50 Random Facts List #119

When scientists injected mouse pups with human glial cells, within a year the human brain cells integrated and replaced over half of the natural cells. The mice developed supercharged intelligence- scoring much higher on cognitive and memory tests than their unaltered kin.

27. On his deathbed in 1936, King George V's doctor issued the final notice “The King’s life is moving peacefully towards its close" and then proceeded to inject him with 750mg of morphine and 1000mg of cocaine, enough to kill him twice over.

28. The U.S briefly banned sliced bread in 1943. During this time, a letter appeared in The New York Times from a distraught housewife saying, in part: "I should like to let you know how important sliced bread is to the morale and saneness of a household."

29. Despite Octopi and Squid being colorblind, they can see color by changing the shape of their pupils to accept specific wavelengths.

30. In 1994, R&B singer R Kelly married fellow R&B singer Aaliyah when she was only 15 years old. The marriage was annulled later that year and they both agreed to never speak of it again.

Thomas Jefferson purchased a thermometer a few days before signing The Declaration of Independence. He noted that it was 76 degrees on Signing Day in Philadelphia.

32. The first sitting member of Congress to be assassinated was an Arkansas Congressman named James M. Hinds who was murdered by the Ku Klux Klan in 1868. Despite identifying his killer by name before his death, the assassin was never arrested or charged with a crime.

33. Punch and Judy was a popular puppet show from the 1600s. In the show, Punch usually ends up killing his baby, his wife, a policeman, the devil and a variety of other characters by beating them with his ‘slapstick’. The phrase “pleased as punch” comes from Punch’s gleeful self-satisfaction.

34. Since Dunkaroos were discontinued in the United States in 2012, they are being smuggled into the country by Canadians who have been nicknamed ‘Smugglaroos.’

35. When poisonous frogs are fed zoo diets they lose their poisons. The wide variety of food in the wild supplies them with the chemicals for making poison.

Dr. Jack Kevorkian, also known as "Dr. Death", successfully researched transfusing blood from corpses into living patients. He presented his findings to the Pentagon as a means to help save lives in Vietnam. However, he was denied funds to continue his research and his process was never adopted.

37. The actor who played 'The Hulk' in the original 1970's TV series, Lou Ferrigno, has been voicing the character for decades, including every appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe up to Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015).

38. English actor Daniel Day-Lewis was so convincing as a killer in “Gangs of New York” that the mom of his 10-year-old co-star for “There Will Be Blood” saw the movie, and didn't want her son acting alongside him anymore. The studio sent her “The Age of Innocence” to reassure her Day-Lewis wasn't actually bad.

39. In 1825, the panda was given its name by a French zoologist. 76 years later, the name was lent to a black and white bear that was mistakenly thought to be a close relative. The giant panda’s name stuck, and the original panda became the lesser or red panda.

40. During World War 2, an American soldier named John R. Fox died by calling an Artillery strike on himself. When a stunned soldier told him there was little chance of him surviving, he replied with "Fire it."

A school bus driver and 26 children were abducted as part of a failed ransom plot in 1976. They were buried alive in the back of a moving van. The driver, with help from some of the older kids, managed to open a trapdoor and free everyone inside.

42. There are 13 secret green shelters dotting the streets of London that were built back in 1875. They can only be accessed by London cab drivers.

43. In 2011, American actor Joe Pesci gained 30 pounds in preparation for the role of mobster Angelo Ruggiero, only to have the role go to someone else. He sued the production company.

44. According to the Monsters, Inc. DVD commentary track, the sushi restaurant was originally blown up by the CDA. After the events of September 11, Pixar changed the scene to show the restaurant covered in a plasma-dome. They managed to pull this off in time for the November 2 release date.

45. In 1475, a law was passed in Turkey that made it legal for women to divorce their husband if he does not provide her with the daily quota of coffee.

The living author that has the most film adaptions is Stephen King with 34 theatrically released films based on his works.

47. English actor Tim Curry was kicked out of a showing of Rocky Horror for being an imposter. Also, Princess Diana was a big fan of the movie.

48. The giant Pacific octopus has 3 hearts, 9 brains, and blue blood.

49. Powdered wigs became popular to hide syphilis symptoms.

50. A Harvard study followed men for 75 years, including a subject named Godfrey Minot Camille. He began the study with the lowest rating for the future stability of all the subjects and he had previously attempted suicide. But at the end of his life, he was one of the happiest of all.