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81 Lesser Known Facts To Impress Your Friends And Family

You'll be first pick for trivia night

Kylin
81 Lesser Known Facts To Impress Your Friends And Family

I feel like it is safe to assume that because you’re here, reading this listicle, you are also a fan of cool facts or other bits of trivia. Learning new and interesting facts is such an enjoyable way to get a dopamine hit and find yourself lost down a wikihole.

We’ve covered some weird facts before, thanks to an incredibly entertaining and addictive social media lineup aptly named, “Weird Facts.” But this time we thought it would be fun to find out some new facts that you can drop to impress your friends and family at your next gathering.

Covering topics across all interests, we collected 81 facts about animals, monsters, giving birth, history, and more. And they are far from boring, like the one about how someone filed a patent for a device that spins a pregnant person with great force with the intention of yeeting a baby out of the uterus.

We made sure to link sources for each fact so you can read more about each topic, or if you wanted to fact-check us. It’s okay, our feelings won't be hurt, it’s good practice to be skeptical of things you read on the internet.

Speaking of, continue scrolling to read the 81 facts that may not be popularly known. With these random but entertaining facts, you’ll further solidify your place on your trivia team, or maybe just use some as an engaging ice breaker.

1. In 1904 T-shirts were marketed to single men who didn’t know how to sew buttons on collared shirts

Fact Source

1. In 1904 T-shirts were marketed to single men who didn’t know how to sew buttons on collared shirtsgiphy

2. There is only one major US city that has been founded by a woman: Miami

Fact Source

2. There is only one major US city that has been founded by a woman: Miamigiphy

3. Regardless of size, all mammals take roughly 12 seconds to poop

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3. Regardless of size, all mammals take roughly 12 seconds to poopgiphy

4. Wombats have cube-shaped poop

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4. Wombats have cube-shaped poopgiphy

5. Switzerland requires guinea pigs to be kept in pairs or more, it's illegal to own just one because they're social animals and get lonely

Fact Source

5. Switzerland requires guinea pigs to be kept in pairs or more, it's illegal to own just one because they're social animals and get lonelygiphy

6. The Mars Curiosity rover sings itself "Happy Birthday" only once on Aug. 5, 2013

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6. The Mars Curiosity rover sings itself giphy

7. Big Major Cay in Exuma, Bahamas is home to swimming pigs

Fact Source

7. Big Major Cay in Exuma, Bahamas is home to swimming pigs

8. Before trees, Earth was covered with giant mushrooms that were 24ft tall and 3ft wide

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8. Before trees, Earth was covered with giant mushrooms that were 24ft tall and 3ft widegiphy

9. The Coolidge effect is a sexual phenomenon named after President Calvin Coolidge

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9. The Coolidge effect is a sexual phenomenon named after President Calvin Coolidgegiphy

10. Snakes can burp fire

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10. Snakes can burp firegiphy

11. An ultracrepidarian is someone who gives their opinions on subjects they don't actually know anything about

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11. An ultracrepidarian is someone who gives their opinions on subjects they don't actually know anything aboutgiphy

12. Ancient Greeks came up with stories of cyclops after they found fossils of mammoths, and had no idea what it was

Fact Source

12. Ancient Greeks came up with stories of cyclops after they found fossils of mammoths, and had no idea what it wasgiphy

13. In 1963, a patent was filed for a "birthing apparatus" that would spin pregnant people around at as much as 7G until their baby was ejected out from the centrifugal force

Fact Source

13. In 1963, a patent was filed for a giphy

14. Ketchup was once sold as medicine

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14. Ketchup was once sold as medicinegiphy

15. Only magicians are legally allowed to own domesticated rabbits in Queensland, Australia

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15. Only magicians are legally allowed to own domesticated rabbits in Queensland, Australiagiphy

16. Mosquitos are the most dangerous animal in the world

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16. Mosquitos are the most dangerous animal in the worldgiphy

