Fascinating facts from National Geographic

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Half a year ago, I’ve made a post on the mind-blowing facts from the National Geographic. Now, looking back, I could only draw one conclusion: organisms on this earth have gotten a lot weirder. It’s almost like looking at your former self in the yearbook, thinking why you acted the way you did. The most unfortunate part is that these organisms are unable to be here today and share their thoughts with us, so I’ll have to speak on their behalf in this post – hopefully I won’t bring about any misconceptions. Enjoy! Facts courtesy of the National Geographic.

Strength and Agility

  • A giraffe can grow to a height of nearly six metres, run at almost 60 kilometres per hour and kill someone with one kick of its hoof.
“Awww… look at how adorable I am! But mate, if you don’t comply to my orders, you’ll be the one to pay!” Giraffes are such vicious animals…… But seriously! Death by the kick of one hoof?
  • A swordfish can swim about as fast as a cheetah can run.
The scene in the movie “Get Smart” where a blue swordfish decoration pierced through a car window and almost went through the chief’s head. A prime example of their undeniable speed. And sharp senses.
  • Human thigh-bones are stronger than concrete.
A real comforting fact there – stripped me of my enjoyment of life.

Height/Length

  • A newborn kangaroo is about as long as a paper clip.
“What are you looking at? I hit a growth spurt is all; no need to accuse me for the disappearance of your hamburgers and chips.”
  • There are hundred-foot-tall (30 m) sand dunes in Alaska.
Okay so, where do igloos live again?
  • A giant squid’s eyeball can be as big as a human head.
“I’m watching you…”

Mass and Obesity

  • The Earth weighs about 6,600,000,000,000,000,000,000 metric tons (1 metric ton = 2,204.6 pounds).
“I’ve got to start cutting down on the garbage consumption…”
  • A hurricane weighs as much as 160 million rhinos.
That greedy little brat…
  • A sea turtle can weigh as much as a water buffalo.

Sound and Hearing

  • A lion’s roar can reach over 100 decibels – about as loud as a train horn or a plane’s engine at take off from about 300 metres away – and can be heard over eight kilometres away.
“Joy to the world…”
  • Some people can hear their eyeballs moving.
“Everyday I’m shufflin’…”
  • Mudpuppies spend their entire lives underwater and are distinguished as the only salamanders that make sound—a dog-like barking.
“Meow…?”
  • Some butterflies have ears on their wings.
  • There is no sound in space.
Hello…? Anyone…?

Sight and Seeing… or not?

  • When you see lightning, it’s traveling at about 227 million miles an hour (365 million km).
  • About 95 percent of the stuff in the universe is invisible.
Mr. Potter…! Get out from under that invisibility cloth right now!

Weird Behaviors

  • Horses run on their toes.
“Shh! We must advance quietly on our tip toes here.”
  • Some pigs are afraid of mud.
“It’s okay. I have my rain boots. I can survive in this mess.”
  • Some spiders catch and eat fish.
Fishing: you’re doing it right.
  • Palm trees grew at the North Pole about 55 million years ago.
“But then Santa cut us down for timber.”
  • Bat hair has been used as money.
So here’s $100 for you…

Miscellaneous

  • There are more species of beetles on Earth than of any other creature.
“World domination, guys. Not get-trapped-in-a-display-case.”
  •  A rattlesnake’s rattle is made of the same material as your fingernails.
  • More than 99 percent of the species that have ever existed are now extinct.