The Mayans constructed their temples so that a handclap at the base of the temple produces an echo that sounds like the call of the sacred Quetzal bird, which they believed was a messenger of the gods. The technique is now known as a “Bragg diffraction grating.” – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Here’s How This Ancient Mayan Pyramid Makes Bird Calls (gizmodo.com)
Birds have the ability (unihemispheric) to let half their brain sleep while the other half is awake. Researchers found when ducks sleep in a row, those on either end sleep with one eye open to look for predators. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Half-Brained Ducks in a Row | Science | AAAS (sciencemag.org)
Scientists in China have successfully grown tooth enamel which could eventually replace the need for fillings & crowns. A chemical mixture applied to the tooth created an enamel layer 2.7 micrometers thick within 48 hours. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: End of fillings in sight as scientists grow tooth enamel and repair damage (telegraph.co.uk)
In 2004 and 2012 Somalia minted sets of 6 $1 guitar coins. The coins are all silver plated cupro-nickel pieces with multiple layers of enamel. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Somalia’s Rocking Coins Look Like Electric Guitars! | Mintage World
For over 10 years, James McCormick sold the ADE 651, a fake ‘bomb detector’, all over the world (but primarily to Iraq). He purchased novelty golf ball detectors for less than $20 and resold them for $5000 each. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Fake bomb detector seller James McCormick jailed – BBC News
The first ever Roman fire brigade was created by Marcus Licinius Crassus. During fires, they would arrive and Crassus would offer to buy the burning building from the owner at a very low price. They would put out the fire if the owner agreed, but if they refused then they would simply let it burn. – WTF Fun Facts
Arctic foxes have beautiful white coats that act as very effective winter camouflage. However, they do not hibernate and their fur changes colors to brown or grey for the summer. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Arctic Fox | National Geographic
Randy Woodfield, the I-5 Serial Killer responsible for over 40 murders along Interstate 5 from 1980-81, was drafted into the NFL by the Green Bay Packers but was cut from the team after a series of indecent exposure arrests. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Randall Woodfield – Wikipedia
Vulture bees (or carrion bees) feed on rotting meat instead of pollen in order to make honey. They eat and store the flesh in a special stomach compartment and then return to the hive. There the meat is regurgitated and processed by a worker bee. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: SCIENCE WATCH; Carrion Bees – The New York Times (nytimes.com)