Weird but True: These Wild Random Facts Will Blow Your Mind

If you have a penchant for trivia, are looking to squash your next game night, or are just fond of learning new things that aren't common knowledge, pat your shoulders—you've come to the right place!

The world is a weird, wacky, enchanting place, full of things you'd be amazed to know. How will we ever be shrewd and ready if we don't commit these random fun facts to our memory? When you know the answer to a tricky question no one in the room does, it has a way of awakening the genius in you.

Before we go any further, here's a little piece of trivia for you: Well, did you know that National Trivia Day in America is celebrated every 4th of January? People participate in trivia contests, share several pieces of information, or spend the day watching trivia-based TV shows with their friends and family.

So, here are some fun facts that will make you smile, or to the least, say "OMG!" These random facts are worth their weight in gold, so get ready to mentor your friends with these exciting tidbits.

The Technical Name for Hashtag is an Octothorpe

Did you know that the technical name for the number sign, yup, the one you use to label hashtags on social media posts, is called an "octothorpe?" Also known as the hash or pound, the symbol has its roots in 14th century Latin.

According to one such belief, people began abbreviating the Latin word for "pound weight," libra pondo, as "lb." But today, it isn't called the pound sign or number sign people in the #DarkAges deemed it to be before the advent of social media, you becoming social-media savvy, and before Twitter sent influencers in a frenzy with its hashtags!

The 100 Folds in a Chef’s Hat Are Pleated to Denote 100 Ways to Cook an Egg!

There are two things you might not be aware of a chef's hat: First, that tall, pleated white hat some of our favorite chefs wear is technically called a "toque." Second, these hats are usually fabricated with 100 folds, and that precise number is for a good reason.

It's often deemed that the 100 folds in a chef's hat represent 100 different ways to cook an egg. While history is slightly blurry on their definitive origin, the white hat became a common sight in the kitchens in the 1800s. It was mainly associated with the belief that white symbolized cleanliness. In the early days of French cuisine, the number of folds in a chef's hat depicted the number of recipes the chef had mastered for a given food, like chicken or egg. Having a hat with 100 pleats meant you were a master chef!

The Longest Wedding Veil Measures about 63 Football Fields

Women always dream of a fairytale wedding dress that will earn them several second looks. A pristine white wedding dress is what most brides long for. They even yearn to stand out among the others with the dramatic veil that sweeps behind their dreamy outfit. But miles of a veil? Well, one bride in Cyprus took things too far, all the way to the Guinness World Records, for the "Longest Veil Ever."

Maria Paraskeva, a Cyprus bride, achieved this recognition for carrying a veil measuring around 6962.6 meters, almost the length of 63-and-a-half American football fields. The Guinness World Records team shared the clip of the bride standing with her husband on Instagram. The viral clip has garnered around 90,500 likes.

Apple Pie Isn’t American

The saying "as American as apple pie" is often synonymous with patriotism in the United States. Logically, it makes sense. Apple pie is a simple dish, hearty, reliable, and most of all, straightforward—qualities Americans associate with themselves. Surprisingly, apples are cultivated commercially in 32 states, so it's pretty easy to get the picture of why the fruit would become an iconography of the country. However, apple pie isn't American in its origins.

The foundations for the classic apple pie, the kind featured in teenage comedies in the 2000s and Norman Rockwell paintings, can be traced back to England. Early English settlers in 1381 brought fruit pies to America, and eventually, the crust was reimagined so that it could be eaten too. Yum!

The Lyrebird Can Mimic Any Sound, Including Camera Shutters

Even other native birds are sometimes deceived by the lyrebird and are almost convinced that a male bird in their species is calling out to them to admire his plumes. To persuade females, male lyrebirds of southeastern Australia sing the most complex songs they can manage. Surprisingly, the birds do this by simply copying the sounds of all other birds and objects they hear.

Wildlife watchers like David Attenborough have recorded the Australian species mimicking other birds and animals and even artificial sounds like camera shutters, car alarms, and chainsaws!

