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Page 1128 - Top Facts

Antarctica has one native insect.


It’s called Belgica antarctica and is a species of flightless midge, native to the great icy landmass. Impressively, even though it is only 2-6 millimeters long, it is the largest terrestrial animal on the continent, and of course its only insect. All other animals on Antarctica spend at least part of the time in water. 

The insect is flightless so that the wind doesn’t blow it into inhospitable areas. It is designed in such a way that is body fluids can freeze without it dying, and its life span is only two years. Luckily, it only takes two growing seasons for the insect to be able to reproduce, so it manages okay.

It survives by absorbing heat, and can go without oxygen for 2-4 weeks. it can even survive dehydration up to 35% of its normal body weight. These are all understandable traits though, because survival is pretty tough for an insect down there. 

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Mark Twain invented the bra strap!


He was born Samuel Clemens, but we know him by his pen name, Mark Twain. He’s famous for his novels The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Twain was very accomplished in fields other than writing, too. For one, he was a talented inventor.

Twain invented and patented several things, including a scrapbooking technique. It was his love of the ladies that led to his most lasting invention. He designed the bra strap clasp. It’s an elastic strap with a clasp that holds loose garments together, such as vests, pantaloons, or other garments. He meant for the straps to be detachable, and usable on various pieces of clothing. 

Twain said, “The advantages of such an adjustable and detachable elastic strap are so obvious that they need no explanation.” So, there you have it. Thank you, Mark Twain for such a helpful invention that is so practical it needs no explanation. 

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There's an octopus that can kill you in one bite - there is no anti-venom.


It's called the blue-ringed octopus, and it lives in tide pools and coral reefs in the Pacific and Indian Oceans as well as around Japan and Australia. It is recognized as one of the world’s most venomous marine animals. 

Though it is generally docile, and hunts only small crabs, hermit crabs, and shrimp, it may bite attackers if provoked. It carries enough venom to kill 26 people within minutes, and still no anti-venom exists. The venom contains tetrodotoxin, which is 10,000 times more toxic than cyanide.

Tetrodotoxin blocks sodium channels, causing motor paralysis and respiratory arrest. First aid treatment exists, however. Put simply, it is placing pressure on the wound and utilizing artificial respiration. A bag valve mask or medical ventilator can be sufficient to keep the victim alive until the venom is neutralized by the body. People who can live through the first 24 hours generally recover completely. 

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A lion, a tiger, and a bear live together in a house…Oh My!


We all know the saying, but who knew the three animals, a lion, tiger, and bear could actually cohabitate in peace. About eight years ago they were all cubs and they were rescued during a police drug raid in Atlanta, Georgia. Yes, drug barons had the three cubs as exotic pets. I’m not sure if it was legally or not. Hey, they’re drug barons, so what would they care about legalities? 

Anyways, once they were rescued, they were sent to Noah’s Ark animal rescue center in Locust Grove, Georgia. The center decided to keep the three exotic animals. Today, Baloo the bear weighs a staggering 1,000 pounds. 

Leo the lion and Shere Khan the tiger both weigh 350 pounds. They have pretty epic names and are very close knit. They live together in a wooden cabin made just for them and play very well together. They seem to be as tame as a bear, a tiger, and a lion could be expected to be. Their handlers are able to pet them and play with them some even. 

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Oranges are green, not orange when grown in a tropical climate!


An orange is not a naturally occurring fruit , but rather a crossbreed of the tangerine and the pomelo, which is a fruit also known as the Chinese grapefruit. The first oranges were created in southeast Asia, where they would have been green, rather than orange.

The reason why oranges are green in a tropical climate is because the weather rarely gets cold. Because of the lack of cool weather, the chlorophyll remains in the skin of the orange, keeping it green. When an orange is exposed to cool weather while still on the branch it turns to orange. And orange that is left on the tree can change between green and orange several times depending on the weather.

This change of colors also means it’s impossible to tell if an orange is ripe. Fortunately for us, you don’t have to pay attention to if an orange is ripe. It remains ripe for a long time, even if left on the branch until the next season. The reason all of our oranges are orange in the store is because oranges are generally grown in subtropical areas, which means that they are exposed to cold weather. Oranges were able to give their name to the color because, most oranges are actually orange and not green.

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