Random #385 – 50 Quirky and Intriguing Facts You Need to Know

Ruby and Sapphire share the same mineral composition, known as corundum, which is a type of aluminum oxide. The distinction between the two gemstones lies in the presence of specific contaminants that impart distinct colors to each stone.

27. During World War II, the Japanese battleship Mutsu suffered a sudden explosion while anchored, resulting in its sinking. An investigation by the Japanese navy attributed the sinking to the actions of a crew member who, presumably motivated by extreme discontent, engaged in suicidal behavior that led to the catastrophic event.

28. Gene Roddenberry, the creator of Star Trek, was known to be involved in multiple open relationships, one of which was with Nichelle Nichols, the actress renowned for her portrayal of Uhura in the series.

29. The Seke language boasts a mere 700 speakers, predominantly residing in five mountainous villages in Nepal. Remarkably, approximately 100 of these speakers have relocated to New York City, with half of them concentrated in a single apartment building in Brooklyn.

30. Attalus III of Pergamon displayed minimal interest in governing his kingdom, preferring to dedicate his time to personal hobbies such as gardening and botany. In an unconventional move, he bequeathed his entire kingdom to the Romans in his will, anticipating their eventual conquest and aiming to prevent bloodshed.

Nero's teenage brother tragically passed away during a dinner gathering attended by their entire family. Despite the shock expressed by some guests, Nero nonchalantly dismissed the incident, attributing it to his brother's lifelong struggle with epileptic seizures. Unperturbed, the guests continued with their festivities.

32. Approximately 20% of young individuals lack a gag reflex, a physiological response typically triggered by certain stimuli in the throat.

33. Contrary to prevailing assumptions, the Romans did not relinquish control over Germania following the Battle of Teutoburg Forest. Instead, they dispatched eight legions to reclaim their lost eagles and exact retribution upon the Germans. After committing acts of violence that bordered on genocide, the legions were recalled due to political concerns regarding the rising popularity of their commanding general.

34. A comprehensive study spanning 32 years revealed a notable phenomenon wherein obesity appeared to propagate through social networks. The study found that an individual's likelihood of developing obesity increased by 57% if they had a friend who had become obese.

35. The Beatles' final commercial concert was marred by disappointing ticket sales, leaving approximately 7,000 tickets unsold and resulting in financial losses for the production company.

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev found himself stranded aboard a Soviet space station. Consequently, he endured an extended stay in space, lasting 311 consecutive days, twice the duration initially planned.

37. Alexina Morrison, an escapee from slavery in Louisiana, asserted her freedom by claiming to be a kidnapped white girl and subsequently sued her master. This action incited public outrage against her master, to the extent that a mob threatened to lynch him. In race-based slavery, white-passing mixed-race male slaves were less valued due to the risk of successfully passing as free white men elsewhere, making them poor investments. Conversely, white-passing enslaved women held higher value than black women, as they were deemed more profitable for prostitution and sexual exploitation.

38. In 1997, Julie Andrews underwent surgery to remove non-cancerous nodules from her throat, resulting in permanent damage that compromised the purity of her singing voice and left her speaking voice raspy.

39. American submarines played a pivotal role during World War II, exhibiting exceptional lethality. These submarines were responsible for the destruction of 55% of all Axis naval vessels lost throughout the duration of the war.

40. Mathematicians grappled with an equation found scribbled in the margin of a textbook for 358 years. The note accompanying the equation suggested that Fermat had a solution but claimed it was "too large to fit in the margin." To this day, debate persists regarding whether Fermat truly possessed a solution in 1637 or if he merely posed the challenge to entice other mathematicians.

Flight insurance used to be available from vending machines for just 25 cents, but the practice ceased due to fraudulent schemes, including a tragic incident where a man attempted insurance fraud by planting a bomb in his mother's belongings, resulting in the loss of 44 lives.

42. While on the set of Jaws, Spielberg invited George Lucas to view the still-in-development mechanical shark. In a playful moment, Lucas placed his head inside its mouth, only to find himself trapped when Spielberg closed it shut. They snuck out of the workshop, thinking they broke the contract, after eventually freeing him.

43. Throughout the Gemini and Apollo programs, there were thirty married astronauts, yet nearly all marriages, save seven, ended in divorce.

44. Over 850,000 individuals faced trial for their involvement in the Rwandan genocide, with the final case concluding in 2012.

45. David Bowie, doubting the commercial success of his album "Low," opted to tour as Iggy Pop's keyboardist instead of promoting the new record after its release.

Couples in India typically allocate one-fifth of their total lifetime earnings toward their wedding ceremonies.

47. Astronomer Johannes Kepler constructed a legal defense for his mother when she faced accusations of witchcraft. In 1621, he was finally set free after a six-year trial.

48. The modern gaming chair design originated from DXRacer's repurposing of car seats following Chrysler's discontinuation of the vehicles they were originally designed for.

49. In 1972, Led Zeppelin was compelled to cancel a performance in Singapore when local officials, objecting to their long hair, refused to allow them off the plane.

50. A Korean cult predicted the rapture to occur on October 28, 1992, at 12 a.m. Parishioners eagerly awaited transportation to heaven, some abandoning jobs or giving away possessions. However, their hopes were shattered when, 10 minutes past midnight, a voice from within a boy declared, "Nothing is happening."