13. It’s no surprise that the most searched for word on the internet is “sex”. Around 372 million pages, or about 12%, of all web pages are pornographic. What is surprising is that 70% of all internet porn traffic occurs between 9 and 5 on workdays.
14. If you happen to stumble across a meteorite the next time you’re walking across the parking lot at the mall, you are required by the Nomenclature Committee of the Meteoritical Society, yes that one, to donate 20% or 20 ounces, whichever is smaller, to a laboratory for research. You can keep the rest for whatever you like. No word on how they enforce it or if there is a police force for the Committee. Unless you live in South Africa where you must turn it over to authorities. Meteorites fall under the National Heritage Law which protects antiquities as the cultural property of their country of origin. That’s right, they are holding the meteorites in case the original owner shows up to claim it.
15. Looking for the best recovery drink after exercise? A study showed that cyclists who drank chocolate milk after riding to failure were able to ride next time 50% longer than cyclists who drank Gatorade or Endurox.
16. Looking for some proof in the Theory of Evolution? In London, researchers in 1988 found a new species of mosquito in the London Underground. No, not the employees, an actual species that are an evolutionary offshoot of an above ground type that feed on birds. Now it feeds on what is available: rats, mice, and people. There are even different DNA variations from Underground line to line.
17. Here are some frightening statistics about obesity: 30% of America is overweight. 3.8 million Americans weigh over 300 pounds. 400,000 Americans, mostly men, weigh 400 pounds or more. Over 280,000 kids aged 1 to 6 are too fat to use child safety seats. A 2003 study in New York City showed the 21% of all elementary students, no matter what income bracket, were obese. It’s not just American though. Obesity in China has doubled since 1992. 20% of the UK is overweight.
18. In 1964, San Diego high school student Randy Gardner, supervised by Stanford University scientists, stayed awake for 264 hours and 12 minutes or a little more than 11 days. Despite worries that sleep deprivation of that length would cause serious mental damage, Randy slept for 15 hours and then returned to his normal sleep patterns with no ill effects.
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