10 Random facts that may come in handy in life

Reading interesting facts is not only fun, but also useful.  These little bits of information don’t just take up valuable space in our heads—they develop critical thinking, impress others, or distract us from negative thoughts.

1. Sarcasm boosts creativity

Perhaps sarcasm is not the most endearing habit and an attractive quality.  If you have a penchant for a sarcastic sense of humor, chances are you've been advised at least once to slow down.  But fans of the sarcastic tone can rejoice: studies have shown that sarcasm improves creativity.

And not only the author of the joke, but also its addressee.  The fact is that a mocking remark involves making connections between opposing ideas, and its interpretation requires the brain to reason beyond the literal.

2. The probability of a coin falling on an obverse is not 50/50

When you flip a coin, it is physics, not probability, that determines how it lands.  The American mathematician Percy Diaconis found that the probability of a coin landing on its face during a toss is much higher.  The way it landed is not accidental!

With a little practice, the coin toss can be easily manipulated to land the way you want it to.  What's more, if you spin the coin, it's more likely to come up tails, since heads weigh a little more.

3. There is an equation to determine how far the horizon is

"Horizon" is something distant and almost abstract.  But it may be closer than you think.  There is an equation that helps calculate the distance to the horizon (if you know how high above sea level you are).

For example, if your height is 182 centimeters, you are standing at sea level, and your eyes are at a height of about 167 centimeters from the earth's surface, then the horizon is about 5 kilometers from you.

4. If a crocodile ever attacks you, stick your thumb in its eye.

Of course, easier said than done.  But wildlife experts agree that this is the best way to escape in the event of a crocodile attack.  It's the same with the alligator.  The eyes are the most sensitive part of the reptile's body.  Ideally, when they are poked, the animal should loosen its jaws.

5. The shortest sentence in English is "Go"

Yes, just two letters - a grammatically correct English sentence.  But it is considered as such only if it is a command in the imperative mood.  She orders the listener to go.  If you prefer a sentence with a single word as the subject, then the shortest one will already consist of three letters.  And this is "I am".

6. "Mig" is a real unit of time

Did you ever say you'd be back in the blink of an eye?  You definitely lied.  And although instant is meant as a "short period of time", in fact it is a scientific term.

In the world of physics, a moment is the time it takes light to travel a distance of one centimeter (about 33.4 picoseconds) in a vacuum.  Meanwhile, a picosecond is one trillionth of a second.

7. Money is not made of paper

It turns out that saying "paper money" is not quite right!  According to the US Bureau of Engraving and Printing, the money is 75% cotton and 25% linen, which "gives it a distinctive look."

The composition of Russian banknotes is somewhat different.

8. Orange is the worst color for an interview.

According to a Career Builder survey, orange makes the worst first impression in an interview.  25% of respondents said that this bright color makes candidates look unprofessional.  The best color you can wear to a meeting with a potential employer is blue.

9. At some point you were the youngest person on Earth

At the time of your birth, you were the youngest person in the world, albeit not for long.  Pretty cool, right?

10. Your chances of living to 116 are very slim.

And again talking about age, but on the other hand: only one person out of 2 billion lives to be 116 years old.  If you want to be one of these people, you need to follow the advice and recommendations of centenarians.