What Happened to All the Blimps?

There are only about 25 blimps left in the world.

At the start of the 20th century, before the Wright Brothers finally got their famous Flyer off the ground in 1903, airships were seen as the future of human flight. 

How Fast Does Information From Your Brain Travel?

Information from your central nervous system travels at up to 268 mph.

From the automatic tasks of regulating breathing and blood pressure to the voluntary efforts needed for muscle movement, the central nervous system puts in a lot of work to maintain the complex mechanisms of the human body. 

Pace is crucial to keep this system running smoothly which is why some signals from our body’s command centers can reach a speed of 268 miles per hour. 

Disneyland has a Clever Way to stay Rodent Free

About 200 feral cats roam Disneyland, where they help control rodents.

Spend enough time at Disneyland and you’ll see them. 

Maybe you’ll spot one snoozing in the bushes near the Jungle Cruise or observing you warily as you ride the tram.

But one thing is certain: however many cats you see, there are more out of sight.

What Animals Received Medals for Bravery During WWII

Thirty-two pigeons were awarded medals for valor during World War II.

Pigeons tend to get a bad rap among urban dwellers, but the birds have a distinguished history of service. 

Bred for their instinctive ability to find their way home from long distances, homing pigeons were trained as message-bearers as far back as in ancient Egypt. 

Imperial City Meknes in Morocco

An imperial city in northern central Morocco, Meknes is steeped in history.

Meknes is one of the four Imperial cities of Morocco.

It is located in northern central Morocco and the sixth largest city by population in the kingdom.

Can Humans Glow in the Dark?

Humans actually glow.

Bioluminescence, the strange biology that causes certain creatures to glow, is usually found at the darkest depths of the ocean where the sun’s light doesn’t reach. 

While these light-emitting animals seem otherworldly, the trait is actually pretty common. 

In fact, humans can glow.

What Birds Can Stay in Flight for 200 Days?

Alpine swifts can remain in flight for 200 days.

The small, swallow-like bird found in Europe and Africa can remain in flight for 200 days.

During this time they are migrating. And during this time they eat insects, groom themselves, and even sleep while airborne.

Where is the Only One Royal Palace in the U.S.?

There’s only one royal palace on U.S. soil.

Given that the United States was born amid an anti-monarchical fervor, it’s fitting that the sole royal palace within its confines is located more than 4,700 miles from the nation’s capital.

There, amid the high rises and palm trees of downtown Honolulu, stands Iolani Palace, the home of Hawaii’s 19th-century royal dynasty. 

What "Toasting" Someone Has to Do With Actual Toast?

The concept of toasting comes from putting a piece of toast in one’s drink.

Today, cultures around the world have specific rules and phrases for the common toast. 

In South Korea, one accepts a drink with two hands, and in Italy, locking eyes is absolutely essential. 

But how exactly does the word “toast,” as in dry bread, figure into all of this? 

What Part of the Ocean is Hot Enough to Melt Lead?

There are vents on the seafloor hot enough to melt lead.

It is generally understood that ocean water gets colder the farther one gets from the warming rays of the sun, but there’s an exception. 

Hydrothermal vents can pump out fluids at temperatures above 700 degrees Fahrenheit, hot enough to melt lead.

One of Your Nostrils is Always Working Harder Than the Other

People breathe primarily out of one nostril at a time.

The human nose is a biological wonder. 

It can smell up to 1 trillion odors, trap harmful debris in the air before it enters your lungs, and affect your sex life. 

But arguably its most important job is to condition the air you breathe before that air enters your respiratory tract. 

How Many People Have Ever Lived on Earth?

About 117 billion people have ever lived.

There are more people on Earth today than ever before, nearly 8 billion, to be exact.

This represents a full 7% of all 117 billion people estimated to have ever lived throughout the course of human history. 

Why Oceans are Changing Color?

The oceans are becoming greener.

Climate change isn’t just raising the temperature of the world’s oceans. It is also changing their color. 

As the oceans absorb the excess heat generated by greenhouse gases, that heat is altering the aquatic life in their waters.

Why London Bridge is Actually in Arizona?

In 1968, an American bought the old London Bridge and moved it to Arizona.

If you want to see the 19th-century version of London Bridge, don’t travel to London or even England, for that matter. 

Instead, head to Lake Havasu, Arizona, where a U.S. businessman by the name of Robert McCulloch moved the bridge after buying it in 1968.

Why the Swedes Watch Donald Duck on Christmas Eve?

It’s a tradition in Sweden to watch Donald Duck cartoons on Christmas Eve.

Disney devotees may be familiar with the 1958 Donald Duck Christmas special From All of Us to All of You, but they probably haven’t seen it as many times as the average Swede.

Which First Lady Took a Ride with Amelia Earhart?

Amelia Earhart once took Eleanor Roosevelt on a nighttime ride.

Although her aviation career lasted just 17 years, Amelia Earhart remains one of the most famous people ever to take to the sky. 

In addition to being renowned for her many firsts, including being the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic and the first person to fly alone from Hawaii to the mainland U.S.

How Often Does a Person Get a New Skeleton?

Humans get a new skeleton about every 10 years.

The human skeleton is sometimes called the scaffolding of the body, and the name is apt because, like scaffolding, our bones are less permanent than you might think. 

Human bones grow in a process known as modeling, and once a person reaches adulthood, the skeleton system refreshes itself in a process known as remodeling.

Bananas are Technically Berries

Bananas are technically berries.

Berry classification is a confusing business.

People began referring to some fruits as “berries” thousands of years before scientists established their own definitions, some of which are still debated. 

Today, little effort is made to teach the public about what botanically constitutes a berry, so here is a bit of help. 

When Did We Start Wrapping Gifts?

Decorative wrapping has long been an integral part of gift-giving. 

Over the years, studies have shown that gift wrap can even positively influence the perception of a gift, a fact that was clearly understood in some ancient cultures. 

When paper first emerged in ancient China around the second century BCE, it was primarily used for wrapping medicine and delicate goods. 

Parachutes Were Invented Before Airplanes

Parachutes were invented before airplanes.

Most grade school students can tell you that the first airplane was flown by Orville and Wilbur Wright in 1903. 

But the origins of the parachute go back further, much further, depending on your criteria.