Top 5 Amazing Random Facts

Amazing Random Facts

1.Virgin births are not a myth
In some species, a female’s egg cell can develop into an embryo without being fertilised. This
form of asexual reproduction is called parthenogenesis (Greek for ‘virgin birth’) and
occurs in many plants and insects, as well as certain fi sh and reptiles, including Komodo
dragons and hammerhead sharks. Some species reproduce exclusively through parthenogenesis,
while others use it as a back-up option when there are no males. In most species,
parthenogenesis produces offspring with two identical sets of chromosomes, making them
half-clones of their mother.

2. A candle flame is full of diamonds

Within a candle’s fl ickering fl ame, hydrocarbon molecules are converted into carbon dioxide. During this process, the carbon briefl y takes the form of diamond nanoparticles. A whopping 1.5
million of these minuscule gems are created every second, but are burnt up almost instantly. Although harvesting these diamonds would be impossible, this recent discovery could lead to new methods for producing cheap jewels. Alongside diamonds, researchers were
surprised to fi nd the three other forms of carbon (fullerenic particles, graphitic
and amorphous carbon) in the flame.

3.Light can make some people sneeze
In about a quarter of people, sudden exposure to bright light can bring on a sneezing fi t known as the photic sneeze refl ex. Normal sneezes happen when something irritates the nose lining. This
stimulates the trigeminal nerve and the body expels the irritant with a sneeze. The nearby optic nerve, meanwhile, alerts the brain to changes in light levels, to which it responds by constricting
or enlarging the pupils. In photic sneezers, a fl ood of light creates electric signals in the optic nerve sensed by the trigeminal nerve, triggering a sneeze.

4.Straight hair has more knots than curly
After counting the tangles on hair salon customers’ heads, mathematicians found that straight-haired people averaged over five knots, while curly-haired customers had only three. Mathematical models of tangling suggest that although curly hairs brush against each other more often, the angle at which
straight hairs meet makes them more likely to become entwined.

5.Pistol shrimp snap their claws louder than Concorde
The diminutive pistol shrimp can snap one of its claws so hard that it tears water apart, creating a
high-pressure bubble of gas called a cavitation bubble. As it collapses, the bubble creates a
deafening pop as loud as 218 decibels, lasting for just one millisecond. Just before it bursts, the
temperature inside the bubble soars to 4,700 degrees Celsius (8,500 degrees Fahrenheit),
creating an intense fl ash of light (see diagram below). The shrimp uses this trick to stun prey.