On January 1, 1907 President Theodore Roosevelt shook the hands of over 8,510 people, setting a world record which lasted for over 70 years. It is still the world record for a head of state.–WTF Fun Facts
Source:Most handshakes by a head of state | Guinness World Records
A man whose headaches were so painful they made him vomit has finally found the source of his health problem – a tapeworm has been lodged in his brain for 10 years after eating undercooked pork in Mexico. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Man whose headaches made him vomit ‘had tapeworm in brain for 10 years’ | US News | Sky News
Arthropleura is an extinct species of millipede that existed 360-299 million years ago. The insect is estimated to have reach the length of 2 meters (6.6 feet). – WTF Fun Facts
Source: https://www.britannica.com/animal/millipede#ref1116822
In 2010, Sogen Kato, believed to be the oldest man in Tokyo at the age of 111, was found mummified in his bed at the family home. Police finally broke in and discovered he had died at age 79 and his family lied about it to keep receiving his pension. – WTF Fun Facts
In 1966, Best Buy was founded as an audio specialty store called Sound of Music. It operated under that name until 1983 when it was re-branded to Best Buy and began focusing on consumer electronics. – WTF Fun Facts
Sodium Citrate, a “melting salt”, is the secret ingredient to make any cheese into a smooth, creamy nacho cheese sauce. Coincidentally, Sodium Citrate’s chemical formula spells out Na3C6H5O7 (NaCHO).–WTF Fun Facts
Source:https://www.cooksillustrated.com/science/830-articles/story/cooks-science-explains-sodium-citrate
The WD-40 Company never patented the WD-40 formula, in order to avoid having to ever disclose the trade secret ingredients publicly. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/22/business/22barry1.html
Small spiders don’t jump using muscles. Instead, they control the blood pressure in their legs like a hydraulic system to propel them upwards. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: https://asknature.org/strategy/leg-uses-hydraulics-and-muscle-flex/
In 2015, the United Kingdom became the first country in the world to legalize the creation of babies from the DNA of three people in a technique known as mitochondrial DNA replacement therapy. – WTF Fun Facts
Since 1991, an Ig Nobel Prize has been awarded in ten categories to celebrate unusual or trivial achievements in scientific research. For example, in 2016 the Ig Nobel Prize for chemistry was given to Prof. Raston for unboiling an egg. – WTF Fun Facts
A recent study on the painkiller Maxalt and migraines found the placebo effect accounted for nearly 60% of the painkillers’ effectiveness. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/10/opinion/sunday/a-placebo-treatment-for-pain.html
Only seven women are currently permitted by custom to wear white when visiting the Pope (the rest should wear black). This is the so-called “privilège du blanc”, which is granted to some Catholic queens or consorts of kings for historical reasons. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: https://aleteia.org/2017/06/01/only-7-women-in-the-world-can-dress-in-white-in-front-of-the-pope/
In 1972, a morning show on Canadian radio station CBC held a contest to find a national simile (a response to ‘As American as apple pie’). The winning response was “As Canadian as possible under the circumstances.” – WTF Fun Facts
In 2011, a monkey was arrested in Pakistan for crossing the border from India. The monkey was taken to Bahawalpur Zoo, where officials named him Bobby. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-16154163
In 2001, the FBI warned Russell Crowe that al-Qaeda were planning to kidnap him as part of a “cultural destabilization plot.” For nearly two years, the FBI guarded Crowe in public and refused to give him any details about the threat. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/03/russell-crowe-fbi
In Japan, businesses like banks & convenience stores visibly keep baseball-sized orange orbs behind the counter. These “anticrime color balls” are filled with bright pigment that burst on impact & are for employees to throw at robbers to improve the chance of arrest. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2008/05/20/reference/anti-crime-color-balls/#.V7xAjq6toy4
The carnivorous harp sponge (Chondrocladia lyra) traps its prey in its hooks and then secretes a digestive membrane which breaks it down cell by cell and absorbs it through its pores. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chondrocladia_lyra
If you were on the moon, the Earth wouldn’t actually move in the sky. It would appear to wobble a little because the moon is elliptical but it would never “rise” or “set”. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: https://www.livescience.com/65831-earth-phases-from-moon.html