Fact 1. Cheetah’s build contributes to its speed

In addition to long legs, the cheetah also has an elongated spine and semi-retractable claws that provide a strong grip on the ground. The claws’ grip allows the cheetah to maneuver itself with ease when running at a high speed. Its long tail also has a crucial function of helping the big cat to stay in balance. All these physical factors help the cheetah to glide and prance easily.

Fact 2. Cheetahs are not the king of the jungle, but they sure act like one.

Lions are the king of the jungle acknowledged by humankind. However, lions aren’t the only predator other animals are afraid of. Cheetahs are apex predators that are just as deadly as lions and they are also faster than lions. In fact, they are the fastest land animal on Earth. Some of the animals that the cheetah hunt for food are rabbits, gazelles, birds, rabbits, and warthogs.

Fact 3. Cheetahs are always found in groups.

Cheetahs are known to be social animals as a fact. They stick together as a group. No one leaves the pack behind. You can think of it as a group of friends sticking together all the time. Usually, baby cheetahs stay with their mothers. When a baby cheetah grows up, it will live together with its siblings for about six months after leaving their mother behind. The male cheetahs stay together and are always on the hunt for food. Female cheetahs also stay together until the mating season comes. There’s not really much of diversity when it comes to the gender of the group. However, this is how their social system works, and it proves to be efficient for them.

Fact 4. Female cheetahs (a she-cheetah) give birth between two to eight cubs at one single time.

Fact: female cheetahs give birth not only to one baby cheetah at a time. They can deliver up to eight cubs in a single pregnancy. The cubs stay with their mother cheetah until they are about 16 to 24 months old. This is the age when the cubs finally separate from their mother and live with their siblings before officially joining another group of their own.

Fact 5. Cheetahs hunt during the day.

One would expect that cheetahs hunt at night, but that is not the case. These apex predators are strong and fast, they can hunt during daytime with a high success rate. Also, they do this strategically to avoid competition with other predators such as lions, leopards, and hyenas. Cheetahs are advantageous because of their exceptional eyesight. Cheetahs can quickly scan their surroundings to look for prey and other competing predators. When they’re on the hunt, Cheetahs would quietly stalk their prey and wait for the perfect time to go in for the kill. When they find the perfect opportunity, they go in for the kill which often ends in mere seconds.

6. Mother cheetahs teach their cubs how to hunt

When it comes to mother cheetahs, they offer their cubs tough love. They don’t spoon-feed their children by just serving them food. Mother cheetahs teach their cubs how to hunt. They don’t target dead animals — no, those can be infected with bacterias and diseases. Instead, a mother cheetah would look for a living prey and catch it herself before handing it to her baby cubs for them to chase after. What the mother does is that she secures the victim first and let her children catch and kill it themselves. Pretty gruesome work to feed your child, right?

Fact 7. Cheetah cubs have an adorable hairstyle.

The cheetah cubs’ look isn’t just because of their cool look. In fact, it has something to do with their adaptability to their surroundings and increase their chances of not to be found by other predators. Their long, gray and fluffy hair give them not only looks cute on them, but it’s also a way of them having a camouflage. Their furs actually look like a formidable honey badger.

Fact 8. Humans once trained cheetahs.

Now, this fact maybe something new to you. But yes, there came a time when cheetahs were trained by humans for hunting. In fact, they go a long way back during 3000 B.C when the Sumerians used cheetahs to help them to hunt. Aside from that, a famous Emperor in India, Mughal Emperor Akbar, trained over a thousand cheetahs in his whole life. He trained the cheetahs to help him when he’s out hunting.

 Fact 9. Humans and cheetahs go way back.

Now, it’s hard to imagine that humans and cheetahs once had a certain connection with each other. Believe it or not, humans did not only use cheetahs for hunting, but it was thought that Tutankhamen’s tomb had some cheetah artifacts. During the Egyptian period, when one passed away, all necessary things were also put into his tome along with symbols and objects that were considered sacred. A member of the cat family, the cheetah may have been considered as a sacred animal for ancient Egyptians.

What Is Your Favorite Cheetah Fact?

Which of the fun cheetah facts above is your favorite? Did you know an interesting fact that isn’t found in the list above?

Cheetahs are fascinating animals to look at and learn about. Unfortunately, like elephants and other wild animals susceptible to poaching, cheetahs are also decreasing in their number at an alarming rate.

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Other fun facts to check out:-

• Facts: Banana
• Facts: Black Holes
• Facts: Cats
• Facts: Cheetahs (This Article)
• Facts: Elephants
• Facts: Helen Keller
• Facts: Ice Cream
• Facts: The Philippines

The post 9 Cheetah Facts You May Not Know About appeared first on Metropolitan Girls.

