Inane Fact #35

"Neanderthal" is German for "Neander Valley", a famous archaeological site known for a number of neanderthal fossils.

Inane Fact #34

Hammerhead sharks can see 360 degrees in the vertical plane, meaning that they can see both above and below themselves at all times. They also have anterior binocular vision, meaning that they can see straight ahead while swimming and can accurately judge distances.

Inane Fact #33

There are more possible images in a single kaleidoscope than can be seen within a human lifetime.

Inane Fact #32

Primitive pencils were first used by the Ancient Egyptians and the Romans.

Inane Fact #31

For something to burn literally means that it oxidizes. "Rust" is what we call oxidized metal. So when iron rusts, it is technically burning (although without a flame).

Inane Fact #30

The head width of the winghead shark (Eusphyra blochii) is equal to almost half its body length.

Inane Fact #29

The earliest known hippopotamus fossils, which belong to the genus Kenyapotamus, (found in Kenya), date to roughly 16 million years ago.

Inane Fact #28

Limnonectes megastomias, a species of fanged frog from the Mekong region, eat not only insects; they eat birds, as well.

Inane Fact #27

Black bears hum when they are content.

Inane Fact #26

Stationery mushroom coral have been observed eating moon jellyfish, although it is yet unknown how the coral catch their prey.

Inane Fact #25

Humpback whales have never been seen mating.

Inane Fact #24

Salmon are more likely to shy away from dark objects than light objects, so if you're fishing for salmon, try wearing white.

Inane Fact #23

Despite the fact that they dwell in the depths of the ocean, M. andamanica, a species of crab, live entirely off the nutrients provided by their ingestion of trees (and the occasional shipwreck) that have sunk to the ocean floor.

Inane Fact #22

The ancient Egyptians used honey as an embalming fluid.

Inane Fact #21

The first people to make glass windows were the Romans in Alexandria around 100 AD.

Inane Fact #20

Pipe smoking originated in the Americas.

Inane Fact #19

The earliest known seahorse fossils found to date were discovered in Slovenia and are 13,000,000 years old.

Inane Fact #18

When AIDS was first discovered in LA in 1981, it was found only in homosexuals, and so was named GRID (Gay-Related Immune Deficiency) by the press.

Inane Fact #17

Beer was first prepared circa 9,000 BC. It is one of the oldest prepared drinks in the world.

Inane Fact #16

In 1625, the Dutch established a trading post in what is now the US; they named it Fort Amsterdam. Later, as Fort Amsterdam developed into larger town, it became known as New Amsterdam. Today, what was once New Amsterdam is now known as New York City.

Inane Fact #15

Hippos kill more humans per year than any other species of animal in Africa.

Inane Fact #14

Humans are born without wrist bones.

Inane Fact #13

Germany exports more goods than any other country, including China.

Inane Fact #12

While most primates avoid water, macaques in Japan bathe in hot springs throughout the year.

Inane Fact #11

Toilet paper was first invented in China in the sixth century AD.

Inane Fact #10

Capybaras are the largest living species of rodent. An adult capybara can be up to four feet long and weigh 140 pounds.

Inane Fact #9

Jousting is the official sport of the state of Maryland.

Inane Fact #8

The Japanese name for Japan, Nihon, is spelled with two kanji characters (Kanji is a one-character writing system derived from Chinese.) meaning "sun" and "source". Since the sun rises in the East, and Japan is East of China, from China is looks as though the sun comes from Japan; thus China gave the name meaning "Land of the Rising Sun" to Japan.

Inane Fact #7

Honey can help to prevent (and cure) radiation poisoning.

Inane Fact #6

The word for bread, pan, is the same in Spanish, French, and Japanese.

Inane Fact #5

"Oklahoma" means "red people" (literally "people red", if you want to be technical) in the language of the Choctaw, a Native American tribe.

Inane Fact #4

Flat worms' mouths are in the center of their body, not in their heads.

Inane Fact #3

"Orangutan" is Malay for "man of the forest".

Inane Fact #2

Terrestrial insects do not have lungs. Instead, they have tracheae, which are fine tubes that convey air directly to the tissue.

Inane Fact #1

Sea anemones have only one orifice; it serves as both a mouth and an anus.