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Sometimes, reading some interesting information at work is just what you need to take your brain cells for a walk and get the creative juices pumping. Fortunately, that’s exactly what the /r/FunFacts subreddit provides - safe-for-work interesting facts!

If your boss catches you scrolling this post or the aforementioned subreddit, consider telling them that this is just what you needed to jog your productivity. In fact, there’s a new fact for that as well - when your brain learns new information, it forms new neuronal connections, and the more it does this, the better it gets at it. That’s called neuroplasticity.

#1

Fun Fact: There's A Service Called "Cleaning For A Reason" In The U.s And Canada That Cleans The Houses Of Women With Cancer For Free So They Can Focus On Their Health

Fun Fact: There's A Service Called "Cleaning For A Reason" In The U.s And Canada That Cleans The Houses Of Women With Cancer For Free So They Can Focus On Their Health

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#2

Fun Fact:

Fun Fact:

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Bobetta the DG
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10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have seen this multiple times here on BP however it brings a smile to my face everytime I see it .

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The process by which your brain actually learns these facts is an interesting and not entirely intuitive one. Let’s dig in.

Most people know that our brain consists primarily of neurons. These cells link to one another with synapses, forming a dense network of connections that send signals through the brain and onwards throughout our bodies. At a basic level, these are the cells that embody the information we learn.

#3

Fun Fact : In Switzerland It Is Illegal To Own Just One Guinea Pig . This Is Because Guinea Pigs Are Social Animals, And They Are Considered Victims Of Abuse If They Are Alone

Fun Fact : In Switzerland It Is Illegal To Own Just One Guinea Pig . This Is Because Guinea Pigs Are Social Animals, And They Are Considered Victims Of Abuse If They Are Alone

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#4

In 1850 Dmitri Mendeleev Walked Almost A Thousand Miles To Moscow So He Could Apply For The University Of Moscow. Although He Was Not Accepted, He Walked To St. Petersburg Where He Was Accepted, And With That Education, He Developed The Periodic Table Of The Elements

 In 1850 Dmitri Mendeleev Walked Almost A Thousand Miles To Moscow So He Could Apply For The University Of Moscow. Although He Was Not Accepted, He Walked To St. Petersburg Where He Was Accepted, And With That Education, He Developed The Periodic Table Of The Elements

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DC
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10 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And people made fun of him. He - or someone else - mentioned the analogy the periodic systems carries in regard to music, where each octave, the same tones and intervalls repeat, but with twice the frequency, ... but any F# will have an A as minor-third, so given an F# as base, any and every A is the minor third and acts as such, as well as any and every C# is and acts as a fifth and so on ... Silicone can be made into the same structures as C in a molecule (it's not that truly EVERYTHING could work out with C replaced by Si, but ... some ... 4 vacancies on the outer shell, the results thereof, ... interaction with mass and bond energies cause the deviation, ...) and such, ... people are said to have barked "then, let your atoms sing a song for you!" in an attempt to make fun of what he discovered. Oh my, people suck. People really suck - at least, the benefit of not being disproven should be granted to every idea ... and, keep in mind - at the time this was disregarded by other chemists, the vast majority of even biologists were still believing in a creation myth being the origin of life, species and a never discovered soul that is said to be exclusively issued to humans. Which ... well ... well ... THAT, fun may be made of unhesitantly, because funny is the best this could ever even dare to attempt to wish to be.

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When your neuronal connections fire in certain patterns, those connections are strengthened and reinforced, and those reinforced pathways become the basis of all of our knowledge.

This is, of course, a gross oversimplification. Our brains contain lobes and segments that are specialized towards different parts of our thinking processes, but at a basic level, we have neural pathways criss-crossing those regions of the brain that form the basis for what we know.

