25 Peculiar and Magnificent Facts About Science

Our world is full of strange and wonderful things, and the way we study and understand it is called science. Today, we're going to focus on the odd, the things that make you go "huh." And if that doesn't quite stir up a sense of wonder in you, maybe it'll help you ace a trivia night at your local bar.

1. Half of Earth's oxygen comes from the sea, not trees.

Tiny plant-like organisms called phytoplankton live near the surface of the water, floating with the currents and doing what plants do best: make oxygen as a byproduct of absorbing sunlight and carbon dioxide.

2. You fart after you die.

Any gasses that were being held inside by clenched muscles get released, and gasses also develop from bacteria and decomposition. So, there's more where that came from.

3. You have more bacterial cells in your body than human cells.

This is something to be grateful for, as we really want the vast majority of those microorganisms. By far most of them are beneficial.

4. Some people are naturally resistant to HIV infection.

This is due to a genetic mutation that researchers believe was a consequence of the rampant diseases of the Middle Ages. So, your ancestors survived the Black Death and the pox, and today you're safe to HIV. Hereditary traits are strange, man.

5. Conifer oils, like pine trees, contain a calming compound called alpha-pinene.

This has been used to treat bronchial issues like asthma and is being studied for other inflammatory diseases.

6. Playing video games in moderation is actually good for you.

It improves your memory and multitasking abilities, can help those with dyslexia, increases coordination, and reduces stress.

7. There's a headache medication called sumatriptan that can actually turn some people's blood a striking shade of green.

While taking high doses, it causes something called sulfhemoglobinemia, which basically means there's sulfur in your hemoglobin. That's not exactly something to be grateful for. Don't scare green children.

8. People tend to avoid information that challenges their joy and perspective.

They surround themselves with things they agree with, basically creating their own reality. According to scientists at Carnegie Mellon University, people often avoid information that could end up being useful to them to make better choices if they think the information might be difficult to accept. It's not just those oblivious people; it's all of us to some degree.

9. Luna moths have no mouths.

Once they emerge from their cocoon, they have a seven-day lifespan during which they mate and then starve to death. And yes, it would be an amazing band name, but there's already a band called The Luna Moth.

10. Coffee is the most widely used performance-enhancing drug we know of.

It's also one of the most habit-forming. It's a stimulant like cocaine. When someone says they need some coffee or that they're grumpy before coffee in the morning, they're not joking. They might be having withdrawal side effects.

11. Tears you cry when you're sad actually contain a chemical that is a natural pain reliever.

Your body releases this chemical when you're under stress, so if you ever feel like you just want to sit and have a good cry, your body is trying to comfort itself.

12. Hot and cold water sound different while being poured.

It's actually noticeable to the human ear if you focus. Water changes viscosity, or its thickness, depending on temperature. Quick version: the colder the water, the higher the pitch. Though pouring something hot like, say, espresso will have a lower, deeper pitch.

13. There are animals and plants considered biologically immortal.

While they can die from injury or disease, they don't actually age, essentially in the sense of stalling and won't die from old age. Jellyfish and lobsters are two examples of this.

14. The smell that grass emits when it's cut is actually a distress signal.

You're essentially smelling the grass screaming in agony. But don't tell social media; we'll have a hashtag about it.

15. Velociraptors were only about the size of a turkey, not the 6 to 7-foot monsters we've come to know and love from that dinosaur franchise.

Those raptors were actually based on a dinosaur called Utahraptor. So, in that scene in the first movie with the kid talking about a giant turkey, real velociraptors weren't even monster turkeys.

16. Honey, when sealed, doesn't spoil or turn sour.

It's literally edible.