A Lichen is Both a Fungus and an Algae Fact
A lichen isn’t. a plant, it is a dual organism that is both a fungus and algae. The term symbiosis was even coined to describe this phenomenon.
Natural and Physical Sciences
A broad category referring to the study of the physical universe including nature and biology.
Vanilla Flavoring is Made From Beaver Butt Goo Fact
Beavers secrete a goo from their butts called castoreum. Castoreum has a vanilla scent and is sometimes used as an artificial flavoring in foods.
Mountain Lions, Pumas, Cougars, and Panthers are All the Same Kind of Cat Fact
What is the difference between a Mountain lion, puma, cougar, and panther? There isn’t any. By any name, this “cat of many names” is the same type of cat.
Elephants Are Afraid of Mice Fact
Elephants are essentially afraid of mice, but not for the reasons you might think. Like other mammals elephants, are hardwired to be startled by things that move fast, including mice.
Bonsai Trees Are Actually Trees Fact
Even though some other plant types are used for Bonsai, Bonsai trees are actually trees that have been grown and shaped to look like miniature trees. Any tree species can be used to grow a Bonsai tree.
A Small Object Like a Penny Dropped From High Enough Can Kill Someone Myth
Due to the way terminal velocity caps the maximum speed that something can fall, a small and light object like a penny will never gain enough speed to kill someone regardless of how high it is dropped from.
Scorpion Venom is the Most Expensive Liquid in the World Fact
Scorpion Venom is the most expensive liquid in the world costing up to $39 million a gallon. Like other expensive liquids such as penicillin, insulin, patchouli, human blood, cobra venom, and horseshoe crab blood, scorpion venom has medicinal uses.
We See Everything Upside-Down Fact
The lens of each eye casts an upside-down image onto the retina. Then your brain takes these two upside-down images at slightly different perspectives (one per eye) and creates a single right-side-up image.
Twinkies Never Go Bad Myth
Twinkies don’t last forever, but they can go a long time without spoiling (up to 30 years by one estimate). The “sell-by” shelf life of a Twinkie is 45 days, after that they go hard and brittle. However, due to the ingredients, a Twinkie won’t spoil for decades.
Starfish Can Regrow Missing Limbs Fact
Some species of starfish can regrow missing limbs, and a few species can actually regrow a whole new “disk” (the center party of their body) from a limb!