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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 two sea otters floating on their backs in calm water, holding pawsAmazing AnimalsSea Otters Have a Clever Trick for Napping on the Open Ocean Without Drifting AwayIllustration of a grandmother's kitchen with fresh-baked pieThe Human BodyOne Whiff of Grandma's Kitchen and You're Seven Again. Your Brain Has a ShortcutIllustration of the River Thames in Victorian London under a hazy, smoky summer skyHistory's OdditiesIn 1858, London's River Smelled So Bad That Parliament Finally Had to ActIllustration of an astronaut measuring their height against a wall inside a spacecraftSpace & the SkyAstronauts Come Home a Little Taller Than They Left. The Growth Spurt Doesn't Last
Illustration of an aerial view of an endless green forestEarth, Nature & the OceanScientists Tried to Count Every Tree on Earth. The Answer Was 8 Times Bigger Than ExpectedIllustration of apples bobbing in a tub of waterFood & Kitchen SecretsDrop an Apple in a Tub of Water and It Bobs Right Back Up. Here's the Reason
A close-up of a vintage brass zipper on a worn brown leather jacketInventions & Everyday ThingsThe Zipper Flopped at the 1893 World's Fair. A Pair of Rubber Boots Gave It Its NameIllustration of St. Peter's Basilica dome at sunsetStrange Places & GeographyThe World's Smallest Country Would Fit Inside Central Park Nearly Eight Times Over
Illustration of a cat and a dog napping togetherEveryday Science & Curious CustomsCats and Dogs Are Famous Enemies, but the Real Problem Is a Language BarrierIllustration of an elephant herd standing together on the savanna at duskAmazing AnimalsElephants Can Pick Up Messages Miles Away. Their Ears Aren't Doing All the WorkIllustration of a person eating ice cream and pressing a hand to their foreheadThe Human BodyThat Stabbing Ice Cream Headache Isn't Coming From Where You ThinkPainting-style illustration of a medieval church courtroomHistory's OdditiesIn 897, a Pope Dug Up His Predecessor and Put Him on Trial. It Went Badly for Both
Illustration of a sparkling, crystal-like planet glowing against the darkness of deep spaceSpace & the SkyHeadlines Promised a Planet Made of Diamond. The Real Science Is Stranger Than ThatA pink sand beach curving along clear turquoise waterEarth, Nature & the OceanSome Beaches Have Soft Pink Sand. The Color Comes From Something AliveIllustration of a jar of peanut butter on a vintage pantry shelfFood & Kitchen SecretsPeanut Butter Was Once a Fancy Health Food. Its First Fans Weren't KidsIllustration of a shiny safety pin resting on a piece of fabricInventions & Everyday ThingsA New York Inventor Owed a Friend $15, so He Twisted a Piece of Wire Into History
A welcome sign for Truth or Consequences on a sunny desert road in New MexicoStrange Places & GeographyIn 1950, a New Mexico Town Renamed Itself for a Game Show. It Never Went BackA close-up of a hand with the index and middle fingers crossed for luckEveryday Science & Curious CustomsCrossing Your Fingers for Luck Started as Something More Serious Than a WishA barn owl turning its heart-shaped face back over its shoulderAmazing AnimalsAn Owl Can Look Over Its Own Back. Its Secret Is Hidden Inside the NeckIllustration of two hands with fingers interlaced, stretching out as if about to crack the knucklesThe Human BodyThat Pop When You Crack Your Knuckles Isn't Your Bones. Scientists Know What It Is
A dense jungle clearing with an old, worn Japanese army uniform and capHistory's OdditiesWorld War II Ended in 1945. One Soldier in a Philippine Jungle Didn't Stop for 29 YearsIllustration of green northern lights glowing over a snowy cabin at nightSpace & the SkyThe Northern Lights Start Out as a Gust From the Sun. The Colors Hold a ClueIllustration of dark storm clouds and a lightning bolt over a wide prairieEarth, Nature & the OceanLightning Lasts a Split Second, So Why Does Thunder Keep Rumbling for So Long?Illustration of a steaming cup of coffee on a kitchen table with morning sunlight coming through the windowFood & Kitchen SecretsMorning Coffee Sends Some People Running Within Minutes. Caffeine May Not Be Why