Interesting Elephant Facts You Didn’t Know About

Elephants have always kept this sense of elegance and mystery in them. Maybe it’s because of their towering height and large build. Or maybe because these are not the kind of animals that you get to see every day and that’s what piques your interest about these majestic creatures.

Here are some facts about elephants that will help satisfy your curiosity about them.

Elephant Fact 1. They are the world’s largest animals.

This elephant fact is one of the many reasons why elephants are known all over the world. At their towering height of 2.7 meters and an average weight of about 3,000 to 6,000 kilograms, you’d think that people would fear this giant creature. But that’s not necessarily the case. Although they are tall and could probably squish a human being in just one step, you would be surprised that these animals are also one of the friendliest species on Earth.

Elephant Fact 2. There are three different species of elephants

The three different species of elephants are the African Savannah elephant, African Forest elephant, and the Asian elephant. Although they almost look like the same with their great sizes, large ears, and ivory tusks, there are still some considerable differences. Interesting elephant fact: African elephants have ears that are shaped like the continent of Africa while Asian elephants are shaped like the country of India, which as you’re aware of, is part of Asia. That’s so cool, right?

Elephant Fact 3. You can tell how old an elephant is by their tusks.

With humans, it’s so easy to know their age. You can judge it by the elasticity of their skin, or you ask them directly. However, that’s not usually the case with elephants. You cannot simply ask them (well, duh) or base it from the texture of their skin. You can judge an elephant’s age base on his tusks. One thing you should know about it is that their tusks never stop growing. For African elephants, both the male and female elephants grow their tusks.

On the other hand, for the Asian variety, only the male elephants grow theirs. The longer the tusk, the older an elephant is. So if you happen to see an elephant that doesn’t have a tusk, then it’s probably a female Asian elephant!

Elephant Fact 4. They spend half of the day eating.

With their large, towering size, it’s no surprise that they spend almost 12 to 18 hours eating. Yup, that’s nearly half a day. Well, they do have to put on much food to gain their average weight of about 6,000 kilograms. What’s fascinating is that they smell the food with their trunks and get it by the trunk, too.

Elephant Fact 5. Elephants can mine salt.

This fact may come off as quite a shock. Most of us know that table salt comes from seawater. A process called desalination separates salt from seawater. But did you know that salt can be mined in caves? And that a certain group of elephants is also capable of mining salt for their own consumption? The African elephants in Mount Elgon National Park, Kenya, use their tusks to break apart cave walls which contains a high level of salt. They would then chew and swallow the cave wall pieces.

Elephant Fact 6. Elephants have their own sunscreen.

Elephants have an ingenious way to protect themselves from the harshness of the sun’s ultraviolet rays. How? By using some sunscreen, of course. Just like humans, elephants use sunscreen as protection against UV lights. But you won’t be seeing an elephant buying a bottle of sunscreen at the local store because their sunscreen is not what you think. After they’re done in taking a bath in the swamp, they’ll immediately throw in some mud and sand all over their body to have it covered. That’s the elephant’s version of sunscreen. Who needs bottles of sunscreen when you can cover yourself with sand and mud?

Elephant Fact 7. Their skin is the most sensitive part of their body.

Speaking of an elephant’s skin, it’s probably the most sensitive part of their body. The elephant’s skin is about an inch thick; underneath it is is a bunch of nerve endings which accounts for their sensitivity. The sensitive skin also helps provide an additional way for them to communicate with each other — by simply tapping on each other.

Elephant Fact 8. Elephants purr.

You probably know by now that elephants make loud trumpet noise. But did you know that they also purr? If you think that felines (related: Interesting Facts about Cats) are the only living creature that’s capable of purring or emitting sound vibrations through their vocal cords, then you’d be surprised to find out that elephants can do this too! Can you imagine how comforting it is to touch an elephant’s trunk and feel it purr? We’d surely want to experience that! Watch this video to see them purr (about six seconds into the video).

Elephant Fact 9. Elephants are highly sensitive and caring.

Some animals don’t care much about their offspring, this isn’t the case with elephants. Once an adult elephant hears her baby’s cry, she would immediately go to her child and try to comfort him. However, not only that the mother elephant does this, but the whole family of the elephant would try to comfort the baby elephant. Who doesn’t love to see enormous elephants comforting a baby elephant?

A Sad Fact: Elephants As A Species Are Dying…

These are just some of the elephant facts that we find interesting. Not only are elephants good-natured, but they are also one of the sweetest and most sensitive animals. We have elephants to look out and care for. Unfortunately, they are an endangered species. We must find ways to help save their dying breed. We wouldn’t want to just remember elephants in pictures and writings, wouldn’t we?

