One habit of intelligent humans is being easily annoyed by people around them but saying nothing to avoid a meaningless argument.
100 Mind-Blowing Humans Facts
Small as they may be, ladybugs have a unique smell that humans are incredibly sensitive to.
Only primates, humans, and opossums have opposable thumbs. Out of these, the opossum is the only one with no thumbnail.
It’s not just humans who are right or left-handed. Most female cats prefer using their right paw, and males are more likely to be left-pawed.
Adult cats only meow at humans, not other cats. Kittens meow to their mother, but once they get a little older, cats no longer meow to other cats.
Humans have been performing dentistry since 7000 BC, which makes dentistry one of the oldest professions.
Humans specifically have eyes that face forward to see in 3D. On the other hand, vegetarian dinosaurs such as the Triceratops had eyes that looked out to the side so they could stay vigilant, watching for danger as they ate.
Without saliva, humans are unable to taste food.
Around 15% of active Twitter accounts are social bots. This means there are nearly 48 million accounts that are not controlled by humans.
In Australia, there are nearly twice the amount of kangaroos as there are humans.
In the early 1900s, there was a pod of killer whales that helped humans hunt down other whales in Australia. They would do this for the fins and tongues of the captured whales as rewards, and this agreement was known as “The Law of Tongue.”
Forgiveness is the number one trait linked to happiness in humans.
Crows can remember the faces of individual humans. They can also hold a grudge.
Humans cannot walk in a straight line without a visual point – When blindfolded, we will gradually walk in a circle.
Dogs can be allergic to humans – specifically, their dander. While being treated for this allergy, it can take up to 12 months for a dog to recover.
Giraffes are 30 times more likely to get hit by lightning than people. True, there are only five well-documented fatal lightning strikes on giraffes between 1996 and 2010. However, due to the population of the species being just 140,000 during this time, it makes for about 0.003 lightning deaths per thousand giraffes each year. This is 30 times the equivalent fatality rate for humans.
Animals can experience time differently from humans. To smaller animals, the world around them moves more slowly compared to humans. Salamanders and lizards, for example, experience time more slowly than cats and dogs. This is because the perception of time depends on how quickly the brain can process incoming information.
Fish form orderly queues in emergencies. When evacuating through narrow spaces in sketchy situations, schools of neon tetra fish queue so that they don’t collide or clog up the line. Scientists interpreted this behaviour as showing that fish can respect social rules even in emergencies, unlike us humans.
Animals can be allergic to humans. Animals can be allergic to our dead skin cells – dander. These allergic reactions can be just like ours, too, including breathing difficulties and skin irritation.
Animals can also be allergic to humans.
The earliest evidence of humans eating oatmeal dates to more than 30,000 years ago, according to Britannica.
Dead skin cells are a main ingredient in household dust. Here’s an interesting science fact for you: According to researchers at Imperial College London, humans shed around 200 million skin cells each hour—and they have to go somewhere when we’re indoors. If the idea of skin dust isn’t sitting well with you, you should know that a report from the American Chemical Society found that a skin oil called squalene naturally helps reduce indoor ozone levels by up to 15 per cent.
Human beings can use only a small fraction of Earth’s water. In school, we were taught that most (specifically, 71 per cent) of the planet’s surface is covered in water. While that’s true, humans can use only 0.007 per cent of that water, according to National Geographic. That’s because only about 2.5 per cent of Earth’s water is freshwater, and only 1 per cent of that is accessible. The rest is made up of glaciers and snowfields.
The man with the world’s deepest voice can make sounds humans can’t hear. The man, Tim Storms, can’t even hear the note, which is eight octaves below the lowest G on a piano—but elephants can.
Humans aren’t the only animals that dream. Studies have indicated rats dream about getting to food or running through mazes. Most mammals go through REM sleep, the cycle in which dreams occur, so scientists think there’s a good chance they all dream.
Humans have jumped farther than horses in the Olympics. The Olympic world record for the longest human long jump is greater than the world record for the longest horse long jump. Mike Powell set the record in 1991 by jumping 8.95 meters, and the horse Extra Dry set the record in 1900 by jumping 6.10 meters.