17. Mister Rogers would announce that he was feeding his fish on his show after he received a letter from a blind child asking if they were okay

Fact Source

17. Mister Rogers would announce that he was feeding his fish on his show after he received a letter from a blind child asking if they were okaytenor

18. Choosing paper bags isn't that much better for the enviroment than using plastic bags

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18. Choosing paper bags isn't that much better for the enviroment than using plastic bagsgiphy

19. A puffin chick is called a puffling

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19. A puffin chick is called a pufflinggiphy

20. The Mayor of NYC, Fiorello LaGuardia, introduced the modern thong

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20. The Mayor of NYC, Fiorello LaGuardia, introduced the modern thonggiphy

21. Sex-repulsed physician John Kellogg, invented cornflakes to prevent masturbation

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21. Sex-repulsed physician John Kellogg, invented cornflakes to prevent masturbationgiphy

22. A Minnesota high school gives service dogs in their own yearbook photos

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22. A Minnesota high school gives service dogs in their own yearbook photosgiphy

23. Froot Loops have the same flavor, no matter the color

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23. Froot Loops have the same flavor, no matter the colorgiphy

24. Hollywood villains usually have British accents because we associate them with having high intellect and low morals

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24. Hollywood villains usually have British accents because we associate them with having high intellect and low moralsgiphy

25. A 19th-century slang term for sex was "Horizontal refreshment"

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25. A 19th-century slang term for sex was giphy

26. There are fruit trees with multiple grafts called Fruit Salad Trees

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26. There are fruit trees with multiple grafts called Fruit Salad Treesgiphy

27. "What in tarnation?" is essentially an idiom of "What the hell?"

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27. giphy

28. Melbourne, Australia, was briefly named Batmania

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28. Melbourne, Australia, was briefly named Batmaniagiphy

29. A female architecture student caught a massive design flaw in a Manhattan skyscraper and prevented it's inevitable collapse

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29. A female architecture student caught a massive design flaw in a Manhattan skyscraper and prevented it's inevitable collapsegiphy

30. The mass suicide ritual of lemmings jumping off cliffs is a false story based off a staged scene in a 1958 Disney documentary

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30. The mass suicide ritual of lemmings jumping off cliffs is a false story based off a staged scene in a 1958 Disney documentarygiphy

31. Most police in Japan will get a futon and roll up a person into a little burrito if they are being violent or drunk

Fact Source

31. Most police in Japan will get a futon and roll up a person into a little burrito if they are being violent or drunkgiphy

32. Due to the large amount of cats on the grounds of the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia, they have a "Press Secretary to the Cats"

Fact Source

32. Due to the large amount of cats on the grounds of the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia, they have a giphy

33. The first doctor to perform a successful cesearen section in South Africa was Dr. James Barry, who also happened to be a woman in disguise

Fact Source

33. The first doctor to perform a successful cesearen section in South Africa was Dr. James Barry, who also happened to be a woman in disguisegiphy

34. All the buildings in a small village in Poland are decorated with paintings of flowers

Fact Source

34. All the buildings in a small village in Poland are decorated with paintings of flowersgiphy

35. There are more libraries in the U.S. than McDonald's

Fact Source:

Number of libraries

Number of McDonald's

35. There are more libraries in the U.S. than McDonald'sgiphy

36. University of Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium becomes the 3rd largest city in Nebraska on Gameday

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36. University of Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium becomes the 3rd largest city in Nebraska on Gamedaygiphy

37. The Chupa Chups lolipop logo was designed by Salvador Dalí

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37. The Chupa Chups lolipop logo was designed by Salvador Dalítenor

38. In the 18th century, people wore "beauty patches" (fake moles) made of silk, velvet or mouse skin as a fashion statement

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38. In the 18th century, people wore giphy

39. Okunoshima is an island in Japan inhabited by friendly bunnies

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39. Okunoshima is an island in Japan inhabited by friendly bunniesgiphy