#5

A Deck Of Poker Cards Has A Metaphysical Meaning: 52 Cards - 52 Weeks A Year, 4 Suits - Seasons, 13 Cards Of The Same Suit - 13 Phases Of The Lunar Cycle. If You Add Up All The Values ​​of The Cards In The Game Deck, You Get 365 Days (Including The Joker). The Second Joker Is A Leap Year

A Deck Of Poker Cards Has A Metaphysical Meaning: 52 Cards - 52 Weeks A Year, 4 Suits - Seasons, 13 Cards Of The Same Suit - 13 Phases Of The Lunar Cycle. If You Add Up All The Values ​​of The Cards In The Game Deck, You Get 365 Days (Including The Joker). The Second Joker Is A Leap Year

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Take me to dinner first
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10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This sounds like what a kid would invent to put in a homework they forgot that was due to the next day. Extremely cool anyway

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#7

Fun Fact: A Black Robin Named Old Blue Became The Mother Of Her Entire Species When She Was The Last Fertile Female In A Group Of 5 Robins. There Are Now Over 250 Black Robins On The Chatham Islands, And Have Raised Their Status From Critically Endangered To Endangered

Fun Fact: A Black Robin Named Old Blue Became The Mother Of Her Entire Species When She Was The Last Fertile Female In A Group Of 5 Robins. There Are Now Over 250 Black Robins On The Chatham Islands, And Have Raised Their Status From Critically Endangered To Endangered

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Neuroplasticity, then, is our brain’s ability to learn new information and revise things we’ve learned before. The greater your neuroplasticity, presumably, the more likely you will be to remember more of the cool facts on this list!

In reality, that’s not the only thing that determines your capacity to learn. Learning can be reinforced by many other factors, a couple of significant ones being repetition and emotion. This one sounds like common sense when you think about it - you’re more likely to remember the facts that shocked you, made you smile, or interested you the most.

#8

A Picture Of Dr. Religa Monitoring His Patient's Vitals After Completing A 23-Hour-Long Heart Transplant. At The Bottom Is A Picture Of The Same Patient, 30 Years Later. He Managed To Outlive His Doctor

A Picture Of Dr. Religa Monitoring His Patient's Vitals After Completing A 23-Hour-Long Heart Transplant. At The Bottom Is A Picture Of The Same Patient, 30 Years Later. He Managed To Outlive His Doctor

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pico diablo
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10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You can also see his exhausted assistant passed-out/asleep in the corner of the room

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#9

Armadillos Can Hold Their Breath For Up To Six Minutes And Are Known To Walk Underwater To Cross Streams!

 Armadillos Can Hold Their Breath For Up To Six Minutes And Are Known To Walk Underwater To Cross Streams!

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#10

The Eggplant Is Called The Eggplant Because When It Is Young It Looks Like An Egg

The Eggplant Is Called The Eggplant Because When It Is Young It Looks Like An Egg

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#11

Fun Fact:

Fun Fact:

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Thatkamloopsguy
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10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The phrase is " kill you" Getting really tired of this unalive bullsh it.

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#12

Fun Fact: Don't Get Bitten By A Chinese Water Deer

Fun Fact: Don't Get Bitten By A Chinese Water Deer

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As we mentioned earlier, learning new facts is one way to maintain your neuroplasticity! In addition to that, this great article on Healthline has a few other fun ways to improve your neuroplasticity (which, you guessed it - tends to degrade as we get older):

  • Video games
  • Learning a new language
  • Creating music
  •  Traveling
  • Exercise
  • Creating art
#13

Fun Fact: A Rural Japanese Town Under Siege By Monkeys Is Defended By Three Elderly Women Armed With Airguns Who Call Themselves The “Monkey Busters”

Fun Fact: A Rural Japanese Town Under Siege By Monkeys Is Defended By Three Elderly Women Armed With Airguns Who Call Themselves The “Monkey Busters”

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#14

Fun Fact:

Fun Fact:

WellThatsStrangeOff Report

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Ample Aardvark
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10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They have the shortest beak of all birds, since beaks are measured from the nostrils to the tip!

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#15

The Meaning Of The Greek Word "Cerberus" Is "Spotted" So Technically Hades' Dog's Name Is "Spot"

The Meaning Of The Greek Word "Cerberus" Is "Spotted" So Technically Hades' Dog's Name Is "Spot"

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#16

Fun Fact: LEGO’s The Largest Tire Manufacturer In The World

Fun Fact: LEGO’s The Largest Tire Manufacturer In The World

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#17

Fun Fact: Ethan Zuckerman, The Man Who Invented Pop-Up Ads, Apologized To The World For Unintentionally Creating One Of The Internet’s Most Hated Forms Of Advertising

Fun Fact: Ethan Zuckerman, The Man Who Invented Pop-Up Ads, Apologized To The World For Unintentionally Creating One Of The Internet’s Most Hated Forms Of Advertising

