumber discovered a 135-year-old message in a bottle under the floorboards of a house. The note, dated 6 October 1887, was signed by two male workers who laid the floor and stated that “they did not drink the whisky.”

353/500
Two Scientists Accidentally Helped Prove the Big Bang Theory

In 1964, two Bell Labs scientists were working with the extremely sensitive Holmdel Horn Antenna. During this time, they detected a strange “buzzing noise” that they could not get rid of. After some tests, this interference was proven to be residual radiation from the Big Bang. The scientists later won the Nobel Prize.

352/500
The World’s Largest and Most Expensive Embassy is in Baghdad

The Embassy of the United States of America in Baghdad is the largest and most expensive embassy in the world. It covers an area of 104 acres and is almost as large as Vatican City. The complex is over ten times the size of the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, and has its own power station and water and waste treatment facilities.

351/500
Cool Patch Pumpkins – A Massive 60-Acre Corn Maze in California

The Cool Patch Pumpkins corn maze in Dixon, California, is the largest corn maze in the world. It covers an area of 60 acres and is so big that people who dare to enter it often get lost and call 911 for help.