Interesting Facts You’re Too Lazy To Google

Summary

This script delves into a myriad of intriguing scientific phenomena, from the psychological to the physiological. It explains why we prefer our mirror image over photos, the surprising accuracy of recorded voices, and the warmth of our eyes despite cold weather. Discover why fresh grass smells, how sunlight affects skin and hair differently, and the quiet of snow. Learn about the challenges robots face with CAPTCHAs, bird migration patterns, and the peculiarities of blood tests. Explore time perception with age, the science behind shampoo foam, and the causes of motion sickness and brain freeze. Uncover the function of the caruncle, the possibility of emergency calls without a signal, and the enduring mystery of the moon's consistent face. Finally, understand the purpose of soda bottle bumps and the journey of airplane waste.

Takeaways

• 🪞 We look better in the mirror because our mirror image is a flipped version of our true selves, which we are more accustomed to seeing than our actual appearance in photographs.
• 🗣️ The sound of our voice on camera is more accurate than what we perceive when we speak, as we hear a combination of external sound and internal acoustics of our bones.
• 👀 Our eyes don't get cold due to the lack of temperature receptor cells and the fact that they are nestled comfortably inside the skull, constantly supplied with warm blood.
• 🌿 The pleasant scent of freshly cut grass is actually a result of the plant releasing green leaf volatiles to aid in closing wounds when producing new cells.
• ☀️ Sun exposure causes our skin to darken as it produces more melanin to protect from UV radiation, while our hair lightens as the melanin is bleached and destroyed.
• ❄️ Snow is quiet because it acts as a sound absorber, being a porous material with a lot of air between flakes, reducing the surface area for sound waves to bounce off.
• 🤖 Robots can't press the 'I am not a robot' box because CAPTCHA systems record human actions and behaviors that are difficult for bots to replicate.
• 🦆 Birds fly in a V-formation as an energy-saving technique, timing their wing beats to catch uplifting currents from the bird in front, reducing energy expenditure by 20% to 30%.
• 💉 The ring finger is commonly used for blood tests because it has fewer tendons, is used the least, and has delicate skin that heals quickly.
• ⏳ Time seems to pass faster as we age because each year represents a smaller percentage of our total life, and our lives become more routine with less novelty.
• 🧴 Shampoo foam is always white due to the dilution of dyes and the scattering of light by the irregularities in the foam's molecular makeup.

Q & A

Why do we perceive ourselves differently in the mirror compared to photographs?

We are accustomed to seeing a flipped version of ourselves in the mirror, which doesn't truly exist. When we see photographs, we're confronted with our actual image, which can lead to disappointment because it's unfamiliar to us.

Why does our voice sound different in recordings compared to when we hear it in our heads?

Recordings capture the voice as others hear it, conducted by air, whereas we perceive our voice internally with the addition of bone-conducted sound, which gives it a richer, lower pitch.

Why don't our eyes feel cold like other parts of our body?

Our eyes lack temperature receptor cells and are well-protected within the skull, receiving a constant supply of warm blood, making it nearly impossible for them to feel cold.

What causes the pleasant smell of freshly cut grass?

The scent is due to the release of green leaf volatiles, a combination of organic compounds that help the plant close its wounds and are also pleasing to the human nose.

How does the sun affect the color of our skin and hair differently?

Sunlight breaks down melanin in both skin and hair, but while hair lightens because it's not a living thing, the skin produces more melanocytes to protect itself, resulting in a darker complexion.

Why is snowfall often perceived as quiet?

Snow acts as a sound absorber due to its porous nature, and the air trapped between snowflakes reduces the surface area for sound waves to bounce off, making sounds seem muffled.

Why can't robots pass the 'I am not a robot' CAPTCHA challenge?

CAPTCHA systems record human actions such as accidental key presses and imprecise movements, which bots cannot replicate due to their linear and precise movements.

What is the purpose of birds flying in a V-formation during migration?

The V-formation is an energy-saving technique where birds time their wing beats to catch uplifting air currents from the bird in front, reducing the energy expenditure by 20% to 30%.

Why is the ring finger commonly chosen for blood tests?

The ring finger is used the least, has more delicate skin, and contains fewer tendons that could spread infection. It also heals faster, making it the preferred choice for blood tests.

Why does time seem to pass faster as we age?

Each year becomes a smaller percentage of our total life as we age, reducing the significance of each year and leading to a perception of time speeding up.

Why is the foam of shampoo always white?

The foam's color is white due to the dilution of dyes and the scattering of light by the irregularities in the foam's molecular structure.

What causes motion sickness and how does our body perceive it?

Motion sickness occurs when there's a conflict between the signals sent to the brain by the inner ear and the visual input from the eyes, causing confusion and nausea.

What is the scientific explanation for brain freeze?

Brain freeze is caused by vasoconstriction in the blood vessels of the palate due to cold stimuli, leading to nerve pain which is relieved by rewarming the area.

What is the function of the pink part of our eye known as the caruncle?

The caruncle is an evolutionary remnant of a third eyelid found in other animals, and it has no specific function in humans.

How can you make an emergency call without a signal?

Mobile phones can access any available network for emergency calls, even if your specific carrier network is unavailable.

What causes goosebumps and what is their evolutionary purpose?

Goosebumps are caused by the contraction of tiny muscles that raise hairs on the skin. They are an evolutionary response for warmth and protection, and can also occur during stress or heightened emotions.

Why do we only see one side of the moon?

The moon is tidally locked to the Earth, rotating at the same speed as it orbits, always showing the same side to us due to synchronous rotation.

What happens to the waste on airplanes?

Aircrafts use a vacuum system to collect waste in tanks, which are safely emptied after landing, avoiding any release during flight.

Why do soda bottles have a bumpy design?

The bumpy design, specifically the five-pointed bottom, provides stability for the pressurized, aerated contents and prevents the bottle from toppling over when chilled.