One new fact every day, pulled from our fact files. Here's the full archive.
Caesar salad was invented by Caesar Cardini in Tijuana, not named after Julius Caesar.
“The salad was created on July 4, 1924, by Caesar Cardini at Caesar's in Tijuana, Mexico, when the kitchen was overwhelmed and short on ingredients.”
Source: Caesar salad, Wikipedia. Checked 2026-10-31.
Measured from under the ocean, Mauna Kea's prominence is rivaled only by Mount Everest.
“its prominence from under the ocean is 30,610 ft (9,330 m), rivaled only by Mount Everest.”
Source: Mauna Kea, Wikipedia. Checked 2026-10-31.
A mantis shrimp strikes so fast that it creates cavitation bubbles in the water.
“Because they strike so rapidly, they generate vapor-filled bubbles in the water between the appendage and the striking surface—known as cavitation bubbles.”
Source: Mantis shrimp, Wikipedia. Checked 2026-10-31.
Velcro was inspired by burrs stuck to the inventor's clothes and his dog's fur.
“He took a close look at the burs of burdock that kept sticking to his clothes and his dog's fur.”
Source: Hook-and-loop fastener, Wikipedia. Checked 2026-10-31.
Babies have about 270 bones. Some fuse together, leaving adults with about 206.
“It is composed of around 270 bones at birth – this total decreases to around 206 bones by adulthood after some bones fuse together, not counting accessory bones.”
Source: Human skeleton, Wikipedia. Checked 2026-10-31.
The word 'robot' was introduced by Czech writer Karel Čapek in his play R.U.R.
“The word robot was introduced to the public by the Czech interwar writer Karel Čapek in his play R.U.R.”
Source: Robot, Wikipedia. Checked 2026-10-31.
Russia spans eleven time zones.
In 1932, the Australian Army was sent to fight emus.
“The Emu War (or Great Emu War) was a nuisance wildlife management operation undertaken by the Australian Army in late 1932.”
Source: Emu War, Wikipedia. Checked 2026-10-31.
On Venus, one day lasts longer than one year.
“Therefore, Venusian sidereal day, 243 Earth days, lasts longer than a Venusian year, 224.7 Earth days.”
Source: Venus, Wikipedia. Checked 2026-10-31.
The blue whale is the largest animal known to have ever existed.
“it is the largest animal known to have ever existed.”
Source: Blue whale, Wikipedia. Checked 2026-10-31.
Orange carrots were developed by Dutch growers.
“The orange carrot was created by Dutch growers.”
Source: Carrot, Wikipedia. Checked 2026-10-31.
The hottest air temperature ever recorded on Earth was 134 °F, in Death Valley, in 1913.
“In the afternoon hours of July 10, 1913, the United States Weather Bureau recorded a temperature of 134 °F (56.7 °C) at Furnace Creek in Death Valley, which stands as the highest ambient air temperature ever recorded on the surface of the Earth.”
Source: Death Valley, Wikipedia. Checked 2026-10-31.
Octopuses have three hearts.
“They have three hearts; a systemic or main heart that circulates blood around the body and two branchial or gill hearts that pump it through the two gills.”
Source: Octopus, Wikipedia. Checked 2026-10-31.
Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928.
“Penicillin was discovered in 1928 by the Scottish physician Alexander Fleming”
Source: Penicillin, Wikipedia. Checked 2026-10-31.