Having said that, what is your favorite fact about elephants? Do you have an interesting elephant fact to share with us?
Other fun facts to check out

• Facts: Banana
• Facts: Black Holes
• Facts: Cats
• Facts: Cheetahs
• Facts: Elephants (This Article)
• Facts: Helen Keller
• Facts: Ice Cream
• Facts: The Philippines

The post 9 Facts You Might Not Know About The Elephants appeared first on Metropolitan Girls.

9 Interesting Facts about Ice Cream

We think it’s even more fitting in cold nights when you just want to stay in while ugly-crying over a movie. Ice cream is really the best choice when you’re craving for something sweet. Try all the chocolates and candies you want, but nothing beats the sweetness and coldness of the ice cream. Below are some interesting facts about ice cream.

Fact 1. It takes about 50 licks to finish one scoop of ice cream.

This may depend on the type of ice cream or the temperature of the surroundings. But at room temperature during a normal day, it would take someone 50 licks on average before he finishes one scoop of ice cream. Where and when does this fact become useful? Hey! We said these facts were going to be interesting, nobody said anything about them being useful! Anyway, this data is perhaps useful when you just want to grab a quick run for some ice cream but you would really need to finish it as soon as possible. Just lick your ice cream quickly fifty times and you’re good to go. This is subject to trials, of course. Go ahead and try it out!

Fact 2. Chocolate ice cream came before the vanilla flavor.

If you come to think of it, vanilla ice cream looks plainer than the chocolate variant. Also vanilla ice cream is pretty much the default, base ice cream of the 21st century. But did you know that the fact that chocolate ice cream was invented before vanilla ice cream? There was a point in history when vanilla was actually considered as a rare flavor. Interesting things happen as we travel back in time.

Fact 3. Ice cream was once considered a status symbol.

Nowadays you’d find Starbucks fans with a venti coffee in one hand and the latest iPhone in the other. Or maybe they’re on a private plane traveling to the Maldives. That’s this generation’s way of saying that they are a part of the elite group. But can you imagine ice cream as a symbol of wealth? Believe it or not but back in the 1700s, people in America regarded ice cream more of a privilege that comes with wealth than just a simple craving. And this fact makes sense because at that time only the elite gets to enjoy this sweet treat since it was so rare in America back then. Think of all the fun we’d be missing if ice cream is too expensive for the general public.

Fact 4. The most popular ice cream flavor is vanilla.

Are you a chocolate flavor lover? Or maybe a strawberry ice cream enthusiast? Well, you have your own favorites, but the world has spoken, and vanilla won in the popularity department! We’re guessing that this is because it’s not too sweet as chocolate or strawberry. It’s just sweet enough to be considered as a dessert. Also, if you compare it with other ice cream flavors, you can definitely say that it’s the most neutral one and can cater to every person’s taste.

Fact 5. 90% of Americans have an ice cream tub in their refrigerators right now.

Fun fact: most Americans store at least a tub of ice cream in their fridges. This fact is a no-brainer, really! Ice cream is like a staple food in America more than anything else.

Fact 6. With that, the top three countries who consume ice cream the most are…

America takes the first place of course! Followed by Australia then Norway. It’s no surprise that America loves ice cream. And it’s understandable that Australians came in second because it can get absolutely hot there during summer. For Norway, we’re guessing they are a bunch of sweet teeth?

Fact 7. No one knows who invented ice cream.

While the world knows that Albert Einstein came up with the General Theory of Relativity (which eventually leads to the discovery of the black holes) and Alexander Fleming invented penicillin, no one really knows for sure who to thank for inventing ice cream. The earliest records of this sweet treat go a long way back during the time of Emperor Nero. It was said that he loved mixing honey and fruit with snow. If this was true, at least the infamous Emperor Nero made some contribution to human progress. Interesting fact: Nero is considered one of the worst Roman Emperors.

Fact 8. Sundaes were actually named “sundaes” for a reason.

You’ve probably heard of the joke “why eat a sundae on a Monday?” or something close to that pun. But did you know that it was, in fact, named like that as a pun? There are two stories related to this, but the most popular and perhaps the most interesting story featured Edward Berners. Berners owned Ed Berners’ Ice Cream Parlor, and it was during those times where Sunday was indeed kept holy as a Sabbath day. During this day, ice cream sodas were prohibited by religious laws to be sold during Sunday as they weren’t allowed to indulge in anything sweet. However, Berners got around this idea and used the technicalities to ditch losing customers who would want to buy ice cream sodas during Sundays. He got away with it by serving an ice cream soda without the soda. So basically, it’s just ice cream and syrup. Initially, he only sold these during Sundays, but it was so heavily requested and raved by his customers that he started selling it every day! Although Berners got away with it, he decided to change the spelling so that it wouldn’t be entirely associated with the Sabbath day.

Fact 9. 50% of the ice cream’s volume is air.

