Top 10 Weird But True Facts For Adults

As adults, we’ve all heard a few weird facts in our lifetime, but few of us know just how odd and unbelievable some of the facts about our world can be. From the strange and mysterious to the downright bizarre, here are 10 weird but true facts for adults.

1. It’s Possible To Die Laughing

It may sound like a joke, but it’s actually true. It’s known as “catastrophic laughter” and can occur when a person laughs uncontrollably for an extended period of time, resulting in exhaustion and hypoxia (lack of oxygen to the brain). In extreme cases, it can even lead to death.

2. Your Fingernails Grow Faster Than Your Toenails

This is because the fingers are used more often than the toes, so the nails experience more wear and tear and need to be replaced more often.

3. Your Eyes Are As Unique As Your Fingerprints

Just like fingerprints, no two eyes are exactly alike. The pattern of blood vessels in each eye is unique, making it possible to identify a person by their eyes.

4. You Can’t Swallow and Breathe At The Same Time

This is because the epiglottis, a small flap of tissue in your throat, closes off your windpipe whenever you swallow. This prevents food and drink from entering your lungs.

5. There Are More Bacteria On Your Skin Than People On Earth

It’s true! Your skin houses an estimated 1 trillion bacteria, while the world’s population is estimated to be around 7.7 billion.

6. Humans Are The Only Animals That Cry Tears

No other species has been known to shed tears due to emotion, but some animals have been known to produce tears when injured or ill.

7. Humans Have More Bones At Birth Than Throughout Their Lives

At birth, a baby has around 300 bones, but as they grow, some of these bones fuse together to form larger bones. By adulthood, a person will typically have 206 bones.

8. You’re Taller In The Morning Than At Night

During the day, your spinal discs become compressed due to gravity and the activities you do, making you slightly shorter. But at night, the discs expand and you become a bit taller.

9. Your Brain Produces Enough Electricity To Power A Light Bulb

Your brain produces around 25 watts of electricity while you’re awake and 10 watts while you’re asleep. This is enough electricity to power a small light bulb.

10. There Are 17 Million Different Types Of Insects

That’s right, there are 17 million different species of insects. Insects are the most abundant and diverse group of organisms on the planet. We hope you found these weird but true facts for adults interesting and informative. From the mysterious to the downright bizarre, our world is full of things that are strange and wonderful.