Interesting and Unbelievable Facts

Platypus, or duck-billed platypus, is a semi-aquatic egg-laying mammal. It is endemic to eastern Australia and Tasmania. Platypus is one of the five living species of monotremes (egg-laying mammals). The other four species belong to echidnas . It is one of two monotremes (alongside short-beaked echidnas) in Australia. Platypus is one of the three mammals (alongside echidnas and the Guiana dolphin) that use electroreception for hunting. These monotremes close their eyes, nose, and ears while diving and use three receptor cells in their bills to detect prey (mollusks, worms, etc.). Their bills contain push-rod mechanoreceptors and two types of electroreceptors to locate the direction and distance of prey. Compared to 2,000 or fewer electroreceptor cells in echidnas, there are 40,000 such cells in platypi. ( Source ) Male platypuses contain venom in their spurs, present on the heels of both rear feet. They use this venom against prey and also against other platypuses during the mating sea...

Cat, also known as the domestic cat or house cat, is a member of felines (cats). It is the smallest and the only domesticated member of this carnivorous family. There are more than 45 domestic cat breeds . These breeds differ due to their size, coat color, tail length, and other features. The largest is the Maine Coon, originated in the USA, with an average length of 3.5 feet. The Singapura, native to Singapore, is the smallest breed. The cat uses the “meow” sound to communicate with their mother or humans. It also communicates through its tail and other body parts. Many people think that cats purr to show their happiness. However, experts believe that purring also has healing properties . Sometimes, cats use this vocalization to reduce stress and strengthen bones. ( Source ) A Burmese cat gave birth to 19 kittens in 1970, the highest ever in domestic cats. The average litter size in these cats is four to six kittens. ( Source )  Female cats (queens) can become pregnant after fou...

Mexico is a country in the southern part of North America. A small area in southern Mexico is part of Central America, a region of North America. Mexico has the highest number of Spanish speakers in the world. Nearly 125 million Mexicans are native speakers of Spanish. The native Spanish speakers in Colombia , the second-largest Spanish country, are less than 51 million. ( Source ) According to a discovery in 2020, humans initially settled in Mexico around 32,000 years ago during the last ice age. ( Source ) Mexico is part of Mesoamerica, one of the five cradles of civilization . This civilization continued for thousands of years before the Spanish colonization in the 16 th Century. According to scientific estimates, the asteroid that caused the extinction of dinosaurs formed the  Chicxulub crater  in Mexico. This event happened 66 million years ago. ( Source ) The White Cave System ( Sistema Sac Actun ) in Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico) is the  longest underwater cave sy...

Nepal is a landlocked country in South Asia. It shares borders with China and India. More than 75% terrain of Nepal consists of the Himalayan Mountains . The remaining consists of forests and flat, fertile land. There are 14 eight-thousanders ( mountain peaks taller than 8,000 meters) in the world. Mt. Everest and seven other peaks among the top ten are present entirely or partially in Nepal. The Kali Gandaki valley in Nepal is the  deepest gorge  in the world. It is a popular trekking route due to easy accessibility and the availability of better services. ( Source ) Lumbini in southern Nepal is the birthplace of Gautama Buddha . Due to its cultural significance, Lumbini became a UNESCO world heritage site in 1997. Chandra Bahadur Dangi, a Nepalese citizen, is the  shortest male ever measured . He was 21.5 in. (54.6 cm) tall in 2012 at 72 years. ( Source ) Nepal has the world’s  highest percentage of women  compared to men. Nearly 54.2% of the Nepalese pop...

The polar bear is a large carnivore mammal in the bear family. It is present only in the Arctic region. The polar bear is the largest carnivore on land. The males can weigh between 400-600 kg and reach a length of 2.4-2.6 m. The Kodiak bear (a subspecies of brown bear in Alaska) is the second-largest terrestrial carnivore. ( Source ) Male polar bears can be twice heavier than females. It is one of the most prominent sexual dimorphism among mammals . Polar bears are the only marine mammals among bears as they depend on the ocean for food. They are well adapted for swimming and terrestrial locomotion and can tolerate the chilly weather of the Arctic. Polar bears have the largest home range among land mammals. According to the data collected between 2004 and 2012, the mean polar bear range is 353,557 sq. km, equivalent to the size of Germany. They may search for food, sleep, and interact with other bears in that vast area. ( Source ) Polar bears are vulnerable due to their habitat l...

Japan is an island country in East Asia on the North Pacific Ocean. It shares maritime borders with Russia, China, North Korea , South Korea, Taiwan, and the Philippines. There are nearly 7,000 islands in Japan, and only 421 are inhabited. The four major islands are Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. Japanese capital Tokyo is present on Honshu, the largest island. More than 80% of the landscape in Japan is mountainous . The majority of the population lives in low-lying coastal areas. Japan lies on the western edge of the Ring of Fire. The Greater Tokyo Area is the world’s most populous metropolitan area , with a population of 36.5 million. Nearly 30% of Japan’s population resides in this region. ( Source ) Yumiuri   Shimbun, a Japanese Newspaper founded in 1874, has the world’s highest circulation . In 2010, it had a total circulation of over 13.5 million copies. It is the only newspaper with a morning circulation of more than 10 million copies. ( Source ) Japan is one of the...