Image by SAIYED IRFAN A from Pixabay
The world is a strange and fascinating place, full of bizarre facts that defy logic and leave you scratching your head. From nature’s oddities to history’s quirks, here are 10 weird facts about the world that will blow your mind!
1. There’s a Town in Norway Where the Sun Doesn’t Rise for Months
Imagine waking up in complete darkness for weeks on end. In the town of Longyearbyen, Norway, the sun sets in late October and doesn’t rise again until mid-February. This phenomenon, known as polar night, happens in the Arctic Circle due to the tilt of the Earth’s axis. But don’t worry—residents make the most of it with cozy traditions and vibrant celebrations when the sun finally returns!
2. Bananas Are Berries, But Strawberries Aren’t
Botanically speaking, bananas meet all the criteria to be considered a berry, while strawberries do not. A berry must develop from a single flower with one ovary and contain seeds inside the flesh—rules that bananas follow but strawberries don’t. Meanwhile, tomatoes, kiwis, and even eggplants are also berries!
3. The Eiffel Tower Grows in the Summer
You might think of the Eiffel Tower as a solid structure, but it actually changes size with the seasons. During the summer, heat causes the iron to expand, making the tower grow by about six inches (15 cm). In the winter, it contracts back to its original height.
4. Wombat Poop Is Cube-Shaped
Yes, you read that right! Wombats, adorable marsupials from Australia, produce cube-shaped poop. Scientists believe this helps the poop stay in place instead of rolling away, which is useful for marking their territory. The shape results from variations in the elasticity of the wombat’s intestines—one of nature’s weirdest wonders!
5. There’s a Ghost Town in the U.S. With Just One Resident
The town of Monowi, Nebraska, has a population of one. Elsie Eiler, the only resident, is the town’s mayor, librarian, and bartender. She runs the local tavern and keeps the town incorporated by paying taxes to herself. Talk about wearing multiple hats!
6. There’s a Place in Canada Where Gravity Is Weaker
In Hudson Bay, Canada, gravity is slightly weaker than in the rest of the world. This anomaly was first discovered in the 1960s and is believed to be due to an ancient ice sheet that once covered the region, pressing down on the land and causing subtle gravitational changes that still persist today.
7. Octopuses Have Three Hearts and Blue Blood
Octopuses are fascinating creatures with three hearts—two pump blood to the gills, while the third pumps it to the rest of the body. Their blood is blue instead of red due to the presence of hemocyanin, a copper-based protein that helps them survive in cold, low-oxygen environments.
8. A Lake in Australia Turns Bright Pink
Lake Hillier in Western Australia is famous for its bubblegum-pink color. Scientists believe the hue comes from a type of salt-loving algae and bacteria that thrive in the lake’s highly saline environment. Unlike some seasonal pink lakes, Lake Hillier stays pink year-round!
9. There’s an Island Where You’re Not Allowed to Die
On the remote island of Svalbard, Norway, dying is technically illegal. The permafrost prevents bodies from decomposing, which could lead to the spread of diseases frozen in the ground. As a result, if someone is terminally ill, they are transported to the mainland to live out their final days.
10. Water Can Boil and Freeze at the Same Time
This mind-bending phenomenon is called the triple point—the exact temperature and pressure at which the three states of a substance (solid, liquid, and gas) exist simultaneously. For water, this occurs at 0.01°C (32.018°F) and a pressure of 0.006 atmospheres. Scientists often use this concept in laboratories to study thermodynamics.
The world is full of strange and wonderful surprises, proving that there’s always something new to learn. Which of these weird facts surprised you the most? Let me know in the comments!
Lisa Crow contributed to this article. She is a true crime junkie and lifestyle blogger based in Waco, Texas. Lisa is the Head of Content at Gigi’s Ramblings and Southern Bred True Crime Junkie. She spends her free time traveling when she can and making memories with her large family which consists of six children and fifteen grandchildren.
