26Roman Population
Rome was basically a ghost town during the Middle Ages. After the fall of the West-Roman empire, the population of Rome dropped from 1 million in 330 A.D. to just 20,000 in 650 A.D. The population remained roughly the same till 1600 A.D.
27. There is a street that is split down the middle by the USA-Canadian border, aptly named Canusa street. People who live in houses on the south side of the street are in the USA, and the north side, in Canada. Crossing the street requires having to report to the border crossing office.
28. An ape named Oliver preferred walking upright. He was bald, freckled, showed sexual attraction towards humans and even liked to pour himself a cup of brandy every night while wearing a smoking jacket. Due to his human-like features and mannerisms he was once believed to be a "Humanzee."
29. There is a community in Cairo, Egypt that collects the trash of the residents of Cairo and recycles upwards of 80% of it. Nicknamed "Garbage City", these mostly Christian residents have been collecting and recycling Cairo's trash for several decades.
30. Frank “Cannonball” Richards was a carnival entertainer whose most famous act involved getting hit by a 104 lbs cannonball from close range. He performed the act twice a day because “more than that was too painful.”
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31Neanderthals
Neanderthals, who were traditionally thought of as extremely primitive humans, are now believed to have been extremely intelligent, even comparable to the intelligence of modern humans. They used tools, had social structures, thrived in hostile environments, and lived long lives.
32. In State v. Linkhaw (1873), the North Carolina Supreme Court reversed the conviction of William Linkhaw, who sang so badly in church that a jury had found him guilty of “disturbing a religious congregation.”
33. Mahatma Gandhi wrote two letters to Hitler, in which he asked him to stop the war because it would cause many victims. Neither of the letters he wrote was allowed to be sent by the British colonial government in India.
34. Serotonin, the neurotransmitter responsible for happiness, can be toxic. When injected into the skin it causes extreme pain and is the main ingredient of wasp venom.
35. Evel Knievel (born as Robert Craig Knievel) got his nickname after spending a night in jail next to the well-known William 'Awful' Knofel. The jailer made a joke about 'Awful Knofel' and 'Evil Knievel' and Evel decided to keep the name.