If you’re wondering what makes your favorite ice cream so delicious and addicting, you don’t actually have to search too far to know the secret ingredient. It’s actually air. So the next time you feel like your ice cream is way too light, don’t head over to the cash register to complain! The sellers don’t have to do anything with it. Ice cream is actually formulated to be this way. Air is what gives this dessert its light texture.

What is your favorite ice cream fact?

Now you know more about ice cream than just a sweet treat or something that could satisfy your monthly cravings. Also, can we take a short moment to appreciate how ice cream has evolved throughout the years? From not knowing who its inventor was to when it was considered to be a luxury to getting a sundae ice cream and now, to have become one of the most accessible and most popular desserts. Ice cream really did flourish and it deserves its popularity. Everybody just loves ice cream!

And those were our favorite ice cream facts. What about you? Do you know a fun fact about ice cream that is not found in the list above?

Bonus Content

How Ice Cream Is Made

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5R12zxuSvk

Other fun facts to check out:-

• Facts: Banana
• Facts: Black Holes
• Facts: Cats
• Facts: Cheetahs
• Facts: Elephants
• Facts: Helen Keller
• Facts: Ice Cream (This Article)
• Facts: The Philippines

The post Ice Cream Facts! 9 Facts You Didn’t Know About Ice Cream appeared first on Metropolitan Girls.

In this article, you’ll learn about 9 interesting facts about The Philippines. The Philippines is such a majestic country that is known all over the world. The Southeast Asian country is famous for boasting over 7,000 islands which makes it an archipelago full of wonderful beaches. The country, which is frequently visited by tourists from all over the world, is only fitting and lucky to have hospitable residents. The citizens of the Philippines, also known as the Filipinos, are notable for their warm smiles and welcomes. That’s why it’s without a doubt that you’ve probably heard of this beautiful country.

Aside from that, below are 9 more interesting facts about the Philippines that you probably didn’t know.

Fact 1. The Philippines got its name from the then king of Spain, King Philip II.

The archipelago was first discovered by the Spaniards through the leadership of the explorer Ruy Lopez de Villalobos. At first, only one island was named Filipinas. It was only then later that the name was applied for the whole archipelago.

Fact 2. The people of The Philippines absolutely love basketball.

If football is to America, then basketball is to Filipinos. There’s something about the sport that draws them. They even have their own basketball association which is the Philippine Basketball Association. They are also big fans of America’s NBA and would treat the teams they support as one of their own.

Fact 3. Filipinos love to eat.

If you’re planning a trip to the Philippines soon, make sure that you’re ready for all the food adventures this country’s willing to give to you. Filipinos love to eat as much as they also love to cook. They have their own cuisine which is heavily influenced by their native ancestors and from the countries that have colonized the land. You should make room for some exotic food and healthy treats that Filipinos will surely serve you. And, nope – a no is not an option.

Fact 4. Love coconuts? You can taste fresh ones in this tropical country.

The Philippines remain to be the second-largest producer and exporter of coconuts all over the world. With about a third of the population of the country depending on it as their source of livelihood, expect that you’ll be able to get the freshest coconuts everywhere you go in the Philippines.

Fact 5. Many Tagalog words are of Spanish origin.

Tagalog is the country’s most spoken language which is heavily influenced by the Spanish language. So, if you’re familiar with some Spanish words and you happen to be traveling in the Philippines, you’ll probably get some context of what the people who live in the central region of the country because it sounds so familiar. This can be attributed to the fact that the Philippines has been under the rule of the Spaniards for over 300 years. Undoubtedly, the Filipinos have not only acquired the words, but they have also shared a lot of their culture and beliefs with the Spaniards, too. Here’s a list of Tagalog words with Spanish origin.

Fact 6. They are heavily influenced by the traditions and customs of the Spanish people.

If you’re a fan of Spanish architecture, head over to the Northern part of the Philippines and you’d see how much the Spaniards have influenced the country. You can see it in the design of the houses, churches, and even how the structures were placed near each other.

Fact 7. Catholicism is the primary religion of The Philippines

Although ancient Filipinos have their own gods and goddesses, the regime of Spain over the Philippines turned the country into a Catholic one.  Now, there are other religions present like Buddhism, Islam, and Judaism. However, Catholicism remains to be the prevailing religion.

Fact 8. Despite the prevalence of religion, there’s still a large percentage of Filipinos who believe in superstitious beliefs.

Of course, there are the more common beliefs that you might be familiar with like the black cat, number 13, and opening an umbrella indoors. There are, however, superstitious beliefs exclusive only in the Philippines. An example of this is “sukob” in which siblings cannot marry within the same year or else it will bring bad luck to their marriages. There’s also a great deal of Filipino mythological creatures that have then become a part of their tradition.

Fact 9. Love Christmas? Enjoy it here in the Philippines!