Coca-Cola Was the First Soft Drink Gulped in Space

Coke proclaimed its victory in the carbonated space race when astronauts aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger tested "Coca-Cola Space Can" on the 12th of July, 1985. Officially, Coke became the first soft drink to have been tested and "tasted" in space!

Following the addition of the impressive feat to its portfolio, the Coca-Cola Company also installed a "Space Dispenser" on the Space Shuttle Discovery, which was the first soft drink equipment to be used in outer space.

Phobia of the Number 13 Is Called Triskaidekaphobia

Most people who fear the number 13 are said to be having "Triskaidekaphobia." Such people realize that only certain situations stir the fear in them, however, not significantly impairing their lives. Regardless of its scientific classification, triskaidekaphobia is considered to be an age-old and prevalent superstition.

Today, triskaidekaphobia is a widely accepted superstitious tradition in some Western cultures. For instance, most Western hotels intentionally omit the 13th floor. Some towns and cities skip the 13th street, and even many airlines eliminate the 13th row in seating. On the whole, triskaidekaphobia has established itself as an ancient and universal phobia whose origins may never be fully interpreted.

There’s a Guinness World Record for the “Most World Record Titles”

There are many accomplished record holders in the Guinness World Records archives, but none of their achievements quite match those of Brooklyn native 66-year-old Ashrita Furman. So far, he's the only man with the most Guinness World Record titles and has more than 600 official world records.

Over the past three decades, Ashrita made it his life's mission to break as many records as he can, keen to prove that a world-famous authority can recognize anyone with determination and dedication.

The Oldest Land Animal Alive Is a Giant Tortoise Named Jonathan

Meet Jonathan, the world's oldest land animal who is all set to turn 189 in 2022. In his lifetime, the Seychelles giant tortoise has lived through two world wars, seven monarchs on the British throne, and 39 U.S. Presidents. His estimated year of birth predates the building of the first skyscraper (1885), the first postage stamp (1840), and the completion of the Eiffel Tower (1889), the tallest iron structure on earth.

When Jonathan was brought to St. Helena, he was a fully-grown tortoise and was reportedly around 50 years old at the time. Considering his incredible age, Jonathan is already beyond his kind's 150-year average lifespan and surprisingly has good health.

Scots Have 421 Words for “Snow”

A trip to Scotland might be, for all the reasons, breathtaking and charming, but don't be too surprised if you hear the natives utter 400 different words that mean the same thing—Snow. According to BBC, Scotland has more than 421 words and expressions for snow, based on a project to compile a regional thesaurus.

Earlier, it was claimed the Inuit have around 50 words for snow, and the belief was endured for decades. However, the Scots have beaten that figure as researchers on a new Scots thesaurus project figured out more than 421 words for snow, from "flindrikin," "feefle," to "snaw-pouther," and "spitters."

Sticky Rice Was Used to Strengthen the Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China is erected mainly from splendid construction materials like earth and stone. More interestingly, one kitchen ingredient was incorporated in the mortar recipe, thanks to its cohesive properties. Colloquially known as "sticky rice," glutinous rice was used in the construction of the Great Wall to make it solid and enduring.

Workers built the Ming dynasty section of the world wonder 600 years ago by mixing a paste of slaked lime and sticky rice, the standard ingredient in mortar.

None of "The Beatles" Could Read or Write Music

This kind of fame is impressive for someone who doesn't actually read or write a music note. None of "The Beatles" could read or write traditional music, something that Paul McCartney usually refers to as "dots on a page." "The Beatles" started with a practical musical ambition. They wanted to learn how to compose the songs they liked by just listening.

The rock band was what Hollywood composers dubbed "hummers," as in, you hum the tune and play it along—doing this heavily relied on the ability to identify and reproduce the sound pitch, something that was quintessential to the McCartney and Lennon songwriting method.

Random fun facts are great for winning a pub quiz, breaking the ice, or impressing a date! Either way, it's always a great idea to stand out from the crowd and show off what've you've got in your IQ. Spread the fun by sharing this compilation with all your friends. And please don't forget to grab some additional fun info from them! Thanks for reading!