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

OCT 2021


Previous Archives

DATE FACT OF THE DAY
10/1/21      During WWII, American soldiers were known as G.I. Joes. Because they drank large amounts of coffee, the drink soon earned the popular nickname “a cup of Joe.” Provided by FactRetriever.com
10/2/21      A rhino’s “horn” is not a true horn, with a bony supporting core like the horns of cattle or antelopes. It is, instead, an outgrowth of the skin, like human hair or fingernails. Provided by FactRetriever.com
10/3/21      Jupiter spins faster than any other planet at over 29,200 miles (47,000 km) per hour. Provided by FactRetriever.com
10/4/21      The earliest recorded mention of a disease that can be recognized as diabetes is found in the Ebers papyrus (1500 B.C.), which includes directions for several mixtures that could “remove the urine, which runs too often." Provided by FactRetriever.com
10/5/21      In 1963, Heineken developed beer bottles that could double as glass bricks to build houses. The goal was to eliminate waste and provide a cheap building material for low-income areas. Provided by FactRetriever.com
10/6/21      Looming 17 times higher than Niagara Falls, Angel Falls in Venezuela is the largest waterfall in the world. Provided by FactRetriever.com
10/7/21      The "O" before an Irish name, such as "O'Reilly," means "descendant of." Provided by FactRetriever.com
10/8/21      Afghan poppy farmers have switched to solar power to run their irrigation systems. This has significantly increased the world's supply of heroin. Provided by FactRetriever.com
10/9/21      In Ankara, Turkey, sanitation workers created a public library out of books they found while collecting garbage. It contains over 6,000 books. Provided by FactRetriever.com
10/10/21      Giraffes give birth while standing up. Their babies must drop more than five feet (1.5 meters) to the ground as they're born. Provided by FactRetriever.com
10/11/21      The “dark side” or far side of the moon is not always dark. It reflects light as often as the near side, once per lunar day, during the new moon phase (when the Earth-facing side is completely dark). Provided by FactRetriever.com
10/12/21      Sanskrit is the most common language in Hindu scriptures; it is also the oldest language in the world. Provided by FactRetriever.com
10/13/21      The Mlilwane in Swaziland's Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary means "little fire" in SiSwati. The name is a reference to the frequent lightning strikes on the nearby granite mountains that often result in small fires. Provided by FactRetriever.com
10/14/21      Just as important as a telescope’s mirror or lens is the way a telescope is mounted. John Hadley (1682–1744) invented what is now called an altitude-azimuth mount, which allows an astronomer to track the movement of objects along two axes. Provided by FactRetriever.com
10/15/21      Hair is made up of a protein called keratin, which forms a helical shape. This protein has sulfur bonds, and the more sulfur links it has, the curlier a person’s hair will be. Provided by FactRetriever.com
10/16/21      The gene that commercial producers bred into tomatoes to give them a uniform color had the unintended consequence of destroying its flavor. This mutation has been bred into almost all commercial American tomatoes. Provided by FactRetriever.com
10/17/21      Even though Johann Gottfried Galle visually “discovered” Neptune in 1846, Galileo saw the blue planet in 1613, but he thought it was a star because of its slow orbit and great distance from Earth. Provided by FactRetriever.com
10/18/21      The Romans made their coins in the temple of Juno Moneta, the goddess of marriage and women. From the name Moneta, derives the words “mint” and “money.” Provided by FactRetriever.com
10/19/21      Sloth bears’ favorite food is termites. These bears have no front teeth, so they can easily suck out insects from their nests like a vacuum cleaner. They can also seal their nostrils for better suction. Provided by FactRetriever.com
10/20/21      A group of jellyfish is called a bloom, swarm, or smack. Provided by FactRetriever.com
10/21/21      Areas in Sri Lanka that are overly dry are kept fertile by an intricate irrigation system that the Sri Lankans have been developing for more than 2,000 years. Provided by FactRetriever.com
10/22/21      Knitting is considered to have originated in the Arab world, and from there, spread with the Crusades into Spain. The term “to knit” wasn’t added to English until the 1400s. Provided by FactRetriever.com
10/23/21      Images of dolphins have been found carved far within the desert city of Petra, Jordan. Provided by FactRetriever.com
10/24/21      Monet was influenced by Japanese art, and over his lifetime, he collected a variety of Japanese Ukiyo-e woodblock prints. Provided by FactRetriever.com
10/25/21      The oldest recorded standard of weight is the beqa, an ancient Egyptian unit equal to between 6.66 and 7.45 ounces. It is still used today. Provided by FactRetriever.com
10/26/21      A group of crabs is called a cast. Provided by FactRetriever.com
10/27/21      In addition to greeting and hugging each other with their trunks, elephants also use their trunks to swat smaller elephants as a form of discipline. Provided by FactRetriever.com
10/28/21      The first speeding ticket was issued in 1902. At this time, most cars could only drive up to 45 mph. Provided by FactRetriever.com
10/29/21      By about 3,000 B.C., almost every weaving technique known today had been invented by the Peruvians. Provided by FactRetriever.com
10/30/21      The earliest known potato chip recipe is found in William Kitchiner's cookbook The Cook's Oracle, published in 1817. Provided by FactRetriever.com
10/31/21      The first Jack O’Lanterns were actually made from turnips. Provided by FactRetriever.com


Fact-of-the-Day Archives

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
DEC NOV OCT SEP AUG JUL
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