13 Unexpected Facts About the World Around Us (14 photos)

A fish that has been in water with a minimal amount of ethanol can instantly become a leader, a kiwi's egg is comparable in size to a newborn baby, and more.





Don't believe it? It's true. These and other seemingly incredible facts are in today's collection of the surprising, interesting, and non-obvious.

1. Life-Saving Suspended Animation



Tree frogs have the unique ability to enter suspended animation—freezing and remaining frozen until they thaw in the spring. They can remain in this state for up to eight months. They even stop beating while frozen.

2. The Smartest Dog in the World





Chaser is a Border Collie with the best proven memory of any animal. She could recognize and retrieve 1,022 toys by name, sort objects, remember the meaning of a new word after 1-2 repetitions, and could combine actions with objects.

3. A Record-Breaking Word



The most polysemantic word in the English language is "run." It can have up to 645 different meanings.

4. A Unique Skyscraper



A pig farm has been set up in a 26-story building in China. It is one of the tallest livestock buildings in the world.

5. A Clear Division of Divine Duties



The Romans had so many different gods that in late antiquity, one theologian noted that there were at least three different deities responsible for doorways alone, including a separate god for the hinge.

6. A Lucky Chance



Briton Steve Withely won £1.45 million at the races, betting just £2. He predicted six winners, including a horse named Lupita in his final race, who hadn't won in 26 races in a row, and jockey Jessica Lodge, who had never won before. He chose them because "the Lodge name just stuck in my head."

7. Cheers!



Some cultures have multiple responses to sneezing (similar to our "Christmas!"), and the choice depends on how many times a person sneezes. This is usually based on superstitions or folk sayings.

8. The Drunk Leader



When a drunk zebrafish is placed in a group of sober zebrafish, the sober fish begin to follow the drunk zebrafish as a leader.

9. "Bird Bricks"



Whales can accidentally swallow birds while feeding, but since they are unable to digest the birds, they pass them out whole. These formations are popularly known as "bird bricks."

10. Brain Glass



In 2020, archaeologists working at the "Skeleton Bed" (Villa dei Papiri) in Herculaneum discovered glassy black remains inside the skull of a 25-year-old man who died during the eruption. This was his brain. A process called vitrification occurred. The high temperatures were literally capable of burning the victim's fat and body tissue, turning the brain into glass.

11. A Very Slow Process



It takes longer for a new toenail to fully grow than for a human toenail to grow. A woman's pregnancy lasts approximately 38-40 weeks, while a toenail can take up to 18 months to grow back after being lost or removed.

12. Ancient Standards of Measurement



One of the oldest standards for measuring length was the length of an Egyptian pharaoh's forearm—from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger. Measuring rulers called "cubits" (cubits) were made according to this standard and were used in the construction of the pyramids.

13. A Unique Bird



Despite their small size, kiwis lay some of the largest eggs of any bird. They can weigh up to 20% of their body weight. This is comparable to a 54-kilogram (120-pound) woman giving birth to a 11-kilogram (25-pound) baby.