The Philippines holds the record for having the longest Christmas season. On the first day of September, you can already hear Christmas songs playing on the radio and people are already starting to hang up their festive decorations. The celebration ends in the first week of January, just in time for the Catholic’s Feast of the Three Kings. So, if you have a specific knack for celebrating Christmas and would want to experience it as much as possible, we recommend that you visit the Philippines for you to feel the best Christmas spirit ever.

These are just some of the facts that you might not know about the Philippines. You can go on and read about it all, but to experience how fun it could get in the country, you should be able to visit and see the whole beauty of it personally! And that was the list of facts about the Philippines we find interesting. Which fact is your favorite?

Other fun facts to check out:-

• Facts: Banana
• Facts: Black Holes
• Facts: Cats
• Facts: Cheetahs
• Facts: Elephants
• Facts: Helen Keller
• Facts: Ice Cream
• Facts: The Philippines (This Article)

The post 9 Facts You May Not Know About the Philippines appeared first on Metropolitan Girls.

10 Facts about Helen Keller

Fact 1. Helen Keller learned how to speak when she was only six months old.

Sure, there might be a lot of other babies who can speak some words at six months old. But what makes Helen different from other infants then was that she was born deaf-blind. Usually, babies who are born with difficulties in hearing don’t learn how to speak until later in their life. It’s because for a child to be able to produce sounds on his own, he should first listen to the sounds around him. But that wasn’t the case with Helen. She was, indeed, a gifted person in the truest sense.

Fact 2. Helen Keller communicated with their family’s cook’s daughter, Martha Washington, through sign language.

As kids, neither Martha and Helen had any formal training in sign language. What they have developed between them was the result of a connection and strong bond that no one could ever break. To be able to communicate without words as children isn’t a normal thing to do. Much was applauded for the two young girls. Martha and Helen had developed over sixty signs by the time Helen was seven years old.

Fact 3. Helen Keller was great friends with Mark Twain.

You’ve probably heard of Mark Twain and his great works. Apparently, Helen and Mark’s friendship goes a long way back. It was in 1896 when Helen was attending the Cambridge School for Young Ladies when she met the legendary American writer. Helen wrote in one of her writings that Mark did not treat her like any other freak, but she was treated as a disabled woman who was trying hard to live normally. Helen also became close to Twain’s daughter who, at that time, was the same age as Helen’s. Helen was able to recognize Mark Twain by his scent as he often smoked tobacco.

Fact 4. Helen Keller was an acquaintance of Alexander Graham Bell.

You might know Alexander Graham Bell for inventing the telephone. But this wasn’t how Helen got to know him. When she was six, her parents brought her to a physician who suggested for the family to see Bell. The physician suggested them to visit the Bells because Alexander’s wife was also deaf. Mrs. Bell’s situation prompted the inventor to establish a school for the deaf in the name of his wife. Helen was eventually enrolled to the Perkins Institution for the Blind, which was an institution suggested by Bell himself.

Fact 5. Anne Sullivan was Helen Keller’s teacher.

A significant part of Helen’s childhood schooling is Anne Sullivan. She was the one who patiently taught Helen how to communicate. Sullivan was also a good friend of Mark Twain and the author even called her a “miracle worker” for her works with Helen.

Fact 6. Helen Keller (almost) eloped with her secretary.

At 36 years old, she had a new secretary, Peter Fagan. The twenty-something lad developed a professional working bond with Helen and quite a bit more. Both Helen and Peter fell in love with each other. They got engaged and was ready to tie the knot. Unfortunately, Helen’s family wasn’t in favor of the marriage due to her disabilities. She never got the chance to marry. She had reportedly marked that, “If I could see, I would marry first of all.”

Fact 7. Helen Keller’s image (with braille) is on the Alabama state commemorative quarter.

Helen Keller’s legacy will never be forgotten. The Alabama state government honored her humanitarian works by issuing a commemorative quarter in her name. On the coin, Helen Keller is depicted as a woman who’s sitting on a rocking chair while holding a book. On the coin is her name written in braille.

Fact 8. Helen Keller had traveled to 39 countries to serve as an advocate for the disabled.

Helen might be born deaf-blind, but this didn’t stop her from traveling the world. This goes to show that once you have your goal set, nothing else can stop you. She traveled to 39 countries to give lectures at medical schools, to visit schools and treatment facilities for the disabled, and to meet with organizations who organized institutions to help with the blind. Indeed, she didn’t let her disabilities get in the way. Instead, she used it to inspire millions of people all over the world.

Fact 9. Helen Keller was the first person to own the Akita dog to the United States.

In one of her visits to Japan, a Japanese police officer gave Helen his dog. It was an Akita dog and the dog breed hadn’t existed yet exist in the United States. Helen absolutely fell in love with the Akita dog that after the dog’s death, the Japanese government presented Helen a dog of the same breed.

