23 Surprising Facts About Everyday Life To Boost Your GK
Ever wondered how much of the extraordinary hides in the ordinary? The world around us is full of curious details, mind-boggling facts, and fascinating things that most of us overlook in our daily hustle. Did you know that your heart creates enough pressure to squirt blood 30 feet away, or that honey never spoils and can outlast civilizations?
These essential facts aren’t just trivia—they reveal how remarkable and inspirational our everyday life truly is. From the mysteries of nature to the quirks of human ingenuity, these are 23 surprising facts about everyday life that will leave you shocked and curious about the world around you.
Let’s have a look at some of the most interesting facts about life.
1. You Blink A Lot Throughout The Day
On average, humans blink 15-20 times per minute. This equals to about 28,000 times daily, which amounts to over 5 million blinks a year. Mind blown! Blinking of the eyes plays a crucial role and is helpful in keeping your eyes moist and clear of debris.
It’s a natural process that constantly occurs throughout the day subconsciously. Your eyes are working hard even when you don’t realize it.
2. Chewing Gum Can Improve Concentration
Research suggests chewing gum increases alertness and improves memory recall. As it turns out, chewing gum increases the blood flow to the brain which improves attention and increases awareness.
It is also effective in improving short term memory and reducing stress. We bet you didn’t know that chewing gum could make you smarter! And to think there are some weird laws that ban this memory enhancer in Singapore.
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3. Your Nose Can Detect Over 1 Trillion Smells
Smelling is one of our primary senses, capable of detecting an incredible amount of smells with precision. It is like a super sensor that can identify more than 1 trillion different scents. There are many studies to back this fascinating fact showing just how intriguing the human body is.
It’s only when you come across such crazy facts about life is when you realize just how powerful the human body really is.
4. You Can Concentrate Better With Closed Eyes
Here’s a random fun fact you probably didn’t know. Have you found yourself closing your eyes to think better? Well, it turns out that it’s not a coincidence that this works every time. Studies suggest that closing eyes can help increase concentration. When you close your eyes, a few things happen:
- You avoid distractions
- You free your brainpower
- Your mind is calmer
When you close your eyes, your concentration is more focused on processing internal information than external distractions. This is the same reason why people often close their eyes while meditating.
5. Humans Dream A lot
Most of us dream every night. Statistics show that we have around 3-6 dreams that last for 5-20 minutes on average every night. That means on average, humans spend about two hours dreaming each night. These might seem like exaggerated numbers but they are just universal facts of life.
Over a lifetime, this adds up to roughly six years spent in dreamy land in a lifetime. This is about a 12th of our lives or a month out of every year. Such surprising information really makes one wonder about time differently.
Want to learn more about dreams? Check out our article on why we forget our dreams.
6. 10% People In The World Are Left-handed
Did you know that roughly 1 in 10 people are left-handed? Left-handers often face unique challenges in a right-handed world but are often known for their creativity and adaptability. In fact, there are many famous artists that belong in this unique group like Leonardo Da Vinci.
Yep, to think he painted the famous Mona Lisa with his left hand might be unbelievable for all the right handers. However, there are many things that only left-handers can do, a trait that has intrigued scientists for centuries
7. High Heels Were Originally Men’s Shoes
High heels, every girl’s go-to fashion accessory, were originally made for men! Yep, you read it right. High heels were first worn by Persian soldiers in the 10th century to secure their feet in stirrups. This not only provided them with a better grip, but also allowed them to shoot their arrow more effectively.
Later, European men adopted them as a symbol of power and status. It was not until the 18th century that women started wearing them as a fashion statement.
Who would have thought that men could sport high heels as well? These facts about everyday life are truly here to change your perspective about everyday things.
8. Pen Caps Can Prevent You From Choking
Now, let’s get to some everyday facts you didn’t know. You may have noticed that the pen cap you keep chewing on has a tiny hole on the top of it. This life saving feature ensures that the airway isn’t completely blocked in case someone accidentally swallows the cap.