Adult cats are lactose intolerant. Like some humans, adult cats don’t have enough the lactase enzyme to digest lactose from milk, causing them to vomit, have diarrhea, or get gassy. Cats only have enough of that enzyme when they’re born and during the early years of their lives.
Humans are the only animals that blush. We’re also the only animals that experience embarrassment, too. This is because it’s a complex emotion that involves understanding other people’s opinions.
People don’t sneeze in their sleep. While asleep, humans are more prone to sneezing because the mucous membranes swell when lying down. However, the brain shuts down the neuroreceptors that stimulate our sneezing reflex. That way, only very strong stimuli can wake one to sneeze.
Eating polar bear liver can kill a human being. If eaten in one meal, 30-90 g of polar bear liver can be fatal. Its high concentration of Vitamin A is toxic to humans.
Humans specifically have eyes that face forward to see in 3D. On the other hand, vegetarian dinosaurs such as the Triceratops had eyes facing both sides so they could look out for predators.
Humans can’t taste food without saliva. Another fun fact about the body: You wouldn’t taste your food without spit. Your saliva dissolves food, which allows the receptors in your taste buds to detect food molecules.
A frog can throw up an entire organ. Frogs don’t have a gag reflex like humans and other animals. Their way of rejecting unwanted elements is way more hardcore: The frog vomits its entire stomach out, dangling it from its mouth. The frog then uses its forearms to clear out all of the stomach’s contents. Finally, it swallows the stomach back down again.
The oceans contain 200,000 different kinds of viruses. Dive deep into this next fun fact: Marine viruses have been found in the ocean from the surface down to 4,000m deep and from the North to the South Pole. Most of these viruses are harmless to humans. However, they can infect marine life such as whales and crustaceans.
The Netherlands has a squirrel bridge. One of the most interesting fun facts about humans’ relationship with animals: After a few squirrel casualties, Netherlands officials built a squirrel bridge across the N44 motorway. The two-year project cost a hefty £120,000. However, to date, only five squirrels have been seen using it.
The people who are currently alive are only 7% of the total number of people who have ever lived. One of the fun facts that’ll make you realize how long humans have been around: According to the Population Reference Bureau, over 108 billion people have ever been born. At 7.5 billion, that’s only a meagre 7% of the people who have ever lived.
Humans shed 18 kg of skin in their lifetime. At this rate, a person completely replaces their outer skin every month.
Humans are genetically related to bananas. We share 50% of our genes with bananas, which is about 1% of our DNA.
Blue whales eat 500,000 calories in 1 mouthful. When whales open their gaping mouths in the ocean, they eat half a million calories worth of krill. If whales were like humans, their calorie deficit would be way off the charts: the energy they get is more than 240 times the energy they expend to gather all the krill in their mouths.
Humans have jumped further than horses in the Olympics. The Olympics has been a good measure of humanity’s physical limits and capabilities. You’d be surprised that the world record for the longest human long jump is even greater than the record for the longest long jump done by a horse. When Mike Powell jumped 8.95 meters, he beat the record of Extra Dry who jumped at 6.10 meters.
Apple seeds contain cyanide. If you chew or digest them, these seeds turn into hydrogen cyanide which is poisonous to humans. The same goes for apricot, cherry, and peach seeds.
You can become less depressed if you stay up. Research has found that there is a correlation between those who pull all-nighters and those hazing out of depression. This is because the longer you go without sleep, the more active your brain becomes. However, it is not recommended to go without sleep as it is a necessary need for humans to be able to function normally.
Adult cats will only meow at humans. Kittens will meow to their mothers, but more frequently to humans as they mature. Kittens only meow at other cats to indicate hunger or the need for warmth.
Humans did not come from monkeys. To be more precise, humans and monkeys had a common ancestor from 25-30 million years ago. From then, each species evolved differently.
Most of the viruses embedded in our DNA are gone already. Most of these viruses have already gone extinct due to human evolution and changes in environments. Modern medicine also played a role in the extinction of these viruses. If scientists were to revive any of these viruses, it could cause a major outbreak that humans won’t quickly heal from.
