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Who doesn't love learning new things? Our brain floods our body with dopamine when we see, to quote the American rock band Semisonic, an F. N. T. That stands for "fascinating new thing". And although the group was singing about a girl, the reference still stands, right? A spiky tiny mushroom or a transparent octopus can be a fascinating new thing too.

The subreddit r/fascinating then is heaven for those who want to satisfy their curiosity and get a dopamine rush. It's a Reddit community with over 40k members where people post interesting pictures and facts. Check out our selection from the subreddit below!

Bored Panda also got some thoughts from an insider. One of the moderators from r/fascinating, WeirdPineapple, was kind enough to answer some questions. Check out our short interview with him below!

#1

Ronald Mcnair, The Boy Who Refused To Leave The Library

Ronald Mcnair, The Boy Who Refused To Leave The Library

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glowworm2
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Tragically, this was one of the astronauts who died in the Challenger.

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The r/fascinating subreddit is not the only community that Weird Pineapple is a mod on. There are 9 communities in total under his wing. r/fascinating is the third on the list in terms of member count. 

Nevertheless, it still ranks in the top 5% percent of the largest communities on Reddit. And it's not only facts and pictures we can find there. Community members don't shy away from posting videos with interesting facts as well.

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    #3

    The Puffer Fish Skeleton And The Way It Works Is Simply A Marvel Of Nature

    The Puffer Fish Skeleton And The Way It Works Is Simply A Marvel Of Nature

    reddit.com Report

    We asked WeirdPineapple how he became one of the moderators for this community. "I originally became involved as I was working on a handful of projects, and /r/fascinating happened to be one of them."

    The mod tells Bored Panda that the subreddit wasn't in the best state when he came on board. "It was a bit dilapidated when we originally got there, but we managed to promote some growth and better content. It’s not perfect yet, but it’s been a long process that is not done yet."

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    #4

    The Lesser Known 1st Starry Night Painting By Vincent Van Gogh

    The Lesser Known 1st Starry Night Painting By Vincent Van Gogh

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    cat
    Community Member
    11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    After some research, it seems he repainted it because he wasn't satisfied with the colors and overall mood of this one, as he felt he didn't capture the true beauty and majesty of the night sky. In fact, he didn't even like the famous repainting we all know, because he felt it was too abstract. Reminder that your art and everything you put into this world is probably much more beautiful than you think. 💙

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    #6

    Rare Octopus With Completely Transparent Head

    Rare Octopus With Completely Transparent Head

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    The Redditor tells us why he holds this particular community dear to his heart. "This subreddit was a passion project I had alongside a tremendous team, who also helped build some of the biggest communities you still see on Reddit today. It had a solid foundation and just needed a push and some cleaning up.

    #7

    The Moon During A Total Solar Eclipse Revealing A Vast Solar Corona

    The Moon During A Total Solar Eclipse Revealing A Vast Solar Corona

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    #8

    Chinese Explorer Zheng He's Ship Compared To Christopher Columbus's Santa Maria. Both Lived And Sailed At The Same Time (Repost /R/Pics)

    Chinese Explorer Zheng He's Ship Compared To Christopher Columbus's Santa Maria. Both Lived And Sailed At The Same Time (Repost /R/Pics)

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    #9

    This Is How Mt. Fuji Cuts Through The Clouds

    This Is How Mt. Fuji Cuts Through The Clouds

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    This mod has extensive experience, yet the beginning of the subreddit was still a challenge. He says he used to spend a lot of time moderating the community. "But communities become more established and you incorporate a decent auto-mod system, you end up with a mostly autonomous community," WeirdPineapple explains. "Manual spam-removal is still essential, however," he adds.

    #10

    This Couple Met In Wwii, Then Got Married In Germany. The Wife Traded A Soldier Two Cartons Of Cigarettes For A Parachute To Make Her Wedding Dress

    This Couple Met In Wwii, Then Got Married In Germany. The Wife Traded A Soldier Two Cartons Of Cigarettes For A Parachute To Make Her Wedding Dress

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    #11

    The Canadian Rockies By Dan Schyk

    The Canadian Rockies By Dan Schyk

    TheWalkingBob Report

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    brookeannsimmer
    Community Member
    11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    As some who has only ever lived in flats lands, this is haunting in a way I don't have words for.

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    The Redditor says the most challenging part is monitoring trolls. "It’s mainly a battle of fighting paid spam and misinformation posts, as with many subreddits with any traction. I understand making a name for yourself or your community, it just needs to be done within the proper channels."

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    #13

    Oldest Living Thing On Earth. Methuselah, A Great Basin Bristlecone Pine, Is 4,853 Years Old

    Oldest Living Thing On Earth. Methuselah, A Great Basin Bristlecone Pine, Is 4,853 Years Old

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    Nonna_SoF
    Community Member
    11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Well, not quite. It's the oldest known living, non-clonal tree. There are a number of things older though. Expessially if you count clonal colonies, which can be in the 10s of thousands, and doubly so if you get into microorganisms that are potentially revivable, with at least one successful revival of a million year old organism and candidates for revival over 100 million years old.