It was the legendary BIC Cristal pen who first incorporated this to their design. Although some theories suggest that BIC introduced this feature so that the ink dries out faster to sell more pens. Other theories also suggested that the hole helps in equalizing pressure while opening and closing the pen. But rest assured these were just theories, the real reason is to save lives!
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9. Trailers Used To Play After the Movie
I always make sure that I reach the movie theatres at least 15 minutes before so that I don’t miss out on the trailers. It’s my favorite part of the movie going experience. But I recently found that originally, these trailers used to play after the movie! The logic is simple when you think of it. These clips “trailed” the films—it’s given right there in the name.
However, many movie goers (like myself) didn’t stick around till the end. This made the movie makers move the trailers before the film started.
Fun Fact: The first trailer was released in 1912 and it was not for a movie. It was for a Broadway show.
10. You Cannot Swallow And Breathe Simultaneously
Did you know that you cannot swallow and breathe at the same time? For real, try it!
You see, swallowing temporarily stops breathing because both functions share the same passage of the throat—the pharynx.
When you swallow, a small flap called the epiglottis momentarily closes off your windpipe (trachea) to prevent food or liquid from entering your lungs. This mechanism ensures that swallowing and breathing are carefully coordinated, but it also means they can’t happen simultaneously.
Next time you discuss weird fun facts about life with your friends do share this smart trivia and make them try it out.
11. Our Brain Burns 400-500 Calories Everyday
Did you know that you are burning calories even when you are thinking? That’s right! Our brain constantly burns energy throughout different stages of the day.
When the body is at rest, it focuses on breathing, digesting and keeping itself warm. The brain uses 20-25% of the body’s energy to do this. This is around 350-450 calories per day. If your brain is more active, these numbers can significantly increase.
For instance, in 1984, the World Chess Championship was called off because the famous Russian player, Anatoly Karpov, had lost a lot of weight. He lost 22 lbs (10 kgs) in 5 months during which he played dozens of matches. Apparently, elite players burn up to 6,000 calories each day!
12. Socks Absorb Half Liter Of Sweat Everyday
Let me tell you something unbelievable but true—your feet are sweat machines! As strange as it may sound, our feet have 250,000 sweat glands and produce the maximum amount of sweat in the body. It can sometimes even produce up to half a liter everyday. These interesting facts about life and the human body really leaves me in awe of it every single time.
Socks truly are unsung heroes and you can learn more about socks facts here.
13. Human Hair Is Indestructible
Human hair is surprisingly strong and virtually indestructible. A single strand of hair can support a weight of approximately 100 grams (3.5 ounces) which is the average weight of an onion. That means when you consider the thousands of hairs on a human scalp, collectively, they could theoretically support the weight of two average-sized adults, around 12 tons of weight!
Additionally, hair decomposes so slowly that it can outlast almost everything except fire. It’s resistant to water, mold, and even some acids, making it one of nature’s most durable materials.
14. Your Money Is Really Dirty
Things related to your daily hygiene are basic facts that everyone should know. Would you believe it if we tell you that the money in your wallet is extremely filthy? Just think about—where has the money been and how many people and places it has touched before landing in your pocket?
Paper currency is a breeding ground for bacteria, with thousands of microbes living on every bill. In fact, research suggests that cash in your wallet may carry more germs than a household toilet seat. Facts about everyday life like these give you important information about your surroundings and help you stay hygienic.
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15. Chainsaws Were Invented For Childbirth
Chainsaws were first designed in the 18th century in Scotland to assist in symphysiotomies, a surgical procedure to widen the pelvis during childbirth. It was in the 20th century that people started using this device for woodchopping. It was only the size of a butter knife and was powered by a hand crank.
The entire process was obviously painful and very messy! Thankfully, medicine has evolved since then. If you enjoy such facts, have a look at some more daily knowledge facts that you can share with everyone.
16. Hot Water Freezes Faster Than Cold Water
You must have seen these videos on social media of people throwing hot water in the air in cold temperatures. The water almost instantly freezes! This is known as the Mpemba effect in which hot water freezes faster than cold under certain conditions.
