New things to know about the world

There's always something new to learn about the world! Here are some fascinating facts and discoveries that you might not know about:

  1. There's a species of jellyfish that's immortal: The Turritopsis dohrnii, also known as the "immortal jellyfish," is a type of jellyfish that can transform its body into a younger state through a process called transdifferentiation. This means it can essentially revert back to its polyp stage and start its life cycle all over again.
  2. The world's largest living organism is a fungus: The Armillaria ostoyae fungus covers over 2,200 acres in Oregon, USA, and is estimated to be around 2,400 years old. It's considered a single living organism because it's all connected by a vast network of fungal hyphae.
  3. There's a lake in Africa that's so alkaline it can turn animals into statues: Lake Natron in Tanzania has a pH level of around 10.5, making it one of the most alkaline bodies of water on Earth. The high pH level is due to the presence of sodium carbonate and other minerals, which can preserve the bodies of animals that die in the lake, giving them a statue-like appearance.
  4. The shortest war in history was between Britain and Zanzibar on August 27, 1896: Zanzibar surrendered after just 38 minutes, making it the shortest war in recorded history.
  5. There's a type of rock that can float: Pumice rock is a type of volcanic rock that's created when lava is quickly cooled and solidified. Due to its low density, pumice rock can actually float on water.
  6. The world's largest waterfall, by volume of water, is actually located underwater: The Denmark Strait Cataract, which is located between Iceland and Greenland, is a submarine waterfall that flows down a slope in the ocean floor. It's estimated to be around 100 times larger than the famous Victoria Falls in Africa.
  7. There's a species of ant that can turn itself into a "zombie": The fungus Ophiocordyceps unilateralis infects ants and takes control of their bodies, causing them to climb to high locations and bite onto a leaf before producing spores that can infect other ants.
  8. The world's largest snowflake was 15 inches wide and 8 inches thick: On January 28, 1887, a snowflake was recorded in Montana that was an astonishing 15 inches wide and 8 inches thick. It's considered the largest snowflake ever recorded.
  9. There's a type of tree that can live for over 5,000 years: The bristlecone pine tree is known for its remarkable longevity, with some trees estimated to be over 5,000 years old. One tree, called "Methuselah," is estimated to be around 4,855 years old.
  10. The world's largest snowman was over 113 feet tall: In 1999, a team of artists in Bethel, Maine, built a snowman that stood at an incredible 113 feet 7 inches tall. It was made from over 4,000 blocks of snow and took over 10 days to build.

These are just a few examples of the many fascinating and little-known facts about the world. There's always more to learn and discover!