Horses have a “pumping mechanism” in each hoof which helps return blood to the heart. The mechanism is necessary due to the position of the hoof in relation to the heart and a lack of muscle in the lower leg and hoof itself. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Blood Pumping Mechanism of the Hoof – Horses (extension.org)
When the British raised taxes on beer in the 17th century, they inadvertently made gin the cheapest alcoholic beverage. The ensuing widespread consumption of gin led to alcoholism problems in Britain, with the death rate overtaking the birth rate during this period. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Alcohol duties – All you need to know – Politics.co.uk
Researchers in Japan have fitted a train with a speaker that barks like a dog and snorts like a deer in order to prevent collisions with deer on the railway. A blast of 3-seconds of a deer snorting attracts the deers’ attention followed by 20 seconds of a dog barking scares them away. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Japanese train barks like a dog to prevent accidents – BBC News
In 1858 there was a brawl involving 50 congressmen on the US House floor. It ended when someone knocked off a man’s wig, which was then accidentally put on backwards, causing both sides to laugh and stop fighting. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Laurence M. Keitt – Wikipedia
IKEA is an acronym which stands for Ingvar Kamprad Elmtaryd Agunnaryd, which is the founder’s name, farm where he grew up, and hometown. – WTF Fun Facts
In 2011, the British intelligence forces of MI6 hacked into the website of al Qaeda’s English-language magazine, Inspire, and replaced bombmaking instructions with a recipe for a mojito cupcake. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: An Increase in Cyber Warfare Leads to Operation Cupcake, of the Mojito Variety – ABC News (go.com)
Diego is a Hood Island giant tortoise whose high libido helped save his species. He fathered >900 offspring who were released in the Galápagos, helping increase the wild population from 15 to >2,000. After 80 years in captivity, Diego is now retired in the Galápagos. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Tortoise whose storied sex drive helped save his species is finally retiring | Articles | omaha.com
Until 2014, Harrods luxury department store in Knightsbridge was the home of the legendary Pet Kingdom, which historically sold all sorts of exotic animals such as lions, alligators, leopards, elephants, and more. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: https://www.mylondon.news/news/nostalgia/extraordinary-history-harrods-pet-store-19948359
During WW2, British soldiers had an allotment of 3 sheets of toilet paper per man per day. The American soldiers had an allotment of 22.5 sheets. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: The American People in World War II: Freedom from Fear, Part Two – David M. Kennedy – Google Books