7 unexpected facts that change your understanding of reality (8 photos)

To be amazed by the uniqueness of our world, you don't need to fly into space, venture into the desert, or descend into the depths of the ocean. After all, the world around us is so full of interesting facts that a lifetime wouldn't be enough to explore them all.





Do you know how a rock musician unwittingly promoted a common hygiene product? Or that a species of cunning slugs has learned to shed its body to fight parasites and grow a new one? If not, get ready for a fresh batch of interesting facts.

1. The Mistake That Created a Hit



Kathleen Hanna, a friend of Kurt Cobain's, once wrote on the wall of his house: "Kurt smells like teen spirit." Cobain liked the phrase, saw it as a revolutionary slogan (he and Hanna often discussed anarchism), and wrote the hit "Smells Like Teen Spirit."

Only months after the release did Kurt discover that Teen Spirit was actually a deodorant brand belonging to his girlfriend, Tobi Vail. Ironically, a pop culture antidote song itself became a pop phenomenon and made this deodorant a bestseller.

2. Prepared Tree





The tonka tree (Dipteryx oleifera) can survive lightning strikes thanks to its high internal conductivity, allowing current to flow through it like an insulated wire. It uses this property to destroy parasitic vines and fry other nearby trees that compete for resources in the dense tropical forest.

3. A Unique Passage



The Indian subcontinent is surrounded by the Himalayas, making it virtually inaccessible by land. With one exception: the Khyber Pass. For thousands of years, almost all migrations and invasions into India occurred through this narrow passage, only 15 to 130 meters wide.

The British built a highway there in 1879, and a railway opened in 1925.

4. Gaddafi's Unconventional Evening



While in Italy for a food summit, Muammar Gaddafi hired 200 models for a social event. However, instead of a party, he gave them a nightly lecture on Islam, and as a parting gift, he presented each with a copy of the Quran and his political book, The Green Book.

5. The Demographic Curse of the Fire Horse



In 1966, the birth rate in Japan plummeted – half a million children fewer than in 1965 and 1967. The reason lies in an ancient 60-year cycle: 1966 was the Year of the Fire Horse. Girls born in this year were believed to bring misfortune and could cause the death of their husbands. This superstition led millions of Japanese families to postpone having children during this unfortunate year.

6. A Unique Survival Option



Scientists have discovered two species of sea slugs (Sacoglossan) that are capable of a radical solution. They shed their own heads to rid themselves of parasites. The head then independently regrows a completely new body in just 17 days. And what's most amazing is that they can perform this trick repeatedly.

7. The Real-Life Feat of Paper Superman



In 2010, a family packing up for an eviction due to mortgage arrears found Action Comics #1 – the first comic book featuring Superman. The mint-condition copy sold at auction for $436,000. The proceeds were enough to pay off the debt and save their home.