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Most of us have a small Ravenclaw inside of us, and we adore learning new things about the world, especially if they’re random facts that completely blow our minds. A lot of us are still spending loads of time working and studying from home, which leaves plenty of time for random browsing—so we’re picking up semi-useless but fun new facts about the world every day.

Like the fact the American Gothic painting shows a farmer and his daughter, not his wife. Or how Gandalf carries his pipe in his staff.

You’re probably aware of the ‘I was today years old’ jokes that people post online when they want to share something weird that they just learned with everyone. Well, these jokes have made a resurgence during the coronavirus lockdown, and there are plenty of new ones to make our jaws drop. 

Bored Panda has collected some of the best ‘I was today years old’ moments for you to enjoy (and to have random cool facts to drop during your next Zoom cocktail party), so scroll down for some truly weird facts that are true and don’t forget to upvote your faves.

#2

todayyearsoldig tweets about KFC, and picture of KFC owner with person on his back

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kitty.boom
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I read about it years ago, but didn't know they sent him a painting. That's cool and sweet too!

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#4

_youhadonejob1 tweets about screwdriver handles and picture of person using screwdriver

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Hans
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This typically is not the best idea, though. Rather use a socket wrench with bits and operate it really carefully. Using special oils to loosen a screw firstbor to de-rust it can also help. Merr mere force likely destroy the screw!

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#5

soapachu tweets about aubergines and picture of aubergines

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glowworm2
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I didn't know that because I'm more familiar with the purple kind in the stores. I didn't know that that's how they grow. BTW, this is the white version. The purple version starts out purple from the beginning.

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Douglas Campbell
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I remember when I lived in London, (from NYC) and a woman I worked with made vegetable lasagna and I asked if there was eggplant and zucchini in it and she got very offended and said in a huff, "Well, if by eggplant and zucchini you mean aubergine and courgettes, then yes."

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jon doglegs
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

All that knowledge, and she still got offended, what a waste. She might've just corrected you, maybe by starting with "listen, you upstart colonial, here in england ....." (jk)

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Tobb Delow
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was today years old when I found out that some people call eggplants aubergines. Maybe tomorrow I will learn how to pronounce it.

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desert29rat
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I never knew this, but they certainly do look like eggs growing.

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Yana Friman
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

OMG! Who could have thought... I've never thought of it. Thanks)

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Jolee Hang
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was today years old when I realized what eggplants looked like, why they were named eggplant, and that there was another name for them.

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Jo Choto
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Having lived both sides of the Atlantic, I knew about this one. Also zucchini are the same as courgettes.

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Bettye McKee
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow! Thanks for sharing that. I have always wondered what relationship an eggplant had with an egg. A picture is worth a thousand words.

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Steve Cruz
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When you've grown up around a veggie patch, you take for granted the things most people don't know: Brussels Sprouts grow in clusters; many veggies "blossom" after which time they're not good for eating (artichokes, broccoli, basil); when you grow a small patch of lettuces at home, don't pick the entire head, just the outer leaves -- it will keep growing an entire season.

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Tiny Dynamine
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That is just American English. It has different names depending on the country.

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Jolee Hang
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

DO THEY FEEL LIKE EGGS, TOO? DO THEY HAVE A HARD OUTER LAYER?

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Cybele Spanjaard
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They surely do..if they are all white..I have only grown purple that are streaked when little.

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Teresa Groth
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had heard it but I have never seen egg plants at this stage in their growth!

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Kathi Keegan Chang
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow... I was clueless on this matter! this is well before they get to that aubergine color, I think.

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Caroline Driver
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Huh. Never seen a baby aubergine, but this explains it completely

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Jacqui Dunn
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My mother, trying to get me to eat aubergine when I was a child, told me that they taste like eggs ("why they're called eggplant!"). It was her fault I refused to try them again until I was an adult.

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Ellie Ragsdale
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can't believe anyone calls them aubergines, I've always thought of it as eggplant (American here)

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stripper dream
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh wow. Thank you! I was today years old when I found this out thanks you.

