Did You Know? – Useless (or Useful) Facts

[Cedric]

We all stumble across random bits of information from time to time - some of which are incredibly useful, and others that are just… well, amusingly pointless. But regardless of their practicality, these facts can often spark interesting conversations or make us smile.

In this thread, let’s share some of that quirky, surprising, or even seemingly useless knowledge we’ve picked up over the years. Maybe you know something that’s utterly useless but fascinating, or perhaps there’s a fun fact that has proven unexpectedly useful in your life.

Here are a few examples to get things started:

• Did you know? The shortest commercial flight in the world is between two islands in Scotland, lasting just 47 seconds!
• Did you know? Honey never spoils; archaeologists have found pots of honey in ancient tombs that are over 3,000 years old and still perfectly edible.

What strange, quirky, or surprisingly useful facts do you know? Share them here and let’s enjoy learning something new - or just have a good laugh!

 

[Arantor]

Weird Al Yankovic always gets permission for his covers. When he decided to cover Dire Straits’ Money For Nothing, as the Beverly Hillbillies/Money For Nothing, Mark Knopfler agreed, but with a caveat.

He insisted that he play the guitars, and in particular the iconic guitar solo the song is famous for.

 

[SarahKik]

Spiders can shed their skin like snakes (called molts) and can even regrow or repair limbs through this process.

 

[Arantor]

Weird Al also asked Paul McCartney about covering Live And Let Die, but McCartney said no. The reason? The parody was going to be called “Chicken Pot Pie” and McCartney is famously a vegetarian.

 

[Cedric]

Fun fact: when you buy a new car, you often think it’s the leather that you can smell — but it’s actually the chemicals.

 

[Arantor]

Speaking of smells, there is a word for the condition of not being able to smell anything (like me), and it is anosmia. I am anosmic.