Did You Know? 10 Incredible Facts That Might Surprise You

There are countless pieces of information about our world and everyday lives that we take for granted, not knowing the reason why they exist or why they are the way it is.

Here are 10 of those facts that will make you wonder more.

1. Why Yellow is the Best Color for Road Signs at Night

Have you ever noticed that on almost all roads in every part of the road, the color they use to paint the lines and road signs is yellow? Did you stop to wonder why not blue, green, red, or other shades?

The main reason is it is one of the most visible colors under low light conditions, despite other colors being more visible in environments with better lighting.

Yellow is easily one of the most reflective colors, even more than cooler colors like blue or green, making it easier to see, as it also stands out against most backgrounds.

So, in short, it is because of its contrasts with surroundings, making it stand up and easier to notice, along with the color reflective capabilities which is the best way to enhance visibility in low light surroundings.

Source: Federal Highway Administration

2. Why Female Sea Turtles Must Lay Eggs on Land

Sea turtles spend years of their life swimming in the ocean. From the moment they are born, they all rush to get into the water and start their life. Then, after some time, when it is time to lay some eggs, the female sea turtles come ashore.

The reason for this phenomenon is that the embryos inside their eggs rely on air exchange via their eggshell. This simply means the baby turtles that are in embryo form will not be able to breathe if they remain submerged in water.

Bonus fun fact, did you know that sea turtles for some reason after spending years exploring the seas and ocean, always return to the beaches they are born with to lay their eggs? Scientists are still researching this fact!

Source: Ask Dr. Universe

3. How Much Water is Needed to Grow Rice?

If you have not been to any farmlands, there is a good chance that you think growing rice only needs a few liters of water. However, the reality is 1kg of rice, needs about 2,500 to 5,000 liters of water to grow.

But, there are differences in each land, some are more fertile than others. long with various climate and farming techniques, the water needed could vary highly.

Fun fact, there is a farming technique that literally flood the fields to control weeds and provide all the water they need, it is called, flooding irrigation.

Source: Research Gate

4. Why Athletes Eat Bananas During Matches

Have you ever watched the Olympics or other professional sports like basketball and football? Maybe you noticed that most athletes eat bananas instead of any other fruits or food.

This is because bananas are packed with a good ratio of natural sugars, and potassium which are both necessary for the muscles to function and prevent cramping.

If you go to the gym, you could also leverage this fact by eating a banana before or after your workout.

Source: Australian Bananas

5. Tokyo vs. Ancient Rome: The World’s Most Populated Cities in History

Tokyo is now the most populated city in the world with about 37 million inhabitants. This is a testament to how great civilizations have become at managing their population and what that population needs to survive.

However, before Tokyo, thousands of years before, the great Roman Empire have also done the same thing, with lesser technology and knowledge.

Rome once held a similar record, as the first city in the history of humanity to surpass a million population. That is why up to this date, they are being studied as to how they successfully manage that amount of people without the technology of the modern era.

Source: Wikipedia

6. London Holds the Record for the Most Five-Star Hotels

Have you ever stayed in a five-star hotel? If you are looking to stay at one, then the city that will give you the most options is London, with approximately 75 luxury hotels. Followed by Dubai with 61 and New York with 59.

Some of the most well-known hotels are The Landmark London, The Lanesborough, the Four Seasons Hotel, and The Langham.

Source: Daily Mail

7. Tom Cruise’s Insane Movie Stunts That He Does Himself

Tom Cruise is one of the most well-known actors of our time, and this is mainly due to his commitment to personally do his action sequences and stunts.

From flying a plane, hanging in a plane, and riding motorcycles faster than Formula 1 cars, to climbing the Burj Khalifa, he is truly one of the most respectable actors because of the way he does this craft.

Source: Business Insider

8. The Qinghai-Tibet Railway: The World’s Highest Railway

The Qinghai-Tiber railway is the world’s highest railway reaching an altitude of about 5,000 meters. If you are familiar with geography, it will make sense as this rail is located in the Tibetan Plateau which means it crosses mountains and various areas a lot higher than the sea level.

It is considered one of the marvels of modern-day engineering for how successfully it passes through harsh terrain, facilitating both tourism and trade.

Source: BBC

9. Why Roosters Crow at Dawn Every Morning

If you have ever lived near roosters, you will either wake up morning or get annoyed early on. They will without a doubt, crow after the light of the sun hits the place.

This is because of their internal and natural circadian rhythm that heavily responds to light. Their bodies literally signal to them to wake up as the dawn approaches and start to crow to announce the sunrise.

Source: National Geographic

10. How Birds Stay Light and Strong with Hollow Bones

Did you know that even though birds have bones, they are actually lighter than other normal bones because they are filled with air sacs known as pneumatic bones?

This is a unique skeletal structure that allows them to stay strong with their bones but still light, and use less energy to fly. It clearly shows how amazing life can be, and how it evolves for us to have whatever we need to survive.

Source: Birds of Colombia

Author's Final Thoughts

Congratulations on reaching this point which showcases just how curious are you to learn more and find out facts that not only increase your knowledge, but also your appreciation for nature, human engineering, and just everyday things happening in our lives.

You can visit this other article if you are interested in reading some more.

Related: 11 Crazy Random Facts That Will Leave You Speechless!