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David Jeu
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Eggplants grow purple from the beginning. Google it. I dont know what this is..

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New Fact For Dog Lovers

So, since we’re talking about random facts today, let’s share some other cool ones, shall we? For instance, did you know that one study found that dogs prefer to align themselves “along the North-South axis under calm magnetic field conditions” when they have to go number two? Researchers studied 70 dogs over two years, and this was the first time that magnetic sensitivity was proven in dogs. Science is weird and wonderful.

#7

sassycrass tweets about measles completely erases body's immunological memory

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Ani Archeron
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Measles targets memory cells?? Thanks to every scientist who ever put an ounce of thought into creating that life-saving vaccine.

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Old Weird Fact That Is True

Another brain-melting fact is that there were fewer than 1.5k people living in Central Europe for significant periods of time during the Stone Age. Yeah, that sounds unbelievable. IFL Science made a great analogy about how you could fit all those people on a modern mid-sized cruise ship.

#11

Shxperienced tweets about buttload and picture of wine barrels

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Hans
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The English are unchallenged in having absurd units of measurement.

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#12

bakbakbakkerr tweets about turtles and picture of turtle inside

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Not-so-MadMax
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh god, they really should talk to the people making cartoons. I have been gravely misinformed in my youth...

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A Modern, But Random, Cool Fact

Speaking of modern times, if you’ve ever complained about TV ads being too long, just wait until you realize that Old Spice made a 14-hour promo. Their ad ran on December 18, 2018, in São Paulo, Brazil, and won the Guinness World Record for the longest TV ad ever. You can find the abridged version right here (don’t worry, it’s just over 3 minutes, not 3 hours long).

#17

ThatEricAlper tweets about American Gothic and portrait of farmer and his daughter

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chi-wei shen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The painter's sister Nan who modelled as the woman in the paintintg, perhaps embarrassed about being depicted as the wife of a man twice her age (modelled by a dentist), started telling people that Wood had envisioned the couple as father and daughter, not husband and wife. The painter Grant Wood himself remained vague on this point.

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A Source for More Daily Fun Facts

The internet continually proves that there are still things for us to learn. Luckily, someone took the ‘I was today years old’ concept and created a whole project around it. This initiative regularly shares new facts on social media, mainly Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), and their dedicated website.

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However, you can always check out Reddit for a daily dose of ‘I was today years old’ moments. Two groups, r/IWasTodayYearsOld and r/TodayYearsOld, are full of weird but true facts you might want to know about.

#24

TechConnectify tweets about word footage

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David Jeu
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This all make sense now. Btw love technology connections channel.:)

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#25

Sarahmcgphoto tweets about warning against going to sleep with a concussion and picture of woman holding her head

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Flisey
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was told "bumped his head in the middle of the bed" was really "his wife killed him'. My grandmother was one dark woman

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Got Your Own Fact to Share?

Here at Bored Panda, we are always eager to learn. Have you ever had an 'I was today years old' moment? Share it with other Panda users and us. Whether it’s funny, cool, or downright strange, if you find it interesting, share it in the comments below!

#26

todayyearsoldig tweets about Bikini Bottom houses and picture of Bikini Bottom house and car mufflers

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Untitled_Goose_Man
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How old were you when you realized Bikini Bottom is under Bikini Atoll, where the US tested hundreds of nuclear weapons? Spongebob is a nuclear mutation

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#27

RavenElyseTV tweets about pasta spoon and picture of pasta with spoon

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Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have known this for ages but forget to do it and always ended up cooking more pasta than needed.

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#28

BitchItsSpice tweets about yellow watermelon and picture of yellow and red watermelons

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Troux
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They taste identical, so don't bother going out of your way for it.

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#30

kevinddaly tweets about stock photo for the Mamma Mia! and picture of stock photo for Mamma Mia! and poster for Mamma Mia!

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Note: this post originally had 51 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.