Every fact, in one place.

The Origin of Ambition

The word 'ambition' comes from the Latin 'ambitio', which meant 'going around' to canvass for votes in ancient Rome.

The Secret to Buying Happiness

Spending money on others boosts your happiness more than spending it on yourself.

Trivia

139 is the number of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty in 1998.

This Habit Rewires Your Brain

The spiritual practice of meditation can physically increase the gray matter in your brain's hippocampus, a region vital for learning and memory.

We Are 99.9% The Same

Despite our visible differences, all humans are 99.9% genetically identical.

The Secret to a Longer Life?

People who volunteer regularly have a 20% lower risk of early death than non-volunteers.

The CIA's Spy Cats! ????

The CIA once tried to use cats as spies in a secret 1960s project called 'Acoustic Kitty'.

Your Brain Can Rewire Itself! #3824

The brain's ability to change and adapt, called neuroplasticity, is a key reason why therapy and new habits can improve mental health.

The Helper's High is REAL! #1238

Helping others releases endorphins, creating a positive feeling known as the 'helper's high'.

Boost Your Workout With Music!

Listening to music while exercising can boost your performance by up to 15%.

How Failure Can Win Customers

The 'service recovery paradox' is when a customer thinks more highly of a company after a service failure is fixed than if no failure had happened at all.

A Cat's Purr Can Heal You?

A cat's purr vibrates at a frequency (25-150 Hz) that can promote bone and tissue healing.

Who Invented The Weekend?

The modern concept of a two-day 'weekend' only became widespread in the early 20th century, partly to reduce absenteeism.

Trivia

25 is the number of points needed to win a set in volleyball under rally scoring rules.

Your Brain on Generosity

Acts of giving activate the same brain areas as pleasure and reward, creating a 'helper's high'.

Your Brain Can Physically Change

Your brain isn't fixed; learning new things physically changes its structure and wiring, a process called neuroplasticity.

Trivia

94 is the atomic number of plutonium.

Teamwork Syncs Your Brainwaves! #9765

When people work well together on a task, their brainwaves can actually synchronize.

Mirrors Don't Flip Left & Right

A mirror doesn't reverse left and right; it reverses front and back, creating a 'front-to-back' inverted version of you.

Trivia

197 is the number of years that Fu Xi lived for altogether.

The Science of Being Brave

Bravery isn't the absence of fear, but your brain's prefrontal cortex overriding the fear response from the amygdala.

Trivia

23 is the number of minutes that all flashbacks take place before the assassination attempt on the president in the film Vantage Point.

This Country Has No Army! ????????

Costa Rica abolished its army in 1948, redirecting funds to education and health.

Fact #9000: A Failed Wallpaper

Bubble wrap was originally invented in 1957 as a type of 3D textured wallpaper.