Science is a subject most schools require students to take until they graduate. Even university programs typically require one to two levels of science credits to get a non-science related degree. Even with all this required schooling, many people leave school and university without learning these bizarre facts about science you should know.
Hibernation Doesn’t Mean What You May Think
When many people think of hibernation, they imagine an animal eats a bunch of food and then proceeds to sleep for months at a time in one long stretch. While some animals do something close to this, this isn’t what hibernation really means.
Hibernation is a state in which an animal’s heart rate slows down to save energy when the weather gets cold. This means they don’t require as much food to survive. Many animals move less during hibernation while others sleep for weeks at a time. But some hibernating animals don’t sleep more than they regularly do.
There’s a Reason You Can’t Plug Things in With Wet Hands
It’s common sense that electricity and water should not mix. Many parents teach their kids not to plug things in when their hands are wet because they might experience an electric shock. The reason for this shock isn’t the water at all—distilled and pure water contains no ions, and it doesn’t conduct electricity. The presence of ions is how electricity conducts through liquids, thus creating an electric shock or electrocution effect.
Babies Are Born With More Bones Than Adults—but Are Missing a Crucial One
While most people know babies are born with a “soft spot” on the top of their head, many aren’t aware that babies are born with nearly 100 more bones than an adult human has. The extra bones are designed to help them pass through the birth canal, and as they grow into toddlers, the bones rapidly fuse into around 206 bones, the average amount of bones for an adult. However, babies are born without kneecaps, and they form later on in the child’s development.
There are even more bizarre facts about science you should know that school didn’t teach you. Keep your eyes open and do research to learn more.
