10 Useless Facts You Will Love
Have you always wondered why the Filet-O-Fish was invented, or what was the first sweet consumed in Space?
Yeah, I thought not, but I’m going to tell you anyway. I’ve delved deep into the internet to uncover some pretty useless yet interesting facts you will want to know.
If you’re looking for the perfect article to waste some time, check out the following ten useless facts you won’t regret reading.
1. M&Ms Were the First Sweets Eaten in Space
M&Ms have become many people’s chocolate of choice since they hit the market in the 1940s.
While they were originally created for the US military, the general public fell in love with them in 1945.
The plain chocolates became so popular that the first space shuttle astronauts chose M&Ms for their mission’s food supply. As a result, it became the first sweet to be consumed in space.
2. The Monopoly Man Doesn’t Wear a Monocle
It might blow your mind to learn that, contrary to popular belief, the Monopoly Man doesn’t wear a monocle.
Over the years, many people have come to believe he has a monocle and even a cane, but it’s a myth.
The early and modern versions of the game have never featured him with the accessories.
The only exception is in rare international versions of the board game, as he appears to wear a monocle on the $2 bill in the 1996 Monopoly Junior European edition.
If you thought he did wear a monocle, you’ve experienced the Mandala effect, which is a phenomenon that happens when many people experience the same false memory.
It is called the Mandela effect after the late, great Nelson Mandela. After he passed away in 2013, many people commented that they thought he’d died in prison decades earlier and even remembered watching TV clips of his funeral.
3. McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish Was Created for Catholics
The McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish was added to the menu in 1962 to cater to Catholics who abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent.
Lou Groen, who owned a Cincinnati franchise, noticed a drop in sales because the restaurant was located in a Roman Catholic neighbourhood.
For this reason, he created the classic fish sandwich and convinced McDonald’s to add it to the menu.
However, the McDonald’s executives were initially unconvinced it was the right move, especially as it required a different cooking process.
For example, Ray Kroc, the founder of McDonald’s, believed the Hula Burger, which featured a slice of grilled pineapple and cheese on a bun, would be a better choice.
Kroc even made a deal with Groen to sell the Filet-O-Fish and Hula Burger on the same Friday, and the sandwich with the best sales would be permanently added to the menu.
He even made a bet with Fred Turner, his first grillman, that the loser would buy the winner a brand-new suit.
Needless to say, the Filet-O-Fish was a hit with customers, selling 350 sandwiches on its first day, while only six customers bought the Hula Burger.
4. Part of the Galaxy Tastes Like Raspberries and Smells Like Rum
In 2009, a team of international astronomers discovered two complex molecules in interstellar dust: n-propyl cyanide and ethyl formate.
Surprisingly, they realised that ethyl formate is known for providing the distinctive flavour of raspberries but has a faint rum scent.
It would, of course, be toxic to consume, as the cyanide compound, also called butryonitrile, is deadly.
5. A Chicken Survived 18 Months Without a Head
On September 10, 1945, farmer Lloyd Olsen from Fruita, Colorado, attempted to slaughter a Wyandotte rooster, but the axe missed the jugular vein, an ear, and the majority of the brain stem.
As a result, the rooster was able to breathe, balance, and digest food. As a result, the rooster became known as Mike the Headless Chicken and survived for 18 months.
To keep Mike the Headless Chicken alive, Farmer Olsen used an eyedropper to feed him a mix of water and milk and would often clear any mucus from his throat.
Mike the Headless Chicken quickly found fame and toured the US as a sideshow attraction until his death in 1947. He sadly passed away after choking on food, as the owners were unable to clear Mike’s throat using an eyedropper.
6. Levi’s Recommends Wearing Its Jeans 10 Times Between Washes
Are you unsure how often you should wear your jeans? If so, Levi’s recommends wearing its jeans ten times before washing.
According to the iconic denim brand, over-washing jeans can destroy the jeans’ distinctive characteristics, as it can lead to fading and creasing.
The only exception is if you believe they are dirty or have developed a smell. Levi’s recommends grabbing mild soap and a damp cloth to spot clean any stains.
7. Pikachu Doesn’t Have a Black Streak on Its Tail
Remember the Mandela Effect I mentioned about earlier? Well, I’m about to blow your mind again, because Pikachu doesn’t have a black streak or tip at the end of his tail.
It will likely surprise many Pokémon fans, but Pikachu’s tail has been yellow in the official games, films, and TV shows throughout the years.
However, it does feature a tiny brown fur patch at the base of the tail connecting to the body.
The misconception is thought to be due to the pre-evolution of Pikachu, as Pichu had a full black tail and Raichu had dark markings. For this reason, avid fans may have muddled the designs.
Also, Pikachu’s dark tips on its ears may have led people to subconsciously believe it has a dark tip on the tail.
8. The Sahara Desert Turns Green Every 21,000 Years
Researchers discovered that the Sahara Desert turns green every 21,000 years over the past 800,000 years.
While it is well-known for being dry and barren, the world’s largest desert will experience wet periods that will lead to this remarkable transformation.
The environmental change will fill the Sahara Desert with plants, rivers, and lakes, causing a large savannah and woodland ecosystem.
It is, without question, one of the most interesting environmental changes on Earth.
The moist period is caused by Earth wobbling on its axis, which alters the amount of energy it receives throughout the seasons.
The northern hemisphere’s orbital precession will lead to hotter summers, triggering the North African Humid Period, causing stronger downpours of rain and monsoons across the Sahara.
The Ice Age is the only time when the 21,000-year cycle didn’t happen, as the cooler atmosphere prevented monsoons.
9. Mars Isn’t Round
If you’ve thought your whole life that Mars was round, I’m sorry to inform you that you are mistaken.
It might appear to be a sphere on NASA images, but scientists found it’s a triaxial ellipsoid. This means the planet is shaped like a rugby ball, but it has different sizes along its three axes.
If you’re an astrophysicist, you might know it has a prominent bulge in elevation along the Tharsis Rise region. It also has a near diametrically opposite region, known as the Syrtis Major.
While more research is needed into its shape, US Naval Observatory astronomer Dr. Michael Efroimsky believes the unusual shape might be due to Mars missing the ancient moon, Nerio.
It’s thought Nerio created tidal forces on Mars that produced its shape, like how the moon impacts Earth’s oceans. However, the cooling of Mars led to the freezing of the distorted shape.
10. Mickey and Minnie Mouse’s Voice Actors Were Married
While Walt Disney was the primary voice for Mickey Mouse from 1928 to 1946, seven other voice actors have since taken on the iconic role.
However, what you might not realise is that Wayne Allwine, who debuted as the third voice actor for Mickey Mouse from 1977, was married to the Minnie Mouse voice actor, Russi Taylor.
The voice actors were both in unhappy marriages when they first met, and romance blossomed after the relationships ended.
The couple reportedly kept their romance a secret for a decade before walking down the aisle in Hawaii in 1991.
Bill Farmer, the voice of Goofy, once said, “They were just so in love and so wonderful together. I think that love came through in their performances and gave it a little something extra.”
Wayne Allwine holds the record for the longest-running voice actor for Mickey Mouse, as he lent his vocals to the character until his death in 2009. Russi Taylor lent her voice to Minnie for 33 years from 1986 to 2019.
The happy couple were both named Disney Legends in 2008, a year before Allwine’s death.
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