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FACT-OF-THE-DAY ARCHIVE
"Our life is what our thoughts make it."
- Marcus Aurelius

DEC 2021


Previous Archives

DATE FACT OF THE DAY
12/1/21      Rome has a sovereign state located entirely in its city limits, the Vatican City, which is also the world’s smallest state. Provided by FactRetriever.com
12/2/21      Scientists believe global warming could affect autumn colors. As the world warms, leaves may delay changing their colors. Additionally, trees may not use their sugars to create red pigments; rather, they might send that fuel to growing new twigs. Global warming may also alter the habitats of trees, such as the sugar maple, which creates some of the most vibrant fall colors. Provided by FactRetriever.com
12/3/21      Before Maine became the 23rd state in 1820, it was a part of Massachusetts. Provided by FactRetriever.com
12/4/21      While they are hibernating, bears do not urinate. Their bodies convert waste into protein. Provided by FactRetriever.com
12/5/21      A bristlecone pine tree nicknamed Methuselah is believed to be the oldest tree in the world. Its exact location is kept a secret to protect it from vandals and tourists. Provided by FactRetriever.com
12/6/21      A precursor to Hyperloop travel was tried in the 1870s in New York City. Beach Pneumatic Transit briefly allowed people to travel a short distance in Manhattan in underground, pneumatic passenger capsules. Provided by FactRetriever.com
12/7/21      Philosophical Transactions is the world’s first and longest-running scientific journal. It was launched in March 1665 by Henry Oldenburg (c.1619-1677), the Society’s first Secretary, who acted as publisher and editor. Provided by The Royal Society Publishing
12/8/21      Sheep are actually surprisingly intelligent, with impressive memory and recognition skills. They build friendships, stick up for one another in fights, and feel sad when their friends are sent to slaughter. They are also one of the most destructive creatures on the planet. Provided by BBC News
12/9/21      Hawaii's Kilauea volcano is one of the world's longest erupting volcanos. It has been erupting since January 3, 1983. The word "Kilauea" means "much spreading" or "spewing" in Hawaiian.
12/10/21      A tiger's paw print is called a "pug mark." Provided by FactRetriever.com
12/11/21      A small monarch caterpillar can eat one large milkweed leaf in less than 5 minutes. Provided by FactRetriever.com
12/12/21      The Australian pelican has the longest bill of any bird in the world. It is nearly 2 feet (0.5 m) in length. The sword-billed hummingbird, with its 3.9-inch (10 cm) bill, is the only bird with a bill that’s longer than its body. Provided by FactRetriever.com
12/13/21      The country with the largest number of WWII causalities was Russia, with over 21 million. Provided by FactRetriever.com
12/14/21      A new person is added to the United States national transplant waiting list every 10 minutes—that's 144 people per day. Provided by FactRetriever.com
12/15/21      The fork gain popularity in Italy before any other European country because it allowed Italians to better spear and twirl their beloved spaghetti. Provided by FactRetriever.com
12/16/21      Abraham Lincoln is the only president to receive a patent (# 6469). He was the first president to have a beard, at the request from a little girl named Gracie Bedell. The first child to die in the White House was Abraham Lincoln’s 12-year old son, Willie. Provided by FactRetriever.com
12/17/21      Stan is an ancient Persian word meaning “land” or “nation,” and Kazakh means “wanderer,” “adventurer,” or “outlaw.” Therefore, the name Kazakhstan translates as “Land of the Wanderers.” Provided by FactRetriever.com
12/18/21      In the Philippine island province of Camiguin, there are more volcanoes (7) than towns (5). There hasn’t been an eruption since the mid-1950s, but the island has the most number of volcanoes per square kilometer in the world. Provided by FactRetriever.com
12/19/21      The first recorded child born in Antarctica was Emile Marco Palma in January 1979. Argentina sent Palma's pregnant mother there in an effort to claim a portion of the Antarctic. Provided by FactRetriever.com
12/20/21     
12/21/21      Found only in the Chinese province of Yunnan, the black snub-nosed monkey lives at the higest altitudes, near 15,000 feet (4,572 m) of any primate. Provided by FactRetriever.com
12/22/21      While it seems counterintuitive, Earth is actually closest to the sun in December, even though winter solstice is the shortest day of the year. Provided by FactRetriever.com
12/23/21      Before Maine became the 23rd state in 1820, it was a part of Massachusetts. Provided by FactRetriever.com
12/24/21      Christmas trees have been sold in the U.S. since 1850. Provided by FactRetriever.com
12/25/21      Each year there are approximately 20,000 “rent-a-Santas” across the United States. “Rent-a-Santas” usually undergo seasonal training on how to maintain a jolly attitude under pressure from the public. They also receive practical advice, such as not accepting money from parents while children are looking and avoiding garlic, onions, or beans for lunch. Provided by FactRetriever.com
12/26/21      In order to ship the Statue of Liberty from France to the United States, she was separated into 350 different pieces and rebuilt over four months after arriving in the states. Provided by FactRetriever.com
12/27/21      The cherry tree was first introduced to Rome, and then to Europe, from Giresun in northern Turkey in 69 B.C. It is thought to be one of the earliest domesticated plants, around 10,000 years ago. Provided by FactRetriever.com
12/28/21      Copenhagen’s Strøget, at almost 2 miles (3.2 km) long, is the oldest and longest pedestrian street in the world. Provided by FactRetriever.com
12/29/21      The perpetually happy “Smiley” face, with its yellow face and two black dot eyes, was invented in 1963. It was originally created to boost morale among employees of an insurance company. Provided by FactRetriever.com
12/30/21      Isaac Newton's father died three months before he was born. Newton's mother married again when he was three years old, but his stepfather refused to allow him to live with them. Newton was sent to live with his grandparents. Provided by FactRetriever.com
12/31/21      Tornadoes appear in all colors. They take on the color of the materials they pick up. Provided by FactRetriever.com


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2012
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2011
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