In 1958, Vice President Richard Nixon unknowingly carried Louis Armstrong’s suitcase containing 3 pounds of marijuana through US customs at Idlewild Airport in New York.
Source: Nixon Unknowingly ‘Muled’ for Pot Smuggling Louis Armstrong? (niagarafallsreporter.com)
In 2016, British actor Michael Caine, born Maurice Micklewhite, legally changed his name to his stage name after he got sick of the continuous hassle at the airport because security knew him only as Michael Caine. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: My name is Michael Caine … actor changes name due to Isis | Michael Caine | The Guardian
Chris Hadfield, the first Canadian astronaut to walk in space, was also the first to release an album (Space Sessions: Songs From A Tin Can) which was recorded primarily in orbit. – WTF Fun Facts
“Crab Mentality” is a line of thinking best described as “if I can’t have it, neither can you.” It is named that because when a bunch of crabs are trapped in a bucket and one is trying to escape, the others will pull it down. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Crab mentality – Wikipedia
Humans, as well as all air-breathing vertebrates, have a “diving reflex” which preferentially distributes oxygen stores to the heart and brain, enabling submersion for an extended time. The reflex is triggered by wetting the nostrils and face while holding one’s breath. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Diving reflex – Wikipedia
Shakespeare’s signature is one of the world’s rarest autographs in existence. There are only six known autographs on only 4 documents – all currently in museums. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: The world’s rarest autograph (paulfrasercollectibles.com)
Some chicken farmers in Bangladesh have switched to raising ducks due to climate change and more frequent sudden flooding. Ducks can swim and survive the floods while chickens cannot. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Bangladesh Farmers Are Raising Ducks to Adapt to Climate Change – The Atlantic
In 2017, Domino’s delivered a pizza in Hamburg, Germany via its Domino’s Robot Unit (DRU), a repurposed military robot. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Domino’s first robot pizza delivery in Germany is a success (news.com.au)
In 1900, Margaret Abbott was the first American woman to win an Olympic “gold medal” (golf) but was given a porcelain bowl instead as prizes were customary at that time. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Olympics 2016: Celebrating Margaret Abbott, the First American Woman to Win a Gold Medal | Vogue