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    #14

    This Tiny Mushroom (Possibly Mycena Subcyanocephala)

    This Tiny Mushroom (Possibly Mycena Subcyanocephala)

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    There's a somewhat fascinating fact about WeirdPineapple himself. He says working as a Reddit mod led to him starting a career as a professional racer. In fact, one of the communities he oversees, r/capps, is a place where he can document his achievements.

    #16

    What Lightning Does To Sand

    What Lightning Does To Sand

    Snotmeister Report

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    David Paterson
    Community Member
    11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is after polishing. Straight after the lightning strike it looks like opaque branching coral because it's coated in sand grains that have stuck to the surface.

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    #17

    Only Straight Lines

    Only Straight Lines

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    #18

    Monument Valley, Arizona By Paul B. Moore

    Monument Valley, Arizona By Paul B. Moore

    TheWalkingBob Report

    "I never expected where I’d end up when I started working with/on Reddit over a decade ago," the mod confesses. "But professional racing was not in the top five that I saw coming if I even had a top-five back then."

    #19

    Gerrymandering Explained: How Elections Are Stolen By Redistricting

    Gerrymandering Explained: How Elections Are Stolen By Redistricting

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    ЛеснойКороль(they/he)🇺🇦🇷🇺
    11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    i didn’t really realize this was a thing in the US until i read an article a while ago about it and it really made me wonder how you guys consider this to be “fair”, like i’m genuinely really curious.

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    #21

    Allegheny National Forest By Zack Frank

    Allegheny National Forest By Zack Frank

    TheWalkingBob Report

    The Reddit user also feels a lot of gratitude towards the platform and its other users. "I’m extremely thankful for what Reddit has been able to do for both me and the communities I oversee," WeirdPineapple says.

    #22

    Researchers Studied The Effects Of A 20-Minute Walk On The Cognitive Performance Of A Group Of Children. This Is Fascinating

    Researchers Studied The Effects Of A 20-Minute Walk On The Cognitive Performance Of A Group Of Children. This Is Fascinating

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    David Paterson
    Community Member
    11 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Need more info. For example, the measurement you're taking is probably blood flow, in which case obviously exercise increases blood flow. Also, without further information we don't know if this extra activity is due to damage repair, cleaning out the lactic acid toxins produced by the exercise.

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    #23

    This Is A Human Nervous System That Took Over 4000 Hours To Dissect. There Is Only 4 In The World

    This Is A Human Nervous System That Took Over 4000 Hours To Dissect. There Is Only 4 In The World

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    Fynne
    Community Member
    11 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There are a few more than four actually. 8 billion to be precise

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    We throw the word 'fascinating' around quite a bit here on this post. Oxford Learner's Dictionary describes it as being 'very interested.' But that doesn't really do it justice, does it? When we say that we're fascinated, it's not just that we find it very interesting. There's something stronger – it captivates our attention.

    #25

    A 3300 Year Old Wig

    A 3300 Year Old Wig

    Yes you read that right! This is the wig of Merit, wife of Kha, found in the tomb of the couple (TT8) in Thebes, present-day Luxor, Egypt. The wig was beautifully constructed of human hair. The wig can now be seen in the Museo Egizio, Torino, Italy.

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    Brightly
    Community Member
    11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The twisted ends are gorgeous! I bet this looked amazing on!!

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    #26

    This Is My Left Hand, I Was Born With It And I Can Still Do Plenty Of Stuff

    This Is My Left Hand, I Was Born With It And I Can Still Do Plenty Of Stuff

    OneHqnded Report

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    Katie Lutesinger
    Community Member
    11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I saw an old lady the other day who had just one finger and a thumb on each hand, and she was *amazingly* dextrous with them. Us humans are so adaptable!

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    #27

    This Is What All The Nerves For Your Teeth Look Like

    This Is What All The Nerves For Your Teeth Look Like

    Heath-Relecovo Report

    Simone Redaelli Ph.D. links fascination to mystery. "Fascination occurs when our attention is involuntarily captured by a given environment. Being a potential source of unprecedented knowledge, a mysterious setting easily attracts us and it is therefore a source of fascination."

    #28

    Taughannock Falls In Upstate New York By Paul Massie Photography

    Taughannock Falls In Upstate New York By Paul Massie Photography

    TheWalkingBob Report

    #30

    Comparison Of Actual Distances On The Mercator Projection Map

    Comparison Of Actual Distances On The Mercator Projection Map

    Heath-Relecovo Report

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    ЛеснойКороль(they/he)🇺🇦🇷🇺
    11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    i can’t remember the name of the map that is more accurately projected, but y’all, africa is HUGE. the whole continent can fit an insane amount of other countries in it (i think it’s like six chinas or something?) and this is coming from a russian. WE NEED MORE ACCURATE MAPS

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    We can say something similar about the entries on this list from /fascinating. The creators of the subreddit chose the name very aptly. Let us know which pictures captured your attention involuntarily. Upvote your favorites and let us know what you liked in the comments!

