Random #364 – 50 Random Facts From History and Beyond

Men tend to dream about other men more often than women do. Studies show that around 67% of men's dreams are populated by other men, while women's dreams contain an equal mix of both genders.

27. In World War II, the Japanese had a secret bio-warfare research unit called Unit 731. This unit performed lethal human experimentation, including infecting captives with plague and STDs as well as conducting vivisections without anesthesia. An estimated 200,000-300,000 people were brutally murdered.

28. The horns hand gesture was popularized in heavy metal culture by Ronnie James Dio (Black Sabbath). Dio mentioned that his Italian grandmother used it to ward off evil.

29. When American producers remade the British crime thriller "Broadchurch," they decided to keep the leading star in the same role as a detective but have him speak with an American accent this time.

30. Calvin Klein's cologne "Obsession for Men" was experimentally used to attempt to catch a tigress that had become a man-eater due to a specific pheromone it contains.

The television show "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers" was banned in Malaysia solely because the title was deemed too easily confused with the drug "Morphine."

32. Picky eating can be classified as a type of eating disorder known as Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). ARFID refers to extreme picky eating habits that can potentially lead to health issues.

33. West Virginia's split from Virginia during the Civil War was a controversial decision. Instead of joining the war, the citizens of West Virginia formed their own government. Legally, a state split requires the consent of the existing government. However, as the only representatives in D.C. were from West Virginia, President Lincoln recognized them as Virginia's legitimate government.

34. Gregory C. Coleman, the creator of the most widely used drum loop sample in music history, tragically died homeless and in poverty, never receiving royalty payments for his creation.

35. According to North Korean state media, Kim Jong II was said to have been born under a double rainbow on a sacred mountain. Before his death, the skies were reported to have glowed red, and Mount Paektu and the impenetrable sheet of ice at the heart of the volcano cracked.

Water only blocks 20% of UV rays, even at a depth of 3 feet. Additionally, the water's surface reflects UV rays, leading to increased UV exposure for individuals in close proximity to water.

37. Smooth brain is a medical condition called lissencephaly, where individuals have brains lacking the typical bumps and folds. This condition is characterized by a lack of proper brain development.

38. A special edition PlayStation 2 was created for the game "Need for Speed" in the shape of a car. To turn on the console, users had to use car keys, and the game DVDs were inserted into the car's hood.

39. Orson Welles was only 25 years old when he directed, co-wrote, starred in, and produced his debut feature film, "Citizen Kane," in 1941. Today, "Citizen Kane" is often ranked as the greatest film ever made due to its innovative techniques.

40. Jay Berwanger, the first Heisman Trophy winner, was also the first player chosen in the inaugural NFL Draft of 1936. The Chicago Bears acquired his signing rights but failed to reach an agreement when Berwanger asked for $25,000 over two years. As a result, Berwanger took a job as a foam-rubber salesman.

The British used decommissioned ships as prisons by docking them in the harbor. During the American Revolution, more Americans died on these ships than in all the battles of the war combined.

42. Snorri Thorfinnsson, the first child of European descent to be born in the Americas in the early 11th century, was the son of explorers Thorfinn Karlsefni and Gudrid Thorbjarnardóttir. He played a significant role in the Christianization of Iceland.

43. Alexithymia, also known as emotional blindness, is a condition in which individuals struggle to recognize, express, and describe their own emotions. It is linked to difficulties in attachment theory and interpersonal relations and is often prevalent in people with autism spectrum disorder.

44. The United Kingdom has an "uncodified constitution," meaning it does not have a single document serving as the source of its laws. Instead, various Acts of Parliament, court cases, and unwritten conventions collectively form the basis of its constitution.

45. The first pizza was likely served without tomato or tomato sauce. Modern pizzas with well-known toppings didn't exist until the Spanish brought fresh tomatoes from the Americas.

Alex Ovechkin, a highly regarded NHL prospect, had the Florida Panthers attempt to draft him in the 9th round of the 2003 draft, even though he was born two days after the eligibility cutoff date. The Panthers argued that he should be eligible, taking leap years into consideration.

47. Actress Andrea Evans, known for playing Tina Lord on "One Life to Live," withdrew from public life for almost a decade due to dealing with a stalker who attempted to kill her at the ABC Studios where the soap was filmed.

48. After sacking Antioch in 540 A.D., Persian Emperor Khosrau I founded the city of Weh Antiok Khusrau, meaning "better than Antioch, Khosrau built this."

49. Ameland Island in the Netherlands eliminated red from the light spectrum of streetlights and nearby offshore platforms. This change was made to prevent migratory birds from becoming disoriented, as they took the cue to communicate all night long from the red lights. Blue-green lights have been found to increase migratory bird survival.

50. Hydra, small freshwater invertebrates, have stem cells that exist in a continuous state of renewal. When kept in isolation, these organisms show no signs of aging, offering insights into potential anti-aging research.