Friday Fun Facts

Find out interesting and fun facts about everything from animals, landmarks, science, history, pop culture, and more every Friday!

Friday, September 4

This activity is for all ages.

#1: Alaska and Russia are only about 2.5 miles apart from each other.

Mainland Alaska and mainland Russia are separated by a body of water called the Bering Strait by a distance of about 55 miles. However, both countries have islands located in the Bering Strait, which are much closer to each other. Russia's Big Diomede and Alaska's Little Diomede islands are located less than 2.5 miles from each other.

#2: The most overdue library book was 288 years overdue.

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Robert Walpole holds the record for most overdue library book. He borrowed a book from the Sidney Sussex College in England in 1668, and it was not returned until 288 years later.

#3: Fingernails can take 6 months to completely grow from base to tip.

Fingernails grow really slowly- they grow at a rate of about 1/10 of an inch (or 2.5 millimeters) per month! That means it will take 3 - 6 months to completely replace a fingernail from base to tip.

#4: The opposite sides of a six-sided die always add up to 7.

On a six-sided die (plural "dice"), the numbers 1-6 are used only once on each side. The numbers 1 and 6 are opposite each other, as are 2 and 5, and 3 and 4.

#5: About 1/4 of all your bones are located in the feet.

There are a total of 206 bones in the human body, and 52 are located in the feet.

Sources:

• Fact #1: https://www.alaskacenters.gov/faqs-people-often-ask/how-close-alaska-russia
• Fact #2: https://inshorts.com/en/news/a-library-book-was-returned-288-yrs-late-1467296257891
• Fact #3: https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/your-nails.html
• Fact #4: https://mathworld.wolfram.com/Dice.html
• Fact #5: https://ipfactly.com/about-14-of-your-bones-are-found-in-your-feet/