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Curious Facts

1007 surprising, true stories about animals, history, space, food and the everyday things around us. Each one checked against trusted sources.

Illustration of a bat flying low over a calm pond at dusk, chasing small insectsAmazing AnimalsBats Hunt in Total Darkness by Shouting. Their Ears Turn the Echoes Into a PictureIllustration of a bedside clock at sunrise with light coming through the curtainsThe Human BodyYour Body Runs on a Hidden Clock, and It Isn't Set to Exactly 24 HoursIllustration of an old calendar page with crossed-out daysHistory's OdditiesIn 1752, Americans Went to Bed on September 2 and Woke Up on September 14A total solar eclipse with a glowing white corona above a crowd of people looking upSpace & the SkyTotal Solar Eclipses Only Work Because of One Lucky Number in the Sky
Illustration of a field of tall golden grass bending in a strong breezeEarth, Nature & the OceanEvery Breeze You Feel Starts With the Sun. The Rest Is a Giant Balancing ActIllustration of a sprig of fresh mint in a glass of waterFood & Kitchen SecretsMint Makes Your Mouth Feel Icy, but Its Temperature Never Changes. Your Nerves Are Fooled
Illustration of a shiny vintage chrome toaster with two golden slices of toast popping upInventions & Everyday ThingsThe Pop-Up Toaster Was Invented Because a Factory Cafeteria Kept Burning the ToastIllustration of elderly people chatting in a sunny Mediterranean villageStrange Places & GeographyThe Famous Blue Zones Where People Live to 100 Are Facing Some Tough Questions
Illustration of a groundhog peeking out of its burrow on a frosty morningEveryday Science & Curious CustomsPunxsutawney Phil Has Been Forecasting Since 1887. His Track Record Tells a Funny StoryIllustration of a bronze Akita dog statue outside a busy Japanese train stationAmazing AnimalsHis Owner Never Came Home From Work. Hachiko Kept Showing Up at the Station AnywayA family relaxing and dozing on a couch after a big holiday dinnerThe Human BodyEveryone Blames the Turkey for the After-Dinner Slump. The Real Culprits Are ElsewhereIllustration of a crowded 1890s city street packed with horse-drawn carriagesHistory's OdditiesThe Famous 1894 Warning About Cities Buried in Manure Has a Problem: Nobody Can Find It
Illustration of an astronaut taking off a helmet inside a stationSpace & the SkyYou Can't Sniff Space Directly. But Moon Dust and a Distant Cloud Offer Some Odd CluesIllustration of Angel Falls dropping from a table mountainEarth, Nature & the OceanThis Waterfall Drops Farther Than the World's Tallest Building Is TallA pile of peanuts in their shells on a rustic surfaceFood & Kitchen SecretsPeanuts Have Nut in the Name, but Botanists Put Them in the Pea FamilyIllustration of a classic white toggle light switch on a softly lit wallInventions & Everyday ThingsFlip a Light Switch Up in America and It Turns On. Much of the World Does the Opposite
Illustration of a cheerful small town decorated for Christmas with a Santa statue, lights, and a candy shopStrange Places & GeographyThis Indiana Town Got Its Famous Name by Accident, and It's Been Christmas Ever SinceIllustration of heavy rain pouring down on a city street with people under umbrellasEveryday Science & Curious CustomsNobody Knows for Sure Where "Raining Cats and Dogs" Came From. The Theories Are WonderfulIllustration of a ladybug walking on a green leaf with dew dropsAmazing AnimalsThose Cheerful Ladybug Spots Are Actually Sending Predators a Blunt MessageIllustration of a glowing old jukebox in a classic American dinerThe Human BodyYou Know Every Word of a Song From High School but Forget a Name in Seconds
Illustration of a Victorian-era woman in a long dress giving a passionate speech from a stageHistory's OdditiesA Woman Ran for President in 1872, Nearly 50 Years Before Women Won the BallotIllustration of a close-up view of the cratered surface of the MoonSpace & the SkyEarth Gets Hit by Space Rocks Too. So Where Did All of Our Craters Go?A dark tornado funnel touching down over a wide, flat Kansas farm field under a stormy skyEarth, Nature & the OceanMost Big Tornadoes Start Spinning Miles Up in the Sky Before They Ever Touch DownIllustration of a brown paper bag holding avocados and a ripe yellow bananaFood & Kitchen SecretsPut a Banana Next to a Hard Avocado and Something Invisible Starts Working