Fact 10. Helen Keller was a humanitarian activist.

Helen’s disabilities didn’t stop her from fighting for what she believed in. The world knew her as a dedicated activist and humanitarian. Her goal was to create a better world, and that’s precisely what she did. She visited hospitals and schools in different countries around the globe. Although she was deaf and blind, she made sure her voice was heard loudly through her writings.

Did you find a Helen Keller fact that has inspired You?

Which of the facts about Keller above inspire you the most? Did you know any other interesting facts?

Helen Keller was an inspiring human being. She was able to achieve great heights despite hardship and challenges. Today, we know Helen Keller as a strong woman who rose above her disabilities. Although she was born physically-challenged, she did not give up on herself. There is a huge part of a Helen Keller in all of us – women that are challenged and may have encountered a lot of hardships in life but will not give up on trying.

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The post 10 Interesting Helen Keller Facts: Learn More About Helen Keller From These Facts appeared first on Metropolitan Girls.

Banana Fact 1. Bananas can float on water.

You might think that one piece of a banana weighs enough for it to go down under the water but no. Apparently, bananas can float on water! It’s because this fruit is less dense than water, making them naturally float when placed in the water. There are even more theories that suggest that you’d know the freshness of a banana based on how they could float on the water. For example, banana skins that are already old can float in potable water while over-ripe bananas will float whether they’re either peeled or unpeeled. If you’re in the mood to do some experimenting, then go ahead and test it out!

Banana Fact 2. Bananas are classified as a berry.

Get ready to be confused because a strawberry, raspberry nor a blackberry isn’t a true berry. Yes, even if they have “berries” on their names, they aren’t what you can scientifically classify as berries. However, a banana is a berry. As well as eggplants, grapes, and oranges. How is this so? Berries in the scientific sense are defined as a fruit having three fleshy layers, must bear at least two seeds and must develop from one flower that has only one ovary. The next time you’re fighting over with a friend on who’s the smartest between the both of you, use this card, and you’ll surely win.

Banana Fact 3. The bananas that we have today are way different from what they had during the 1960s.

Think of it that the bananas that we have today are the ones that mutated and have evolved to survive the banana-killing disease they had during the 1960s. The culprit to have killed bananas from this period is the Panama disease or the Fusarium wilt of the banana. Disease outbreaks are not only present in humans and animals, but they could happen in fruits, too! The Panama disease wiped out almost all of the bananas they had during that time to the point that people thought “real bananas” had gone extinct.

Banana Fact 4. Having a bad day? You may want to eat a banana to brighten your day.

Bananas are considered to be a fruit that could instantly brighten your mood. Not because these are covered in bright yellow peels, but they actually contain vitamins and minerals that can serve as mood enhancers. These are amino acids, vitamin B6, and tryptophan. These are the vitamins that help the body produce serotonin or the happy hormone.

Banana Fact 5. The insides of a banana peel can help relieve inflammation and itching.

Imagine this: you’re on a camping trip with your friends. You’ve got bitten by some poison ivy! You have no medications with you and your skin’s inflamed real quick. What would you do? You don’t need to panic anymore because the insides of a banana peel can help relieve itching and inflammation brought about bites from poison ivy and even bugs! So the next time you spend some time in the woods, don’t forget to bring a banana with you!

Banana Fact 6. A banana is a great pre-workout snack.

They say that you shouldn’t go to the gym without eating anything. But what about those times wherein you feel like you really need to go to the gym, so you just opted to grab a quick bite? The best option that you have is a banana. Even if you haven’t eaten much before working out, eating a banana is just enough for you to get by during your workout. It will give you just the right amount of carbohydrates to burn into energy and potassium levels for nerve and muscle control. It doesn’t feel heavy on the stomach too! So you can eat two pieces or more before you start working out.

Banana Fact 7. We share about 50% of our DNA with bananas.

Yes, you read that right. If science taught you how we share almost 96% of our DNA with a chimp, then you might have never heard of sharing 50% of your human identity with a banana. We get it! Humans really do look like chimps considering that they are four-legged and have almost the same facial structures as humans – but a banana? Whether you believe it or not, we do share about half of our DNA with a banana. In a sense, we are genetically related to bananas to some extent. The next time you feel like you’re not worth something, consider how much one banana can contribute to humankind. What more a full hundred percent of a human can do?

Let this be a reminder that bananas are more than brightly colored yellow fruits.

Other fun facts to check out:-

• Facts: Banana (This Article)
• Facts: Black Holes
• Facts: Cats
• Facts: Cheetahs
• Facts: Elephants
• Facts: Helen Keller
• Facts: Ice Cream
• Facts: The Philippines

The post 7 Fun Facts About Bananas That Will Blow Your Mind appeared first on Metropolitan Girls.

