Random Science Facts and Trivia

Everyone knows a few fun random facts they can pull out as a party trick or a conversation icebreaker. Here are a few more to add to your collection. Although some of these facts are strange and obscure, they are 100% verified, so rest assured that you'll be sharing solid information at that party.

Rotation of Earth

Did you know that the Earth rotates a full 360 degrees in 23 hours, 56 minutes, and 4.09 seconds, not 24 hours?

Cataracts

Sometimes the crystalline lenses of elderly people become milky and cloudy. This is called a cataract, and it causes partial or complete loss of vision.

Berry Interesting

Did you know that pineapples, oranges, and tomatoes are actually berries?

Pure Gold

Pure gold is so soft that it can be molded with your bare hands.

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Did You Know? Fun Chemistry Facts

By Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.

Real Life Dragons

The Komodo dragon is a renowned giant, with the average male measuring around 8 feet long; some exceptional individuals reach 10 feet long. It is the heaviest lizard of all, with an average weight of 220 to 300 pounds.

That's So Nuclear

The word "nuclear" is related to the nucleus of an atom. It is often used to describe the energy produced when a nucleus is split (fission) or joined with another (fusion).

He's Lost It

Did you know that a cockroach can live for nine days without its head before it starves to death?

He Said No

Did you know that the physicist Albert Einstein refused the job of president of Israel? Einstein was asked to be the president when the Israeli president died in 1952.

Old Guys

The earliest cockroach fossil is about 125–140 million years old, but not 280–300 million years old as some have speculated.

Newts Are Neat

Newts are members of the salamander family. They are found in North America, Europe, and Asia.

A Little Lithium in Your 7UP?

The original formula for 7UP contained lithium citrate, a chemical used today as a treatment for bipolar disorders. The ingredient was removed by 1950.

How Many Lightbulbs...

The tungsten filament inside an incandescent light bulb reaches a temperature of 4,500 degrees Fahrenheit when turned on.

Blue as Turquoise

Traces of copper are what give turquoise its distinctive blue color.

Brainless

Starfish, like many radially symmetric animals, do not have brains.