History's 38-Minute War
The shortest war in history, between Britain and Zanzibar in 1896, lasted only 38 minutes.
Every fact, in one place.
Our whole collection, newest first. Search it, or just scroll — each one is short enough to read in a breath. 6,804 so far.
A Useless Fact
Thirty-five percent of the people who use personal ads for dating are already married.
He Sailed the World ALONE! #4461
The first person to sail solo around the world was Joshua Slocum, completing his journey in 1898.
A Useless Fact
Buckingham Palace has 602 rooms.
The Illusion of Understanding
We often believe we understand how everyday objects like zippers work, until we're asked to explain the mechanism in detail.
Darwin's Compassion Instinct
Charles Darwin argued that our instinct for compassion was one of the most vital for human survival.
A Useless Fact
The sound of E.T. walking was made by someone squishing her hands in jelly.
The Animal With Three Hearts!
An octopus has three hearts; two pump blood through its gills, and the third circulates blood to the rest of the body.
A Useless Fact
Ketchup was sold in the 1830s as medicine.
The Secret Season for Growth Spurts
Children tend to grow faster in the spring than during any other season of the year.
A Useless Fact
Illinois has the highest number of personalized license plates than any other state.
Stuck? Try This Weird Trick
Psychological studies suggest working at a messy desk can actually boost your creative thinking.
This is How Blind People Dream
People born blind don't see images in dreams, but experience them with their other senses like sound, smell, and touch.
A Useless Fact
Antarctica is the only continent that does not have land areas below sea level.
A 30-Year Professional Partnership
Famous comedy duo Laurel and Hardy were not close friends; they maintained a strictly professional partnership for nearly 30 years.
A Useless Fact
In York, it is perfectly legal to shoot a Scotsman with a bow and arrow (except on Sundays)
A Useless Fact
Bruce Lee was so fast that they had to slow the film down so you could see his moves.
Tortoises Orbited the Moon First!
The first living beings to circle the Moon were two tortoises aboard the Soviet Zond 5 mission in 1968.
The Good Luck Spit
In Greece, people perform a symbolic, gentle spit three times to ward off the evil eye and bad luck.
The Ultimate In-Law Matchmaker
Procter & Gamble began when a candlemaker and a soapmaker, who had married sisters, were urged by their father-in-law to merge their businesses.
A Useless Fact
More than 1,000 different languages are spoken on the continent of Africa.
Hack Your Brain with Gratitude!
Consistently practicing gratitude can rewire your brain for more happiness and positivity.
The Surprising Perk of Optimism
Studies show optimists not only live longer but also have a significantly lower risk of developing chronic diseases.
Your Brain's Kindness Muscle
Compassion is a skill that can be strengthened like a muscle through practices like meditation, physically changing your brain.
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