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FACT-OF-THE-DAY ARCHIVE
"Our life is what our thoughts make it."
- Marcus Aurelius

APR 2022


Previous Archives

DATE FACT OF THE DAY
4/1/22      The 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska polluted approximately 1,180 miles of coastline and killed up to 100,000 seabirds. Provided by FactRetriever.com
4/2/22      Because monarch caterpillars feed on milkweed plants, which are poisonous, monarchs become toxic to birds and other animals. Provided by FactRetriever.com
4/3/22      Dragonflies will rapidly flap their wings to warm up their bodies. Some dragonflies even use their wings as reflectors, tilting them to direct solar radiation to their bodies. Provided by FactRetriever.com
4/4/22      Earth’s orbit is slowing down. It turns approximately 2 milliseconds slower every 100 years. Provided by FactRetriever.com
4/5/22      Over 90% of of Madagascar's wildlife is not found anywhere else in the world. Provided by FactRetriever.com
4/6/22      There are three types of reefs: barrier reefs, fringing reefs, and atolls. Atolls are often mistaken for islands, but they are reefs. Provided by FactRetriever.com
4/7/22      If horses eat avocados, their lips, mouth, tongue, eyelids, head, and neck may swell up and lead to respiratory distress. This reaction is caused by persin, a fungicidal toxin considered harmless to humans but is toxic to many animals. Provided by Colorado State Poisonous Plants Guide
4/8/22      Because there is no gravity in space, there is no natural convection, which means body heat won’t rise off the skin. Because of this, the body will constantly perspire to cool itself but, unfortunately, the sweat won’t drip or evaporate—it will just build up. Provided by FactRetriever.com
4/9/22      A group of people first came to Minnesota 10,000 years ago. Their descendants are the Dakotas. Europeans arrived in the 1600s, and by the 1830s, the Dakotas were being forced off their lands. Provided by FactRetriever.com
4/10/22      Less than 2% of edible plant species globally are used by humans, and only 3 (rice, maize, and wheat) contribute 60% of calories obtained by humans from plants. Provided by Food and Agriculture Organization
4/11/22      A bristlecone pine tree nicknamed Methuselah is believed to be the oldest tree in the world. Its exact location is kept a secret to protect it from vandals and tourists. Provided by FactRetriever.com
4/12/22      In 1956, John McCarthy invented the word "artificial intelligence." Provided by FactRetriever.com
4/13/22      The forefather of the modern-day park ranger, Harry Yount, Yellowstone’s first gamekeeper, was stationed at Tower-Roosevelt Junction through the Lamar Valley in 1880 to help stop the illegal slaughter of animals. Provided by FactRetriever.com
4/14/22      A strand of spider silk long enough to encircle Earth would weigh just over a pound. Provided by FactRetriever.com
4/15/22      Elephant herds are led by an older female and usually consist of 6 to 20 elephants, although much larger herds have been observed. Provided by FactRetriever.com
4/16/22      The number of litters a female opossum will have depends on the climate she lives in; mothers in warmer climates can have up to three, while those who live in cooler locales will only have one. Provided by FactRetriever.com
4/17/22      Hoatzin chicks have two claws on each wing. When they climb out of the nest, they use their claws to hold on to mangrove trees. They lose their claws once they mature, but they remain poor flyers. Provided by FactRetriever.com
4/18/22      Mayans used chocolate in baptisms and in marriage ceremonies. It was also sometimes used in the place of blood during ceremonies. Mayan emperors were often buried with jars of chocolate by their side. Provided by FactRetriever.com
4/19/22      The single deadliest flu pandemic in history was the Spanish flu pandemic during 1918-1919. Occurring in the three waves of increasing lethality, the Spanish flu killed more people in 24 weeks than AIDS did in 24 years. It also killed more people in one year than smallpox or the Black Plague did in 50 years. Provided by FactRetriever.com
4/20/22      The first recorded speeding ticket was issued for a speed of 8 miles per hour in the United Kingdom. Provided by Guiness World Records
4/21/22      Farmers in India use Coca Cola and Pepsi as an inexpensive form of pesticide. Provided by FactRetriever.com
4/22/22      Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming sits on the site of an ancient supervolcano. It erupted around 2 million years ago, 1.3 million years ago, and 640,000 years ago. If it follows the same pattern, another eruption is due any time now. Provided by FactRetriever.com
4/23/22      Taste buds evolved for survival. Bitter or sour tastes can indicate food that is poisonous or rotten. Provided by FactRetriever.com
4/24/22      The Crac des Chevaliers is a Crusader castle in Syria and is one of the most well-preserved and important medieval castles in the world. The Knights Hospitallers used the castle as a military base during the crusades until it fell to the Muslims in 1271. Provided by FactRetriever.com
4/25/22      Cameroon has more than 1,000 species of butterfly—more than a quarter of all species found in Africa. Provided by FactRetriever.com
4/26/22      Approximately 1 in 50,000 penguins is born with brown plumage rather than black. These are called isabelline penguins. They live shorter lives than other penguins because they are less camouflaged and often do not mate. Provided by FactRetriever.com
4/27/22      The "Elephant's Foot" is an extremely radioactive material formed during the Chernobyl accident. When the foot first formed, exposure to it for just 60 seconds would kill someone. Now, 500 seconds is the lethal time. It will remain radioactive for over 100,000 years. Provided by FactRetriever.com
4/28/22      A cat’s nose pad is ridged with a unique pattern, just like the fingerprint of a human. Provided by FactRetriever.com
4/29/22      Gettysburg was the largest battle ever fought in North America. It’s victor, General Meade, was born in Spain. Provided by FactRetriever.com
4/30/22      While modern architects are primarily concerned about the relationship of buildings to money and the flow of cars, ancient architects were more concerned with the relationship of buildings to gardens and landscapes. Provided by FactRetriever.com


Fact-of-the-Day Archives

2022
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2021
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2020
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2019
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2018
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2017
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2016
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2015
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2014
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2013
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2012
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2011
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2010
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