General knowledge facts

Indulge in the whimsy of facts that defy expectation: nibbling on an excess of carrots might give your skin a tinge of orange, garlic can tantalize your taste buds even on the soles of your feet, and sharks have been swimming in our oceans for eons, long before trees ever took root. Intrigued? Good. There's a trove of such captivating curiosities waiting to be unearthed.

Ever pondered why a restful night's sleep might add inches to your stature or why it's ill-advised to snack on banana-flavoured treats near a buzzing beehive? Settle in, get cozy, and brace yourself for a whirlwind journey through some of the most mind-bending facts that'll leave you exclaiming, "I never knew!" The allure of facts lies in their ability to challenge our assumptions, and here's a revelation: strawberries aren't berries, despite what their name suggests. The truth is, the term "berry" is a botanical classification with strict criteria—outer skin, fleshy center, and internalised seeds. By this definition, strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries have been masquerading as berries when they're actually not. But what fruits do make the cut? Blueberries, cranberries, watermelons, grapes, eggplants, and yes, even bananas are bona fide berries. It's a fruity conspiracy of epic proportions, isn't it? And speaking of fruit deceptions, did you know that oranges aren't always orange? Despite lending their name to the color, oranges can, at times, display a verdant hue. This phenomenon arises from chlorophyll, the green pigment responsible for photosynthesis, which oranges produce in response to intense sunlight. Far from being spoiled, these green oranges are purportedly sweeter, proving that appearances can be deceiving.

Kermit the Frog famously lamented the challenges of being green, but did you know that his creator, Frank Oz, also breathed life into the iconic Miss Piggy and Yoda? Yes, beneath Miss Piggy's glamorous exterior lies the voice of the wise Jedi Master. The vocal versatility of Frank Oz bridges the gap between cosmic wisdom and piggy hi-yahs, a feat as impressive as it is unexpected. Curiouser and curiouser, isn't it?

Stuart Freeborn, the mastermind behind Yoda's iconic appearance, not only fashioned the Jedi Master after himself, quite evident, isn't it? but also drew inspiration from one of humanity's foremost intellects, Albert Einstein. Now, I'm not comparing Einstein to a diminutive green sage, but the parallels in wisdom and intelligence are undeniable. Speaking of uncanny resemblances, did you realise that when identical twins start families with their respective partners, their children aren't just cousins they're technically siblings, genetically speaking? Picture this scenario: two sets of identical twin sisters and brothers pair off. Since identical twins share identical DNA, their offspring end up genetically akin to siblings. Mind-boggling, isn't it? Now, onto something even more astonishing: did you know you can actually taste garlic through your feet? Yes, it's all thanks to allicin, the compound responsible for garlic's potent aroma. Rubbing garlic on your skin allows its flavour to seep through, eventually reaching your taste buds. Quite the oddity, though hardly practical. And no, donning garlic-filled shoes won't freshen your breath, regardless of what your eccentric aunt might insist. Nevertheless, the human body never ceases to amaze. Consider this: while it's not recommended, you could technically subsist solely on a diet of potatoes and butter, as per Katherine Basbaum, a cardiovascular dietitian. Though such a regimen is far from advisable, potatoes and butter contain enough essential nutrients to sustain basic bodily functions. Of course, it's advisable to steer clear of a diet solely comprised of buttery potatoes. However, there's another nutritious food that, when consumed excessively, can lead to some rather peculiar consequences. According to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, if you consume more than five large carrots daily for an extended period, your skin may gradually adopt a faint orange hue. It may sound like a whimsical cartoon plot, but the surplus of beta-carotene, which lends carrots their vibrant orange pigment, can accumulate in your bloodstream and deposit under your skin, resulting in a condition called carotenemia. For those of us who are naturally pale, like myself, this could offer a novel and healthy means to achieve a subtle bronzed complexion.

Now, onto the topic of diet: your dietary choices often dictate your flatulence frequency. On average, individuals release around 15 gas emissions per day, with some exceeding 40. Finally, an area where I excel! To put this into perspective, in a single day, the volume of gas expelled could inflate an entire balloon, or roughly 20 balloons if your meal included Taco Bell cuisine! Let's keep this information on the down low, though-lest Disney overhear and begin crafting Pixar's next sequel, "Up 2: Carl vs. Crunchwrap Supreme," slated for a summer release.