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Kracken
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10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He doesn't look remotely sorry... just needs a fluffy white cat on his lap

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#18

In 1985, After An 8.0 Magnitude Earthquake Hit Mexico City, Nearly All Newborn Babies Survived A Collapsed Hospital. They Are Known As "Miracle Babies" For Surviving 7 Days Without Nourishment, Water, Warmth Or Human Contact

 In 1985, After An 8.0 Magnitude Earthquake Hit Mexico City, Nearly All Newborn Babies Survived A Collapsed Hospital. They Are Known As "Miracle Babies" For Surviving 7 Days Without Nourishment, Water, Warmth Or Human Contact

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AnnaB
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10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wonder if that will have long-term effect on their development - even though they won't remember it. Those are a very crucial seven days to go without any contact.

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#20

Fun Fact: Research Shows That Some Fish Eggs Remain Alive Even After Being Swallowed By Mallards, A Breed Of Ducks. These Eggs Then Come Out As The Ducks’ Poop And Hatch When They Find Water Again. This Explains How Some Fishes Emerge In Ponds And Pools Without A Hint

Fun Fact: Research Shows That Some Fish Eggs Remain Alive Even After Being Swallowed By Mallards, A Breed Of Ducks. These Eggs Then Come Out As The Ducks’ Poop And Hatch When They Find Water Again. This Explains How Some Fishes Emerge In Ponds And Pools Without A Hint

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#21

Found On Insta

Found On Insta

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Mad Dragon
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10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She had to sit down for a bit in the middle of the shoot, as she was pregnant at the time and got quite tired.

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#23

“Fun Fact “ Koalas Have Fingerprints That Are Almost Indistinguishable From Human Fingerprints

“Fun Fact “ Koalas Have Fingerprints That Are Almost Indistinguishable From Human Fingerprints

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Dodo
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I knew this. But it's only now making me wonder about monkeys/apes. Anyone know if they have fingerprints like ours?

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#24

This Is A Piranha. Contrary To Popular Belief, They Almost Never Attack Humans (Unless Crazy Starved). I Work At An Aquarium And Clean Their Tank While They Are In There (About 12 Of Them). Quite The Scaredy-Cats, Actually. Won't Go Anywhere Near Something Living As Large As A Human

This Is A Piranha. Contrary To Popular Belief, They Almost Never Attack Humans (Unless Crazy Starved). I Work At An Aquarium And Clean Their Tank While They Are In There (About 12 Of Them). Quite The Scaredy-Cats, Actually. Won't Go Anywhere Near Something Living As Large As A Human

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Dark Pearl
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10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It takes a special type of idiot to go into a piranha enclosure while injured and bleeding

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KDS
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10 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The reason that people believe they attack humans is because Teddy Roosevelt visited South America and the locals starved the Piranhas beforehand and when they threw an animal carcass into the river the Piranhas devoured it.

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Historyharlot93
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Piranhas were a legit fear when I was a child in the late 70’s. My friends and I were scared of them. We lived in upstate New York, by the way. And only swam in pools. But any natural body of water could have piranhas or quick sand. I have no idea where these fears came from.

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Terry Tobias
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10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I seem to remember a ton of movies back then where people were constantly falling into quicksand and being eaten by piranhas. It was a dangerous time for kids! We were sure that those terrifying fish would swim upstream from South America to Lake Ontario and decimate New York State!

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Madster
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10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is the snapping turtles you need to watch out for (amongst many others!)

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Cat Chat
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10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My stepdad almost lost a finger to one. He was blind and one day, walking across our gravel driveway, stepped on what I thought was a large boulder. Not wanting it to damage a car, he bent down to pick it up to toss it off the driveway. Then *snap* 🐢. He came in the house with it still dangling off his fing "um... need a little help here"

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New Everywhere
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10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Number 2, cancel the piranhas and get me some of those Chinese water deer but with lasers on their head" -90s movie villain

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meow point1
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10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also, piranhas also have been known to eat drowned bodies, which has also led to the rumours of them attacking people.