Peas are the oldest vegetables. The oldest known vegetable is the pea which tracks back to Stone Age settlements over 8,000 years ago. This vegetable has been cultivated by humans for centuries.
Humans consume a lot of water. Water is a major part of most life forms and cannot survive without it. By the time humans reach the age of 70, they would have consumed about 12,000 gallons of water. Water is known to be the best and most hydrating liquid that promotes cardiovascular health.
Humans have five vital organs. Without any of these organs, a human being cannot survive. These organs include the heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, and the brain.
Dogs and cats also have a dominant side like humans do. A research study from Washington, D.C. states that these animals can be left or right-handed. They favour either the left or right paw when they move.
Certain fruit flies are resistant to getting drunk. However, this is only so if they have an inactive version of what scientists call the ‘happy hour’ gene. Scientists have found that this gene can be used to treat alcohol abuse in humans.
Humans share about 50% of our DNA with bananas. By sequencing the entire genome of various organisms, researchers have discovered similarities in their base material. Human beings have been found to share many of the housekeeping genes that are necessary for cellular function with bananas.
The thigh bones of humans are stronger than concrete. The thigh bones support the weight of the entire body and are approximately eight times stronger than concrete. However, they are still prone to break when serious injury is inflicted on the bone.
Humans have just 1 bone less than horses. Horses have an average of 205 bones or more while the adult human is set at 206. On average, horses will live for 25-30 years.
A fly will always launch backwards to get away faster. Fruit flies can turn midair by shrugging their shoulders. Research has also found that a fly can process information at a much faster speed compared to humans. The average fly can process the ongoings of its surroundings seven times faster than a human being can.
Most of your house dust is your dead skin. The next time you get mad at all the dust in your place, remember that it’s your fault. Humans lose 30,000 to 40,000 dead skin cells each minute. So, aside from the dust from the streets, most of the dust bunnies gunking up your house probably came from you. How’s that for interesting facts that’ll change your perspective?
Birds have hollow bones which help them fly. Birds are unique creatures with many interesting facts to feature. However, one of their more creepy features is their hollow bones. Deep inside, birds are pretty much paper mache. While humans have dense bones filled with marrow, most birds of flight have only air and struts in their bones.
The human brain is the only brain that shrinks with age. Humans are the only animals that get dumb when they get older. Other animals’ senses would get dull, but they retain the same brain mass.
Dogs are banned from Antarctica. In 1994, Antarctica banned all non-native species (except humans) from the continent. This was to prevent diseases from spreading to seals.
Nutmeg can be poisonous. Who doesn’t love a little nutmeg in their hot chocolate? It may seem unlikely, but in certain amounts, nutmeg can be fatal to humans. Compared to other plants and herbs, nutmeg contains higher amounts of a narcotic substance called myristicin. Consuming more than 1 teaspoon of ground nutmeg at once can cause side effects such as wild hallucinations, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and a syncopated heartbeat. In large amounts, it can also lead to organ failure.
Cats can be manipulative. When cats need food or affection, they’ve been shown to exhibit “solicitation purring,” or more baby-like meows. According to a study, humans perceive this solicitation purring as more urgent than their usual cries.
“Huh?” Is a universal word for humans. Studies suggest that “Huh?” is the closest thing humans have to a universal word. This expression is understood and used in almost every language.
Chickens outnumber humans. As of 2011, there has been a recorded number of 19 billion chickens – which is over twice the latest population count for humans (7.7 billion).
Humans have farted 17 quadrillion times since the beginning of time. If you want a picture of how far the human race has come, you can measure it in farts. The average person farts 14 times a day. The next time you’re questioning your contributions to society hold on to these kinds of WTF facts.
Scientists used to believe there were little people inside sperm. In the 1600s, “preformationism” was a widely believed theory: People believed that tiny, fully-formed humans were curled up in sperm cells or egg cells. Sounds like a surrealist horror concept, if you ask me.
Some animals can delay their pregnancies. Most carnivores can pause their pregnancies for up to months. Delayed gestation is observed in all bears, most seals, and many rodents, deer, armadillos, and anteaters. Imagine if humans could do that, too.
