Only 12,000 years ago there was a species closely related to modern humans called Homo floresiensis that had been living on an Indonesian Island. They used fire and rather advanced tools, yet were only about 3 feet tall and weighed around 25kg.
15
It takes a photon 170,000 years to travel from the core of the Sun to the surface, but only 8 minutes to travel the rest of the way to Earth.
6
Termites are being researched as a possible renewable energy source as they can produce up to 2 litres of hydrogen from ingesting a single sheet of paper, making them one of the planet’s most efficient bioreactors.
24
The use of emoticons affects our corresponding brain areas and can actually trigger emotions.
21
There are more atoms in one teaspoon of water than there are teaspoons of water in the Atlantic Ocean.
13
Sound travels about 4 times faster in water than in air.
408
There is a surgical implant being developed that will give you an orgasm at the touch of a button.
20