40. Japan railways built Turtle Tunnels to save them from being run over by trains

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40. Japan railways built Turtle Tunnels to save them from being run over by trainsgiphy

41. Cows have best friends and get stressed when separated from them

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41. Cows have best friends and get stressed when separated from themgiphy

42. In 1895 English medical papers warned about "Bicycle Face", which was people's faces getting stuck from the exertion from bicycling

Fact Source

42. In 1895 English medical papers warned about giphy

43. Richard Nixon once unknowingly smuggled a suitcase full of cannabis through the airport for Louis Armstrong

Fact Source

43. Richard Nixon once unknowingly smuggled a suitcase full of cannabis through the airport for Louis Armstronggiphy

44. Up until the 1980s, it was illegal for women to drive a car down Main Street in Waynesboro, Virginia, unless her husband was walking in front of the car waving a red flag

Fact Source

44. Up until the 1980s, it was illegal for women to drive a car down Main Street in Waynesboro, Virginia, unless her husband was walking in front of the car waving a red flaggiphy

45. The last letter added to the English alphabet was the letter J

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45. The last letter added to the English alphabet was the letter Jgifer

46. The city of Sunol, California, elected a dog named Bosco as their mayor from 1981 to 1994

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46. The city of Sunol, California, elected a dog named Bosco as their mayor from 1981 to 1994giphy

47. Anna Jarvis, who invented Mother's Day, did so with the intention of it being anti-commercialism

Fact Source

47. Anna Jarvis, who invented Mother's Day, did so with the intention of it being anti-commercialismgiphy

48. Canada passed the 'Apology Act' in 2009 declaring that an apology can't be used as evidence of admission of guilt because Canadians say "sorry" so much

Fact Source

48. Canada passed the 'Apology Act' in 2009 declaring that an apology can't be used as evidence of admission of guilt because Canadians say giphy

49. In addition to lower case letters, there are also lower case numbers

Fact Source

49. In addition to lower case letters, there are also lower case numbers

50. Iceland has an official 'Elf Whisperer' who inspects construction sites to make sure no elves are around before construction starts

Fact Source

50. Iceland has an official 'Elf Whisperer' who inspects construction sites to make sure no elves are around before construction startsgiphy

51. In 1975 a cat co-authored a physics paper

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51. In 1975 a cat co-authored a physics papergiphy

52. Before the 1800s, people used to sleep in two shifts, a “first” and “second sleep”

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52. Before the 1800s, people used to sleep in two shifts, a “first” and “second sleep”giphy

53. The amount of people killed by guillotine in Nazi Germany is comparable to those who suffered the same fate during the French Revolution

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53. The amount of people killed by guillotine in Nazi Germany is comparable to those who suffered the same fate during the French Revolutiongiphy

54. Between the 18th and 19th centuries, squirrels were some of America’s most popular pets

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54. Between the 18th and 19th centuries, squirrels were some of America’s most popular petsgiphy

55. The town of Strasbourg, France suffered a "dancing plague" in 1518

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55. The town of Strasbourg, France suffered a giphy

56. In the 1920s there were several US cities that organized Anti-Flirt Clubs to combat catcalling

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56. In the 1920s there were several US cities that organized Anti-Flirt Clubs to combat catcallinggiphy

57. German chocolate cake isn't named after the country, but a man named Sam German

Fact Source

57. German chocolate cake isn't named after the country, but a man named Sam Germangiphy

58. In 1854 school teacher Elizabeth Jennings Graham challenged the racist streetcar policies in New York City, and her eventual lawsuit led to the desegregation of New York's public transit system

Fact Source

58. In 1854 school teacher Elizabeth Jennings Graham challenged the racist streetcar policies in New York City, and her eventual lawsuit led to the desegregation of New York's public transit systemgiphy

59. The Royal Family has been forbidden from playing Monopoly, because things get "too vicious"

Source Fact

59. The Royal Family has been forbidden from playing Monopoly, because things get giphy

60. Norville Rogers is the real name of Shaggy from Scooby-Doo

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60. Norville Rogers is the real name of Shaggy from Scooby-Doogiphy

