World Decoded: 50 Facts Explaining Why Things Are the Way They Are

- Sponsored Links -

26Dangerous Methanol in Moonshine

Dangerous Methanol in Moonshine

The reason why bad moonshine can make you go blind is that it may contain methanol, which can cause blindness and brain damage when metabolized into formic acid in the body.


27. The reason why squirrels run across the road and then straight into your car in a suicidal manner is because of their survival instinct to run erratically in order to escape an attack from a predator.


28. The reason why cleaning your ears with Q-tips might trigger a cough reflex is that accidentally stimulating the Arnold's nerve or the vagus nerve can trigger a cough.


29. The reason why the US currency has quarters instead of fifths of a dollar is because it was based on the Spanish Dollar, which had eight reals per peso, or "pieces of eight."


30. The reason why cats rapidly kick their hind legs while playing with a toy on their backs is that it's a natural instinct to grab and dismember their prey, even if it's just a toy.


Latest FactRepublic Video:
15 Most Controversial & Costly Blunders in History


31Hunger and Nutrient Levels

Hunger and Nutrient Levels

The reason why we can feel hungry is due to the drop in the level of nutrients in the blood stream, which can trigger a stress response in the brain and lower our inhibitions to different emotions.


32. The reason why cashew nuts are more expensive than most other nuts is due to their toxic shell, which requires special processing to remove and makes the harvesting process more labor-intensive.


33. The reason why very long and straight roads in the U.S. have random curves or zigzags is to counter the optical illusion of a never-ending road that could cause drowsy drivers to fall asleep at the wheel.


34. The reason why men should always leave the bottom button open on a suit jacket is that it is the established fashion convention that dates back to King Edward VII's fashion preferences, who was too fat to button his waistcoat.


35. The reason why human eyes have a blind spot is that the optic nerve that carries visual information from the retina to the brain creates a hole in the visual field.


- Sponsored Links -

36Gas Stations and Credit Card Fraud

Gas Stations and Credit Card Fraud

One of the reasons why your bank freezes your credit card if you're buying gas is that gas stations are a high-risk location for fraudulent transactions. If thieves can successfully fill up at a gas station with your credit, they know they can make a bigger purchase immediately elsewhere.


37. The reason why hard-boiled eggs smell is because of a reaction between traces of iron in the yolk and sulfur in the white.


38. The reason why you can occasionally receive radio stations from cities far outside their normal broadcast range is because of a weather phenomenon called tropospheric ducting, which allows the radio waves to travel farther by bending them along a layer of the atmosphere.


39. The reason why dogs and cats are unable to ingest chocolate is that it contains theobromine, which their bodies cannot break down as efficiently as humans, and it can be toxic to their health.


40. The reason why spiders don't get tangled in their own webs is that they can distinguish between the sticky and non-sticky threads they spin and use their leg movements to avoid the sticky silk.


- Sponsored Links -

41Curved Umbrella Handles

Curved Umbrella Handles

The original reason why umbrella handles are curved is that it made it easier for servants to hold the umbrella at an angle to shield their employer.


42. The reason why Mickey Mouse was drawn with white gloves is that Walt Disney wanted his hands to be more visible and expressive, and the white gloves made them stand out against his black body. He also thought mouse nails were too violent for children to see.


43. The reason why shops, pharmacies, etc. are always close to each other is due to Hotelling's Law, which suggests that clustering is the most profitable solution for businesses because it maximizes market share. If the shops separated themselves more sparsely, that would allow one shop to capture more than 50% of the local market.


44. The reason why pandas eat bamboo instead of meat is because of the deactivation of an umami taste receptor gene, which makes them unable to taste the savory flavor of meat.


45. In 1916, William H. Coltharp shipped 80,000 bricks through the USPS, which was the largest shipment ever made through mail, and this is the reason why customers can now only ship up to 200 pounds of goods per day.


46Gendered button placement

Gendered button placement

The reason why women's buttons are on the left while men's are on the right is due to historical gender roles, where men dressed themselves while women were dressed by servants.


47. The reason why US Senators are elected by public vote was due to a large brawl in the Indiana Assembly in 1887, where over 600 Republican lawmakers dragged Democrats outside and threatened to kill them during a riot that lasted over 4 hours.


48. The reason why people think they look better when looking at themselves in the mirror versus in pictures is that mirrors reflect a flipped image of what cameras capture, and people are more accustomed to looking at themselves in mirrors.


49. The reason why we bury our dead 6 feet deep dates back to the Bubonic Plague, when corpses were buried that deep to prevent the spread of disease.


50. The reason why mosquito bites itch is due to an allergic reaction to their saliva, which is used as an anticoagulant to allow for quicker blood sucking, not because of the welt left behind.

1
2

Sign up to our Newsletter & get

FREE!! 1000 Facts E-BOOK

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

- Sponsored Links -

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here