Friday Fun Facts

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

Friday, September 11

This activity is for all ages.

#1: The golden poison dart frog has enough toxins to kill 10 adult men.

The golden poison dart frog is only about the size of a paper clip (or about 2 inches), but is among the most deadly animals in the world. A single golden poison dart frog contains enough toxins, or venom, in its body to kill up to 10 adult men. Scientists are not sure how this frog produces its venom, but they believe it has to do with plant poisons in the frogs' environment.

#2: You are about 1 cm taller in the morning than at night.

Over the course of the day, humans lose about 1 cm in height. This is due to gravity's effect on our bodies. Gravity causes the body to compress, or squeeze, cartilage in the spine and in joints like the knees when we are in upright (standing or sitting) positions. When we lay down for long periods of time, such as when we sleep at night, the cartilage is able to stretch back, making us taller when we wake in the morning.

#3: There are 293 different ways to make change for $1.

Using quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies there are 242 ways to make change for $1. If you also use half-dollars, there are a total of 293 different ways.

#4: Maine is the only state name with one syllable.

State names range from one to five syllables, with Maine being the only state name with one syllable.

#5: A tiger's skin is striped, as well as its fur.

Every tiger has a unique set of stripes, but underneath its fur, a tiger's skin is striped too.

Sources:

• Fact #1: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/amphibians/g/golden-poison-frog/
• Fact #2: https://jamaicahospital.org/newsletter/are-we-taller-in-the-morning/
• Fact #3: https://www.freemathhelp.com/forum/threads/how-many-ways-can-you-give-coins-in-change-for-1.49517/ and https://teachnet.com/lessonplans/math/293-ways-change-for-a-dollar/
• Fact #4: https://www.geographyrealm.com/united-states-syllables/
• Fact #5: https://www.tigers.org.za/skin-and-fur.html