The theory is named after Erasto B. Mpemba, a Tanzanian physics student. He noticed that ice cream made from warm milk froze faster than that made from cold milk. The exact reasons are still debated, but it’s a counterintuitive phenomenon that puzzles scientists.
17. Mosquitoes Are Attracted to CO₂
If you wondered why mosquitoes prefer biting you over the other person in the room, it turns out there is a simple reason. Your body emits more carbon dioxide. You see, mosquitoes are natural CO₂ detectors. They use the carbon dioxide you exhale to locate you, making you an irresistible target for their bites.
But don’t worry. You can simply apply lemon eucalyptus oil or use fans to disperse exhaled carbon dioxide. It’s great to have such useful facts up your sleeve as they definitely come in handy.
18. Most Dust in Your House Is Dead Skin
You wipe your table everyday, yet the next day there is an annoying layer of dust on the surface. That is most likely your dead skin. In fact, up to 70% of household dust is made up of dead skin cells.
According to studies, your body sheds around 200 million skin cells each hour! This is equivalent to around 5 billion skin cells each day. And since you are indoors, these skin cells end up contributing to the dust bunnies lurking under your furniture.
19. You Share 60% of Your DNA with Bananas
You know every now and then you come across facts that make you think about life? This is one of them. As absurd as it may sound but humans do indeed share 60% of their DNAs with bananas!
Around 3.5 billion years ago, our Earth evolved from a single-celled organism. Today, most plants and animals share the same “housekeeping” genes that are required by all for basic cellular functions.
While this doesn’t mean we’re closely related, it highlights the shared genetic building blocks of all life on Earth. Similarly, we share 44% DNA with fruit flies and 98.8% DNA with chimpanzees. This secret fact about life can be an instant hit topic of conversation in your biology class.
20. Broccoli Is Man-made
Did you know that Broccoli is man made? Broccoli didn’t grow naturally—it’s a result of careful cultivation by humans from the wild cabbage plant. This process, known as selective breeding, involves choosing specific plants with desirable traits, such as taste, size, and hardiness, and cultivating them over generations to produce a new, improved crop.
Sounds unbelievable right? There are many more man-made fruits and vegetables that you probably didn’t know about.
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21. Human Brain Can Store 2.5 Million Gigabytes
The human brain’s storage capacity is estimated to be an astounding 2.5 million gigabytes, equivalent to 3 million hours of TV shows, 4.7 billion books or 670 million web pages. This incredible capacity comes from the brain’s roughly 86 billion neurons, each capable of forming thousands of connections with other neurons.
These connections store information in a complex network, making our brain far more efficient than any computer. While we may not consciously access all this “data,” the brain can retain and process vast amounts of information.
22. There Is A Family Photo On The Moon
The moon is truly mysterious and what lies there is all the more fascinating. Would you believe me if I told you that there is a family photo on the moon? During the Apollo 16 mission, in 1972, astronaut Charles Duke left a photo of his family on the lunar surface as a personal memento. The note read, “This is the family of Astronaut Duke from planet Earth. Landed on the Moon, April 1972.”
This photo is amongst many things that astronauts have left on the moon.
23. Heartbeats Synchronize In Love
Everyone loves love, right? And what’s better than facts related to love for people who love love. Did you know that when two people are deeply in love, their heart rates can sync when they gaze into each other’s eyes?
Studies have shown that heart rate synchronization is a sign of attraction and a true connection between two partners. This happens due to an emotional bond they share, facilitated by the release of oxytocin, the “love hormone.” Such deep facts about life and love truly bring you closer to your partner.
The world is full of facts about everyday life and fascinating details that often go unnoticed. From the quirky biology facts to the unexpected things about life you should know, these surprising facts remind us how extraordinary the ordinary can be.
These real-life facts challenge our understanding, spark curiosity, and often leave us in awe of the world around us. So the next time you blink, sneeze, or even put on a pair of socks, remember—there’s always more than meets the eye.
Do you know any fun facts about life? Tell me a fun-fact in the comments below.
