Darío Velázquez
Darío has personally fact-checked thirty-two world records, three of which he refuses to discuss in polite company.
Articles by Darío (34)
Hummingbird Hearts Beat Up to 1,260 Times a Minute
At full flight, they're metabolic dynamos. Discover the surprising story behind hummingbird hearts beat up to 1,260 times a minute in this in-depth Unusual Sc
Bees Recognize Human Faces
They build composite images much the way humans do. Discover the surprising story behind bees recognize human faces in this in-depth Unusual Science read on d
The Mongols Mailed Letters Via Pony Express 700 Years Before America
Genghis Khan ran a relay courier network across Asia. Discover the surprising story behind the mongols mailed letters via pony express 700 years before americ
Your Brain Generates Enough Electricity to Power a Light Bulb
About 12 to 25 watts. Discover the surprising story behind your brain generates enough electricity to power a light bulb in this in-depth Unusual Science read
The Inventor of the Stop Sign Is Unknown
Octagon, red, eight letters, no patent holder. Discover the surprising story behind the inventor of the stop sign is unknown in this in-depth Uncommon Knowled
The Ig Nobel Prize Honors Research That 'Makes You Laugh, Then Think'
It's a real scientific award. Discover the surprising story behind the ig nobel prize honors research that 'makes you laugh, then think' in this in-depth Funn
Pirates Wore Eye Patches to See in the Dark
It wasn't all about losing eyes. Discover the surprising story behind pirates wore eye patches to see in the dark in this in-depth Strange History read on dum
Someone Patented a Hat That Tips Itself
James Boyle's 1896 patent let gentlemen greet ladies with full hands. Discover the surprising story behind someone patented a hat that tips itself in this in-
Bubble Wrap Was Invented as Wallpaper
The most satisfying packaging in history started life as a home decor flop. Discover the surprising story behind bubble wrap was invented as wallpaper in this
There's a Town in Norway Where the Sun Doesn't Set for 76 Days
Svalbard's Longyearbyen lives in continuous daylight from April to August. Discover the surprising story behind there's a town in norway where the sun doesn't
There Is a Patent for Time Travel
The U.S. patent office has granted devices that defy physics, sort of. Discover the surprising story behind there is a patent for time travel in this in-depth
Super Glue Was Discovered While Trying to Make Gun Sights
Chemist Harry Coover stuck everything together by accident in 1942. Discover the surprising story behind super glue was discovered while trying to make gun si
Sunflowers Track the Sun Across the Sky
Young plants move east to west each day. Mature ones face east permanently. Discover the surprising story behind sunflowers track the sun across the sky in th
Coca-Cola's Marketing Helped Create the Modern Santa
Red suit, white beard, jolly belly — circa 1931. Discover the surprising story behind coca-cola's marketing helped create the modern santa in this in-depth Un
The Coca-Cola Recipe Used to Contain Cocaine
Until 1903, the formula included extract from the coca leaf. Discover the surprising story behind the coca-cola recipe used to contain cocaine in this in-dept
The Universe Has a Background Temperature
Empty space is about -270.45°C — the afterglow of the Big Bang. Discover the surprising story behind the universe has a background temperature in this in-dept
The Slinky Was Originally a Naval Instrument
Engineer Richard James was trying to stabilize ship equipment in 1943. Discover the surprising story behind the slinky was originally a naval instrument in th
The Inventor of the Pringles Can Is Buried in One
Fredric Baur insisted on it. Discover the surprising story behind the inventor of the pringles can is buried in one in this in-depth Random Trivia read on dum
Cows Produce More Milk When They Listen to Music
Slower tempos work best. Discover the surprising story behind cows produce more milk when they listen to music in this in-depth Funny Discoveries read on dumb
Tug of War Was an Olympic Sport
From 1900 to 1920, nations dragged each other across lines for gold medals. Discover the surprising story behind tug of war was an olympic sport in this in-de
Medieval Europeans Believed Sneezes Released the Soul
'Bless you' began as spiritual emergency triage. Discover the surprising story behind medieval europeans believed sneezes released the soul in this in-depth S
The Lost Roman Legion
The 9th Legion vanished from Britain around 120 CE. Discover the surprising story behind the lost roman legion in this in-depth Fascinating Mysteries read on
Cleopatra Lived Closer to the iPhone Than to the Great Pyramid
Egyptian history is so deep that Cleopatra is basically modern. Discover the surprising story behind cleopatra lived closer to the iphone than to the great py
A Day on Venus Is Longer Than Its Year
Time on Venus does not behave the way time should. Discover the surprising story behind a day on venus is longer than its year in this in-depth Weird Facts re
There's a Patent for Combing Hair Over Bald Spots
The comb-over technique was officially patented in 1977. Discover the surprising story behind there's a patent for combing hair over bald spots in this in-dep
There's a Patent for an Anti-Eating Face Mask
Patent #4,344,424 is exactly what it sounds like. Discover the surprising story behind there's a patent for an anti-eating face mask in this in-depth Odd Inve
The Sodder Children Disappearance
A 1945 house fire — but no remains of five children. Discover the surprising story behind the sodder children disappearance in this in-depth Fascinating Myste
The First Olympic Games Had Only One Event
Forget gymnastics, archery, and skateboarding. It was just a footrace. Discover the surprising story behind the first olympic games had only one event in this
The Mary Celeste Was Found Abandoned at Sea
A fully stocked ship, no crew, no clear cause. Discover the surprising story behind the mary celeste was found abandoned at sea in this in-depth Fascinating M
The Longest Concert Ever Played Was 639 Years Long
John Cage's ORGAN²/ASLSP began in 2001 and ends in 2640. Discover the surprising story behind the longest concert ever played was 639 years long in this in-de
We Still Don't Know What Causes Ball Lightning
Glowing spheres that drift through windows and explode without warning. Discover the surprising story behind we still don't know what causes ball lightning in
Cats Have Been Listed as Co-Authors on Physics Papers
Most famously, F.D.C. Willard. Discover the surprising story behind cats have been listed as co-authors on physics papers in this in-depth Funny Discoveries r
Pluto Has Possible Underground Oceans
Despite freezing temperatures, liquid water may persist beneath the surface. Discover the surprising story behind pluto has possible underground oceans in thi
The Loudest Sound in Recorded History Was Heard 3,000 Miles Away
The 1883 eruption of Krakatoa. Discover the surprising story behind the loudest sound in recorded history was heard 3,000 miles away in this in-depth Bizarre