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sturmwesen
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My idiot brother got bitten in the thumb when he reached in a bucket with piranha. He only had some bite Marks:-(

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Just Sayin
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9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are different breeds of piranhas so this statement isn't quite true. There are some breeds that are very into eating meat like humans and if they smell blood, it makes them go crazy just like what you see in the movies. Whoever posted this so-called fun fact, needs to know their facts first before trying to tell the world and someone gets badly hurt.

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Nathan Shipman
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9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Makes me think of the scene in an Ice Age movie. Sid the sloth was bathing three baby dinosaurs in a river that had piranha in it. One looked underwater, saw the piranha (that in turn saw it), opened their jaws, and then the dinosaur opened IT'S jaws, and the fish all panicked and ran! Hahahaha

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Leoninus Fate
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10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

the poor piranha at my zoo have their teeth "pulled out" and have badly scared mouths, you can see that they were not treated right and someone litter ly just pulled them out without caring, the good thing is they had them in separate tanks, but they had to eat mush fish since they had no teeth to rip into anything {i was a vet assistant, but not to fish or zoo animals}

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Sawdust
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10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Pretty sure they can skeletonize a cow in 2 minutes! https://www.pinterest.com/pin/474355773249647109/

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Nicole Kennedy
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Blood or aggressively moving would change that quick. Watch the episode about them on River Monsters and you will see for yourself.

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Nichole Harris
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Umm I've seen'em eat a small cow.... I'm certainly smaller than that! Hard pass but y'all have fun k

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John Legere
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

put a drop of blood on your hand and see what happens when you put it in with them

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Never Snarky
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nothing happens. I've caught a lot of piranhas in South America. When taking one off a hook, it snagged my finger. I washed off the finger in the water and nothing came near me even though there were plenty of fish visible. The commenter stating there are different kinds of piranhas has it right. Only one species is known to attack under extreme conditions.

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#25

There Once Lived A Viking Called Harald Bluetooth. He Was Called That Because He Loved Blueberries. The Bluetooth Technology We Know Nowadays, Has Been Named After Him. And The Symbol Are The Runic H And B Put Together

 There Once Lived A Viking Called Harald Bluetooth. He Was Called That Because He Loved Blueberries. The Bluetooth Technology We Know Nowadays, Has Been Named After Him. And The Symbol Are The Runic H And B Put Together

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Gandalf the Pink
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10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Bluetooth was not a viking, he was a christian king. While one theory about his name claims he had a love for blueberries, which I find very wholesome, another more crass theory is that he just had bad teeth and bruised gums.

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#26

Narwhals Tusks Are Actually Teeth, Can Grow Up To 10 Ft, And Can Bend Up To A Foot To One Side Without Breaking. Their Purpose Is Still Not Well Understood. Some Narwhals Do Not Have Tusks. Their Skin Is Very Rich In Vitamin C, The Same As An Orange By Weight. There Are None In Captivity

 Narwhals Tusks Are Actually Teeth, Can Grow Up To 10 Ft, And Can Bend Up To A Foot To One Side Without Breaking. Their Purpose Is Still Not Well Understood. Some Narwhals Do Not Have Tusks. Their Skin Is Very Rich In Vitamin C, The Same As An Orange By Weight. There Are None In Captivity

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#27

Fun Fact: There’s A Species Of Sheep That Has Two Pairs Of Horns Called Jacob Sheep. They Are One Of Very Few Species Of Sheep To Have Multiple Pairs Of Horns. Here’s A Picture Of Its Skull:

Fun Fact: There’s A Species Of Sheep That Has Two Pairs Of Horns Called Jacob Sheep. They Are One Of Very Few Species Of Sheep To Have Multiple Pairs Of Horns. Here’s A Picture Of Its Skull:

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Vintage Insider
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10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My parents kept Jacobs. They can have 2, 4, or 6 horns. They're normally pretty small on the females. This is likely a fairly old ram.

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#29

There's A Town In Texas Named "Earth" On Earth!

 There's A Town In Texas Named "Earth" On Earth!

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#30

If You Hold The Head Of A Chicken Still And Draw A Straight Line While Chicken Is Looking At It, It Will Be Hypnotized

 If You Hold The Head Of A Chicken Still And Draw A Straight Line While Chicken Is Looking At It, It Will Be Hypnotized

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Kevin Doyle
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10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The real question is how did someone figure that out? Im gonna pin this chickens head to the floor and draw a line and see what happens...

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Note: this post originally had 52 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.