74/701
This “Miracle Fruit” Turns Sour Food Sweet

After eating the “miracle fruit,” sour food will taste sweet for about 30 minutes. The fruit has a molecule that binds to the taste buds and causes this effect. Lemons and limes can even taste like candy.

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What Are Stair Dust Corners?

Stair dust corners, introduced during the Victorian era, are triangle-shaped pieces used to prevent dust from gathering in the corners of staircases, making it easier to sweep them.

72/701
What is the Thymus Gland?

The thymus is a small gland (about 1 ounce) located behind the breastbone and in front of the heart. It trains T-cells and teaches them not to attack the body’s own cells. Only a small percentage of them survive this rigorous process and the remaining ones commit suicide.

71/701
The Board Game “Catan” Was Created by a Dental Technician

The board game “Catan” was designed by Klaus Teuber, who originally worked as a dental technician. The game went on to become such a success that he became a full-time game designer. He also won the German market’s “Game of the Year” award for four of his games.

70/701
Brad Pitt was Paid with Coffee for Deadpool 2

Brad Pitt agreed to do his cameo appearance in Deadpool 2 for just a small salary and a cup of coffee personally delivered by Ryan Reynolds. Reynolds had the idea to include the hardest-to-get celebrities’ cameos in the movie and have them show up for only a few seconds.

69/701
Audiences Initially Hated the Movie Dirty Dancing (1987)

Initial test audiences hated Dirty Dancing (1987) and producer Aaron Russo suggested they “burn the negative and take the insurance.” Despite this, it became the number one video rental of 1988 and was the first movie to sell one million copies on video.

68/701
The Tomb of Qasr al-Farid in Saudi Arabia

The remote tomb of Qasr al-Farid, situated in the Saudi Arabian desert, dates back to the 1st Century CE. It was built by the Nabataean people, who also built Petra in Jordan. This site has remained largely undisturbed.

67/701
An Art Historian Once Spotted a Long-lost Painting in a Movie

In 2009, Gergely Barki, an art historian, was watching the film Stuart Little (1999) when he spotted an original long-lost painting used as a prop. Called Sleeping Lady with Black Vase, this painting was the work of Hungarian avant-garde painter Róbert Berény. The painting had been considered lost after World War II.

66/701
Joining Fraternities Could Increase Income Later in Life

A 2017 paper from researchers at Union College found that a fraternity membership lowered student GPA by about 0.25 points but raised future income by approximately 36%.

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Why Do We Feel our Stomachs Drop on a Rollercoaster?

The sensation of our stomachs dropping on a rollercoaster is thought to be caused by our intestines floating about slightly more freely than most other organs.

64/701
You Can Faint from Straining on the Toilet

It is possible to faint from trying too hard to poop. This condition is known as defecation syncope.

63/701
“Dessert Stomach” is Real

“Dessert stomach” is real! Eating sweet compounds can help relax the stomach and allow it to take in more food.

62/701
Elvis Presley Once Craved the Fool’s Gold Loaf Sandwich

Elvis Presley once decided that he wanted the Fool’s Gold Loaf, a sandwich containing a hollowed-out loaf of bread filled with one jar each of creamy peanut butter and grape jelly, and one pound of bacon. Presley and his guests flew from Memphis to Denver to eat 22 of these sandwiches, each of which pack about 8,000 calories.

61/701
How an 18-year-old University Freshman Crowdfunded his Education in 1987

In 1987, an 18-year-old university freshman named Mike Hayes asked 2.8 million people for one penny and managed to fund his education.

60/701
What is the Brooklyn Blackout Cake?

Blackout Cake, or Brooklyn Blackout Cake, is a chocolate cake topped with chocolate cake crumbs and filled with chocolate pudding. A Brooklyn bakery chain named Ebinger’s invented it during World War II in recognition of the blackouts implemented to guard the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

59/701
A University in the Netherlands has a “Purification Grave”

A university in the Netherlands offers a “purification grave” where you can lie down and reflect on life and what is important to you.

58/701
What is a Group of Pandas Called?

When in a group, pandas are collectively called an “embarrassment.” 

57/701
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was Mistaken for an Undercover Cop in High School

In highschool, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s fellow students thought he was an undercover cop due to his imposing physique and mature looks.

56/701
Cheetahs Born in India After more than 70 Years

Cheetah cubs have been born in India more than 70 years after the animal went extinct in the country. The four cubs were born to a cheetah named Siyaya, who is among the cheetahs brought over from Namibia as part of a reintroduction program.

55/701
A Teenager Gets Help in Finding Shoes for His Size 23 Feet!

A 6-feet-10-inch-tall 14-year-old boy from Michigan gets help finding shoes for his size 23 feet. Companies like Under Armour and Puma have offered to make custom shoes for him.

54/701
Keanu Reeves Gave Rolex Watches to the John Wick: Chapter 4 Entire Stunt Team

Keanu Reeves gave the stunt crew on John Wick: Chapter 4 personalized Rolex watches after the movie wrapped up its filming.

53/701
Scientists have Created “Liquid Trees”

Researchers have created “liquid trees” – a tank that contains liters of water and microalgae. This could work as an alternative to trees in urban spaces.

52/701
Three German Patients Contracted Rabies Through Organ Transplantation

In 2005, three patients in Germany contracted rabies after receiving organs from a single infected donor. The donor had died without showing any symptoms of the disease.

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Donald Triplett – The First Person to Be Diagnosed with Autism

The first person to be diagnosed with autism is still alive! Named Donald Triplett, this man is now 89 years old.