Marvel action figures helped ToyBiz save money. In the U.S., dolls based on human figures are taxed more heavily than other toys. Owning the rights to several Marvel Comics characters, ToyBiz successfully convinced the court that X-Men and Fantastic Four action figures should be taxed less. Their argument? The action figures were based on mutants, not humans. Following their appeal, the toy company won a reimbursement on the year’s taxes and cut their rate in half.
Prolonged exposure to microgravity (lesser force of gravity in space) can cause muscular dystrophy and bone loss in humans.
Humans have explored outer space more than the ocean: only 5% of the sea has been discovered.
The world’s termites outweigh the world’s humans by about 10 to 1.
Adult cats only meow at humans, not other cats.
Chocolate can kill dogs, as it contains theobromine, which affects their heart and nervous system. Chocolate consists of an ingredient called theobromine (similar to caffeine) that is toxic to dogs. Dogs are not as capable of breaking it down or metabolizing theobromine as humans can. Theobromine majorly affects a dog’s central nervous system, heart and kidneys.
Butterflies taste with their feet. This may sound strange to us humans but butterflies do rely on their feet to taste food as they have sensors on their feet which helps them locate food for their caterpillars. So, they stand on a leaf to try the taste.
Dogs can smell 100,000 times better than humans.
Monkeys can go bald in old age, just like humans.
Humans share 50% of their DNA with bananas.
Cats have 230 bones, while humans only have 206.
Humans are the only animals that blush. Some people believe we may be the only animals who feel embarrassed.
Humans have tongue prints. Just like our fingerprints, our tongue prints are unique!
Giraffes are much more likely to get hit by lightning than humans. Their fatality rate from lightning strikes is a whopping 30 times higher than ours.
Animals can be allergic to humans. Not only can dogs be allergic to cat dander and people dander, but our pets can also suffer from the same allergens as humans, including pollen!
Giraffes are more prone to be struck by lightning than humans. Each year, there are about 0.003 lightning deaths per thousand giraffes. This means that it is 30 times the rate at which lightning strikes humans.
Humans are the only animals that blush.
Humans have tongue prints, just as we have fingerprints.
In your house, dead skin cells are the main factor in dust. According to research at Imperial College London, humans shed roughly 200 million skin cells per hour.
As it’s so close to Earth, Mars is the planet that humans will most likely step foot on and explore first.
Dogs’ sense of smell is about 100,000 times stronger than humans, but they have just one-sixth our number of taste buds.
Sharks kill fewer than 10 people per year. Humans kill about 100 million sharks per year. They should be much more scared of us than we are of them.
Young goats pick up accents from each other, joining humans, bats, and whales as mammals known to adjust their vocal sounds to fit into a new social group.
Azara’s owl monkeys are more monogamous than humans. They live together as families, with two parents and offspring, for up to nine years or when one of the parents dies. Fathers are highly involved in caring for their young.
Less time separates the existence of humans and the Tyrannosaurus rex than the T-rex and the Stegosaurus.
Humans lose about 50-100 hairs a day.
Other than humans, emperor penguins are the only warm-blooded animals to stay in Antarctica for the winter.
Sharks do not hunt humans or consider humans food. Shark incidents occur when sharks are hunting for seals, dolphins, or other “human-sized” prey. It’s a case of mistaken identity!
Not only does everyone have unique fingerprints, but humans also have unique tongue prints!
Humans are the only animals with chins.
Sharks do not hunt humans or consider humans food. Shark incidents occur when sharks are hunting for seals, dolphins or other “human-sized” prey. It’s a case of mistaken identity!
Humans are born with about 300 bones, but some fuse together as we grow older. As a result, we only have around 206 left by the time we reach adulthood.
Insects have been around for about 350 million years. To put that in perspective, we’ll note that humans have only been here for 13,000 years.
Humans are not the only species that can dance. Sea lions can move their bodies to the rhythm of an external beat. If you see a sea lion, then consider challenging it to a dance-off.
Bees not only sting humans, but they also sting other bees. Guard bees will protect the entrance of the hive. If a trespasser attempts to get into the hive, these guards will bite and sting the intruder.