61. Sour Patch Kids are the same candy as Swedish Fish, with some sour sugar coating

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61. Sour Patch Kids are the same candy as Swedish Fish, with some sour sugar coatinggiphy

62. Toilet seat covers are pointless

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62. Toilet seat covers are pointlessgiphy

63. Uranus used to be named George

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63. Uranus used to be named Georgegiphy

64. Normandy Beach has as much as 4% shrapnel broken down into the sand

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64. Normandy Beach has as much as 4% shrapnel broken down into the sandgiphy

65. On April 18, 1930, after a spectacularly uneventful day, BBC’s radio announcer said at 6:30 pm, “There is no news”

Fact Source

65. On April 18, 1930, after a spectacularly uneventful day, BBC’s radio announcer said at 6:30 pm, “There is no news”giphy

66. The voice actors of Mickey and Minnie Mouse were married in real life

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66. The voice actors of Mickey and Minnie Mouse were married in real lifegiphy

67. A 1930s lawsuit that now makes it so movies have to specify they’re fiction traces back to the infamous Rasputin

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67. A 1930s lawsuit that now makes it so movies have to specify they’re fiction traces back to the infamous Rasputingiphy

68. Lego is the world's largest manufacturer of tires

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68. Lego is the world's largest manufacturer of tiresgiphy

69. Chainsaws were invented by Scottish doctors to aid in childbirth

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69. Chainsaws were invented by Scottish doctors to aid in childbirthgiphy

70. Sea otters have baggy pockets of loose skin under their forearms where they store food or their favorite rocks

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70. Sea otters have baggy pockets of loose skin under their forearms where they store food or their favorite rocksgiphy

71. A "buttload" is an actual measurement of weight

Fact Source

71. A giphy

72. There is a cheerleading squad in Arizona that only people 55 or older can join

They're the Sun City Poms!

73. A Kentucky airport has therapy miniature horses for anxious flyers

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73. A Kentucky airport has therapy miniature horses for anxious flyersgiphy

74. The McRib is made up of 70 different ingredients

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74. The McRib is made up of 70 different ingredientsgiphy

75. An author in 1898 predicted how the Titanic would sink, 14 years before the accident

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75. An author in 1898 predicted how the Titanic would sink, 14 years before the accidentgiphy

76. of people said they dreamed in black and white before the invention of color TV. Today, 12% do

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76. of people said they dreamed in black and white before the invention of color TV. Today, 12% dogiphy

77. Abraham Lincoln’s son, Robert Todd Lincoln, was either actually present or very near by 3 out of 4 presidential assassinations

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77. Abraham Lincoln’s son, Robert Todd Lincoln, was either actually present or very near by 3 out of 4 presidential assassinationsgiphy

78. Amelia Earhart and Eleanor Roosevelt once snuck away from a White House dinner party to go on a joyride flight from Washington, D.C., to Baltimore

Fact Source

78. Amelia Earhart and Eleanor Roosevelt once snuck away from a White House dinner party to go on a joyride flight from Washington, D.C., to Baltimoregiphy

79. "She sells seashells by the seashore" was written about Mary Anning, a pioneering 19th-century paleontologist from Lyme Regis in England

Fact Source

79. Cartoon Network

80. Mountain Dew can dissolve a mouse 😳

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80. Mountain Dew can dissolve a mouse 😳giphy

81. Prior to the release of movies with sound, popcorn wasn't a theater snack

Fact Source

81. Prior to the release of movies with sound, popcorn wasn't a theater snackgiphy

Have you heard about any of these facts before? I feel like the Mister Rogers one may be more commonly known these days, but I spent quite a lot of time fact-checking and getting way too absorbed into each different fact.

In the comments section below, let us know everything, your thoughts, feelings, and weird or otherwise not widely known facts. And be sure to share these weird facts with your friends!

Kylin