Below are 7 interesting and fun facts about cats you might not know.

1. Fact about Cat and Seawater

Drinking seawater dehydrates the human body, but did you know that cat’s unique biology allows them to process seawater?

Now, this is something that not every living creature on Earth can do. As a human, we know that it’s not safe for us to drink sea water. Seawater contains too much sodium content. When consumed directly without prior filtration, it dehydrates our body. But if you have a cat and you’re near the beach, you can absolutely let them go wild with the salty ocean water. We doubt that they’d want to go that way though since cats aren’t too keen on being in the water — but you already know that.

2. Fact about Cat and Chocolate

Absolutely do not feed a cat any chocolate, because they are toxic to cats. But even if you do share chocolate with them, these feline creatures will not be able to taste it.

Can you imagine not being able to eat anything sweet? Well, no wonder why cats are so grumpy most of the time! This is actually caused by a mutation in their taste receptors. So if you’re thinking of giving them sweets as a treat, they might as well skip it because they’re not going to feel rewarded after all. As a matter of fact, DO NOT even try to even feed them chocolate because chocolate is toxic for cats.

See also: Christmas Stocking Stuffers For Cats

3. Fact about Cat Ears

For one, cat ears have furry tuffs on the inside. A true cat owner will know how hard it is to clean up their ears just because they’re so deep! But their ears’ structure actually filters out the debris and prevents their ears from receiving sounds directly. Although you can think of their ears as “sound-proofed”, their hearing can be quite extensive. They can hear ultrasonic noises that some bats, rodents, and dolphins make! This is how they communicate with other cats and animals that could produce the same wavelength.

4. Fact about Cat Nose

Now that we’re on to cat’s facial structures, did you know that every cat’s nose is unique?

It’s true that almost all cats look the same and if you’re just a normal person who looks at them, you won’t even see the difference between each one. But there is a difference! If for us, humans, our fingerprint is unique to each one of us and helps identify a person, cat’s noses are unique to an individual, too! It seems like they don’t look like each other after all.

5. Fact about Isaac Newton’s Cat

Have you ever thought about what kind of genius invented the cat flap?

If you’re a loyal cat owner, we bet that you can totally relate when we say that it’s hard to be your cat’s butler who’s always opening and closing doors for them. But did you know that the great Isaac Newton invented this? Yes, the same genius that discovered how gravity works! It turns out, he was so tired of his cat, Spithead, ruining his light experiments, so he invented the cat flap instead. If that’s isn’t dedication to his work and cat then we don’t know what is!

6. Fact about Nikola Tesla and His Cat

Now that we’re on the topic of inventors, did you know that Nikola Tesla was inspired by his cat for his own studies as well?

Nikola Tesla is known for his studies on electricity. So, if you’ve heard of the Tesla cage, then yes, we’re talking about the same guy. Apparently, his cat, Macak, was the reason why Tesla went into experience some mild electric shock. The incident was what triggered Nikola Tesla to have a more thorough study of electricity.

7. Fact about Cat Kneading

Have you also wondered why cats keep on moving their paws up and down?

This is what happens when they are comfortable with their surroundings. The action is called kneading, and it is associated when cats are still kittens and are about to drink milk from their mother’s breasts. If your cat does this a lot to you, take of it as a sign of their love. Also, if you don’t want to get hurt, you might want to trim their nails.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bv4ltKZAQYc/

What is your favorite cat fact?

These are some of the interesting facts that you might actually not know. We won’t bombard you with facts that you can’t relate with, because we want to give you something on how you can understand your cat even better. A relationship with your cat is something you should consider to be precious. Not all cat owners have a strong bond with their feline friends. That’s probably why you can see cat memes pertaining to humans as cats’ slaves. But, of course, a cat-human connection is more than just that. They can be as loyal as your dog friends, too!

Not enough cat? Here’s a cat video for you to waste some time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pO4FPfSs_ss

Other fun facts to check out:-

• Facts: Banana
• Facts: Black Holes
• Facts: Cats (This Article)
• Facts: Cheetahs
• Facts: Elephants
• Facts: Helen Keller
• Facts: Ice Cream
• Facts: The Philippines

Last but not least, check out these cute cat mugs and amazing cat lapel pins!

The post 7 Interesting Facts About Cats appeared first on Metropolitan Girls.

Take note that some of these facts below have been simplified so that everyone can understand them. And some details may be lost during the simplification.

Fact 1. The first image of a black hole was released in April 2019

In April 2019, the first picture of a black hole (shown above) was published by the Event Horizon Telescope team. The picture took the internet by storm and became the topic of discussion of many news and social websites. That also gave birth to dozens of black hole memes almost immediately after the image had circulated.

