Interesting and Unbelievable Facts

Hammerhead sharks are named so because of the unusual hammer-shaped structure of their head. Their eyes sit on the sides of their unique head, known as the cephalofoil.  In 2007, a female hammerhead shark gave birth without mating with a male shark. The newborn shark also had no paternal DNA. It was the first known instance of  asexual reproduction  in any shark. After this discovery, mammals became the only major vertebrate group with no evidence of asexual reproduction. ( Source ) Hammerhead sharks are unique among marine animals as they  get sun  tanning . Scientists initially observed sun tanning among marine animals  in 1997, present in the pups of hammerhead sharks. ( Source ) Hammerhead sharks have a strange behavior of  swimming sideways . This type of swimming proves to be the most energy-efficient for them. They use nearly 10% less energy by swimming sideways instead of upright swimming. Unlike most sharks, dorsal fins in hammerhea...

Dung beetles are those beetles that feed on the dung (feces) of omnivore and herbivore animals. They prefer dung from omnivores as it provides more nutritional value and is easier to find. A species of dung beetle, male  Onthophagus taurus , can pull 1,141 times its body weight. It makes it the  strongest animal  in the world. ( Source ) Dung beetles can  decompose 90% of nitrogen  from cattle dung back into the soil. It makes the soil fertile without the use of artificial fertilizers. ( Source ) These beetles can markedly  reduce the emission of methane  (major greenhouse gas) from cattle farming. They provide this benefit in both temperate and tropical agricultural grasslands. ( Source ) Dung beetles are present in all  continents  except  Antarctica . They live in many habitats, including  forests , farmlands, grasslands, savannas, and  deserts . These insects usually avoid severely cold and dry climates. Dung beetles are t...

Transantarctic Mountains (TAM) is a mountain range in Antarctica. It separates East Antarctica from West Antarctica. The length of these mountains is 3,500 km (2,220 miles). Scientists   initially discovered  dinosaur  fossils  in Antarctica in 1990-91. The place of discovery of these dinosaur fossils is the central Trans-Antarctic Mountains. ( Source ) The  fossilized remains  of prehistoric freshwater amphibians and reptiles have also been found in TAM. The most extensive  coal-bearing deposits  in Antarctica are located in the Transantarctic Mountains. These coal deposits are of Permian and Triassic age and extend over an area of 2,500 km. ( Source ) The width of TAM is from the Ross Sea in the south to the Weddell Sea in the north. This mountain range is the most prominent dividing point of the  continent  due to its length and elevation. Width of TAM is from Ross Sea to Weddell Sea The Transantarctic Mountains are the longest rif...

Vulture is the most famous scavenger among birds. It is present on all continents except Australia and Antarctica . Vultures are among the few land birds that can  remain in the air for long periods without flapping their wings. They do so thanks to low wing loading and low aspect ratio of wings. ( Source ) It is a myth that vultures circle dead or dying animals. They  sit and patiently wait for the death of a dying animal. They mostly circle high in the sky while searching for food. ( Source ) There are mainly two types of vultures according to their location. These are Old World vultures (present in Asia , Africa, and Europe ) and New World vultures (present in the Americas). The Ruppell’s griffon vulture is the  highest flying bird  on earth . It can fly at an altitude of 37,000 ft. (11,300 m). Bearded vultures and Andean condors are the world’s 6 th  and 7 th  highest-flying birds. They can achieve an elevation of 24,000 feet and 21,300 feet, respect...

Bangladesh is a country in South Asia. It is the 5 th most populous country in Asia and 8 th in the world. Bangladesh has the world’s 7 th highest population density. Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, has been named the world’s 3 rd   least livable city . It has performed better than only Damascus (Syria) and Lagos (Nigeria). ( Source ) Bangladesh is the  most polluted country in the world. Its pollution index of 97.1 is far ahead of the 2 nd  most polluted country ( Pakistan with 74.27). Bangladesh has the world’s highest rate of  girls marrying before 15 years  of age. The country has the 2 nd  highest rate for girls marrying before 18 years. ( Source ) Bangladesh has the  2 nd  lowest obesity rate  in the world. Only 3.6% of adults in Bangladesh are obese. ( Source ) In 2002, Bangladesh became the first country to  ban plastic bags . Now, more than 80 countries have a full or partial ban on plastic bags.   ( Sourc...

There are around 18,500 species of butterflies on earth. They  are present on every continent except Antarctica. An important reason for the wide-scale distribution of butterflies on earth is their migration from one part of the earth to another. Painted lady and monarch butterflies are good examples that can migrate over long distances. The discovery of butterfly fossils indicate that this insect has been on earth since 56 million years ago . Butterflies are beneficial for plants as they assist in the pollination of those plants that they visit. Butterflies can carry a smaller amount of pollen than  bees , but they can take the pollen to longer distances. Butterflies also provide other benefits to plants. Harvester (a carnivorous butterfly) and a few other butterfly species  eat harmful  insects . Several birds, insects, amphibians, and other animals eat butterflies. Common  predators  of these insects are wasps, dragonflies, sparrows, parrots, f...

China, a country in East Asia, is the world’s most populous country . It is also the 3 rd largest country by area, the 2 nd largest country by land area, and the largest country wholly inside Asia . The process of making  silk cloth started in China around 2696 BC. The Chinese managed to keep this invention secret from the outside world until 550 AD. ( Source ) The world’s two  fastest trains  are in China. The maximum speed for Shanghai Maglev is 267 mph (431 km/hr), while Fuxing Hao can run at 249 mph. ( Source ) Chinese celebrate their New Year for 15 days. There are exclusive traditions to celebrate each day of the Chinese New Year. ( Source ) China has the 2nd highest number of  UNESCO World Heritage sites  in the world after  Italy . This Asian country has 56 sites: 38 cultural, 14 natural, and 4 mixed. The Chinese communist government opposes all religions. It is a crucial factor behind the high percentage of atheists in the coun...