Thread of random knowledge/facts

[pi]

To all those procrastinators out there, let's compile some random facts/knowledge in this thread! This isn't a thread for funny pics, memes, jokes, songs etc. only random facts, pages links, videos etc that will waste up brain cells!

Try not to post links to pages with lots of facts, just copy over the best ones you see and keep them short and sweet

I'll start us off with a mathsy/sciencey bend:

The best word in maths? Zenzizenzizenzic

Zenzizenzizenzic is an obsolete form of mathematical notation representing the eighth power of a number (that is, the zenzizenzizenzic of a number x is the power ), dating from a time when powers were written out in words rather than as superscript numbers

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zenzizenzizenzic


Very interesting graph:

Tupper's self-referential formula is a self-referential formula defined by Jeff Tupper that, when graphed in two dimensions, can visually reproduce the formula itself.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupper%27s_self-referential_formula


Do you have this muscle?

The palmaris longus is seen as a small tendon between the flexor carpi radialis and the flexor carpi ulnaris, although it is not always present. The muscle is absent in about 14 percent of the population

Find your's: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXK7HV4j2TI


111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321


On average, there are 178 sesame seeds on each McDonalds BigMac bun.


Minus 40 degrees Celsius is exactly the same as minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit.


"OK" was most likely derived from the incorrect spelling of "orl korrekt".
http://oxforddictionaries.com/words/what-is-the-origin-of-the-word-ok

[ninwa]

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[ShortBlackChick]

Pulled out a pack of Libra Liners and Voilà (yall feeling me ladies?):


Honey is the only food that does not spoil.

There are more female than male millionaires.

On Average, 150 couples get married in Las Vegas each day.

TV's 'Bananas in Pyjamas' characters are played by women.

The rush of air produced by a cough can approach 1000km an hour.

Women blink nearly twice as much as men.

The strength of all the hairs on one human head can support the weight of approximately 100 people

The hair of an adult can stretch 25% of its length without breaking.

A claque refers to a group of people hired to applaud an act or performer.

On average, women dream more than men.

In most advertisements, the time displayed on a watch is 10:10.

Babies have taste buds all over the insides of their mouths, not just on their tongues.

Chicken soup was believed to be an aphrodisiac in the Middle Ages.

The brain is 74% water.

August has the highest percentage of births.

[monkeywantsabanana]

There are more female than male millionaires.

Because they are billionaires.

[TrueTears]

Continuous everywhere but differentiable nowhere, zooming in only produces the same graph over and over, pretty cool : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weierstrass_function

[IndefatigableLover]

If you like this stuff, subscribe to Now I Know - it's a free email newsletter which sends you random interesting facts every day

There's also Today I learned if there are any Reddit fans here. They also have a twitter account but a memorable/random fact was this: Why Corn flakes were invented

[Genericname2365]

Simo Häyhä, “White Death”, Sniped Over 542 Soviet Soldiers in WWII - http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2010/01/simo-hayha-white-death-sniped-over-542-soviet-soldiers-in-wwii/
Japanese soldier who continued fighting in WWII for 29 years - http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2010/02/a-japanese-soldier-who-continued-fighting-wwii-29-years-after-the-japanese-surrendered-because-he-didnt-know/
And some cool tidal related stories, especially the second one: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-06-07/japanese-tsunami-dock-washes-up-in-oregon/4057482
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friendly_Floatees

[MJRomeo81]

The phrase "rule of thumb" is derived from an old English law which stated that you couldn't beat your wife with anything wider than your thumb.

American Airlines saved $40,000 in 1987 by eliminating one olive from each salad served in first-class.

Dolphins sleep with one eye open.