Every fact, in one place.

Play-Doh's Secret Origin

The iconic children's toy, Play-Doh, was originally invented as a wallpaper cleaner.

The Origin of Ambition #1641

The word 'ambition' comes from a Latin term for Roman political candidates who went around canvassing for votes.

Why You Hate to Lose

Psychologically, the pain of losing is about twice as powerful as the pleasure of gaining the exact same thing.

Trivia

74 is the atomic number of tungsten.

The Secret Origin of Courage #5220

The word 'courage' comes from the Latin 'cor,' meaning 'heart' — it originally meant to speak one's mind by telling all one's heart.

Trivia

181 is the rider number given to Lance Armstrong in 1999 when he won his first of seven Tour de France consecutive victories.

Hack Your Brain to Learn Faster

Testing yourself is a more powerful way to learn and remember than simply re-reading your notes.

Do Facts Have an Expiration Date?

The 'half-life of knowledge' is the time it takes for half the facts in a field to be outdated or disproven.

Trivia

135 is the angle between two planets in degrees so that they are in an astrological aspect called a sesquiquadrate.

The True Origin of Responsibility

The word 'responsibility' comes from the Latin 'respondere,' meaning 'to promise in return' or 'to answer for'.

The World's Most Equal Parliament

Rwanda is the only country where women hold a majority of seats in parliament.

Your Reflection is a Lie

A mirror doesn't reverse left and right; it reverses front and back.

This Man Walked the Amazon River!

Ed Stafford was the first person to walk the entire length of the Amazon River, an expedition that took him 860 days.

Trivia

25 is the number of fruits that a grapefruit cluster can have up to.

The Ghost in Your Pocket

Over 80% of people have experienced 'phantom vibration syndrome', the sensation of a phone vibrating when it isn't.

Chaplin Lost a Chaplin Contest

Charlie Chaplin once entered a look-alike contest of himself and came in third place.

School Used to Mean Leisure?! #1277

The word 'school' originates from the Greek word 'skholē', which surprisingly meant 'leisure' or 'free time'.

The Hidden Power of Teamwork! #3378

The word 'synergy' comes from the Greek 'synergos', which literally means 'working together'.

Trivia

106 is the atomic number of seaborgium (Unilhexium Unh).

Rewire Your Brain for Success! #2315

Learning something new physically rewires your brain, creating new pathways for success and growth.

The Secret in Pandora's Box

In Greek mythology, after Pandora opened her box and released all the evils upon the world, the only thing left inside was hope.

Trivia

80 is the standard TCP/IP port number used for HTTP connections.

The Secret of Yawning #1406

Contagious yawning is a sign of empathy; you're more likely to 'catch' a yawn from someone you are emotionally close to.

This Philosopher Dissed a King #9963

The ancient philosopher Diogenes lived in a large ceramic jar and once told Alexander the Great to move because he was blocking his sunlight.