The main subject of what is now trending to become the most impactful astronomy photo of 2019, if not of the decade, is Sagittarius A* (pronounced Sagittarius A-Star) — a massive black hole found at the center of our very own galaxy the Milky Way.

It’s an impressive feat for humankind considering that Event Horizon Telescope is a global effort that whose contributors are men and women of science from various parts of the world.

More quick fun facts about the black hole imagery: it’s incorrect to refer it as a photo because it’s not taken with a camera! The image or picture is the result of interpreting five petabytes of radio signals data captured in 2017 around the globe. The team then developed an algorithm (the algorithm development work was led by MIT graduate student Katie Bouman) that produced this breathtaking photo that we’re seeing. That’s how much it took for the image of the black hole to be finally seen by the human eye!

Fact 2. Not All Black Holes Are The Same

There are three types of black holes: stellar, supermassive, and miniature black holes.

One way to classify black holes is by using their masses. Stellar black holes are formed when dying stars collapsing into themselves. But scientists still haven’t figured out where supermassive black holes came to be. All we know is that they have masses which can be equivalent to billions of suns and galaxies. A miniature black hole, on the other hand, has lighter mass which can be equivalent to the mass of the Sun.

Fact 3. Black holes can rotate

Just like our home planet Earth or the Moon, most black holes rotate about one of their axis of symmetry. Rotating black holes, also known as Kerr black holes, are black holes that possess angular momentum. Kerr black holes are the most common type of black holes. The angular momentum which causes a black hole to rotate is said to have come from the core of the collapsed star which formed the black hole in the first place. Black holes that do not rotate are called static black holes or Schwarzschild black holes. In principle, static black holes can exist but they haven’t been yet discovered.

Fact 4. A black hole isn’t necessarily a cosmic vacuum cleaner, not until…

In school, we might have been taught that a black hole can be likened to a vacuum cleaner. Any objects in the vicinity of a black hole get sucked away by the black hole and go into the great unknown. That is true only when you get too close to a black hole. When you go past a threshold scientists called the event horizon, you’ll never escape from the black hole. However, outside of that boundary, the gravitational behavior of a black hole is no different from that of a regular planetary body with the same mass.

Fact 5. The existence of black holes was first hinted at during the 1790s.

The idea of a black hole originates in the 18th century. John Michell of England and Pierre-Simon Laplace of France suggested in their individual studies on the existence of an invisible star. To arrive at this hypothesis, they used Newton’s classical physics laws which made it possible for them to calculate the mass and size that an object will need to have an escape velocity that’s greater than the speed of light.

6. Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity gave rise to, among other things, black hole modeling.

Fact 7. A black hole’s gravity is so strong, light gets sucked into it

Suck may not be the right word to use here, but that’s essentially the idea. What really happens is a black hole’s gravity is so enormous that it warps the space-time fabric around it creating some sort of a trap. Beyond the event horizon — which is basically the point of no return — nothing can escape the gravitational pull of the black hole, not even light itself. It really IS a black hole to the external observers beyond the event horizon because no light can escape from it.

Another mindblowing implication of this phenomenon is that IF you can position yourself just outside the event horizon without getting pulled in, and you throw a pen into the event horizon, you will never see the pen falling into the black hole. While the pen is physically falling within the black hole, it will look like it’s frozen on the boundary (the event horizon) to you. This is because light cannot escape from within the boundary and without light, we can’t see what happens. The frozen image of the pen will not be on the event horizon indefinitely. The image reddens through a phenomenon called redshift and soon fades away into complete darkness.

Fact 8. Time slows down around and inside black holes

Time slows down where gravity is strong due to gravitational time dilation. And since black holes are known for their enormous gravity, time slows down considerably in a black hole. You won’t actually experience the slowdown if you WERE inside a black hole. But relative to somewhere else with weaker gravity, say Earth, more time would have passed on Earth for the same amount of time you spent inside the black hole. Still confused? You’ll get a better idea after watching this terrific Sci-Fi movie Interstellar, which also did an amazing job portraying the black hole.

Black holes are an exciting subject that is worth spending time on.

It’s a part of our universe that is so mysterious and crazy. While there are scientific black hole models that are deemed accurate, everything breaks down once we reach the core of a black hole — know as the singularity — it’s when human kind’s physics break down. As humans who are endowed with the power of critical thinking and knowledge, we should always seek to learn more than what’s being taught in school. I hope you’ve enjoyed the list of black hole facts above as much as we do.

Other fun facts to check out:-

• Facts: Banana
• Facts: Black Holes (This Article)
• Facts: Cats
• Facts: Cheetahs
• Facts: Elephants
• Facts: Helen Keller
• Facts: Ice Cream
• Facts: The Philippines

The post 8 Interesting Facts You Didn’t Know about Black Holes appeared first on Metropolitan Girls.