    #31

    Mathematical Analysis Of The Electrical Signals Fungi Seemingly Send To One Another Has Identified Patterns That Bear A Striking Structural Similarity To Human Speech

    Mathematical Analysis Of The Electrical Signals Fungi Seemingly Send To One Another Has Identified Patterns That Bear A Striking Structural Similarity To Human Speech

    Nourinn Report

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    #32

    A Man Standing In The Lumberyard Of Seattle Cedar Lumber Manufacturing. 1939

    A Man Standing In The Lumberyard Of Seattle Cedar Lumber Manufacturing. 1939

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    #33

    Crystal River - The Most Beautiful River On Earth

    Crystal River - The Most Beautiful River On Earth

    harveydana Report

    #35

    Baby Pacific Pomfret Hitching A Ride On A Baby Jellyfish (Three Angles)

    Baby Pacific Pomfret Hitching A Ride On A Baby Jellyfish (Three Angles)

    oceanxorg Report

    #36

    Donut Graph Visualizing Composition Of Earth's Surface

    Donut Graph Visualizing Composition Of Earth's Surface

    Heath-Relecovo Report

    #38

    Glacier National Park, Montana By Galyna Andrushko

    Glacier National Park, Montana By Galyna Andrushko

    TheWalkingBob Report

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    Anon Ymous
    Community Member
    11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The Canadian side (Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park) is beautiful too!

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    #39

    Chart Showing Mouth Locations Used For Phonetics In The International Phonetic Alphabet (Ipa) Along With English Examples

    Chart Showing Mouth Locations Used For Phonetics In The International Phonetic Alphabet (Ipa) Along With English Examples

    Heath-Relecovo Report

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    #40

    Picture Of Comet 67p/Churyumov–gerasimenko With A City For Scale

    Picture Of Comet 67p/Churyumov–gerasimenko With A City For Scale

    pHorniCaiTe Report

    #41

    Apostle Islands National Lakeshore In Wisconsin By Bryan Neuswanger

    Apostle Islands National Lakeshore In Wisconsin By Bryan Neuswanger

    TheWalkingBob Report

    #42

    Alexander The Great, Based On His Busts And Ancient Accounts Of Him

    Alexander The Great, Based On His Busts And Ancient Accounts Of Him

    the_bridgeburner Report

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    LonelyLittleLeafSheep
    Community Member
    11 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    But how did they know what color his eyes were? Edit: kind of looks like Gerard Butler when he was younger.

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    #43

    Fascinating Facts

    Fascinating Facts

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    JayWantsACat
    Community Member
    11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I assumed this was one of us Americans. It's sad that I'm actually pleasantly surprised it wasn't us this time.

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    #44

    Wendy The Whippet With Myostatin Gene Mutation

    Wendy The Whippet With Myostatin Gene Mutation

    Primo2000 Report

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    Kira Okah
    Community Member
    11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Her name is Wendy, she lived a perfectly healthy and normal life. She died in 2017 at just shy of 14.

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    #45

    The Way You Can See The Truck Through These Pipes

    The Way You Can See The Truck Through These Pipes

    BattleNo6108 Report

    #46

    Stereoscopy - The Optical Illusion Of Seeing A Picture In 3D Without Equipment. Cross Your Eyes Until The Images Overlap To See The Effect

    Stereoscopy - The Optical Illusion Of Seeing A Picture In 3D Without Equipment. Cross Your Eyes Until The Images Overlap To See The Effect

    ripples2288 Report

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    Fynne
    Community Member
    11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Don’t cross your eyes. Instead, hold the phone up against your nose and slowly move it away from your face. It should form a 3D image

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    #48

    Theodore Roosevelt National Park In North Dakota By Zak Zeinert

    Theodore Roosevelt National Park In North Dakota By Zak Zeinert

    TheWalkingBob Report

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    Miss Frankfurter
    Community Member
    11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Thank you Theodore Roosevelt for the establishment of the concept of National Parks.

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    #49

    This Was The Scene When Driving Through Paradise, California During The Fires On The 8th November.... Photo; Oakland Firefighters Local 55

    This Was The Scene When Driving Through Paradise, California During The Fires On The 8th November.... Photo; Oakland Firefighters Local 55

    Majortom80 Report

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    J. Norton
    Community Member
    11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I drove through a little less than a year after it happened and it was just surreal. You could *feel* the pain & horror, just awful.....💔

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    #50

    Full Contact National Lightsaber League And Tournament

    Full Contact National Lightsaber League And Tournament

    SlamSlayer1 Report

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    #51

    A Different Facial Reconstruction That Shocked Me A Couple Of Years Back..king Tutankhamun

    A Different Facial Reconstruction That Shocked Me A Couple Of Years Back..king Tutankhamun

    s0me0ne_else Report

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    EliR
    Community Member
    11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    New reconstructions from autopsies showed that in real life he had a very distinct underbite and cleft pallet and other issues as a result of incest like a curved spine with some fused vertebrae, it’s very interesting to read about.

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    #52

    Chart Of "Big Five" Psychological Traits Broken Down Into Sub-Facets

    Chart Of "Big Five" Psychological Traits Broken Down Into Sub-Facets

    Heath-Relecovo Report

    #53

    Counties Where A Language Other Than English Is The Most Spoken, According To The Us Census

    Counties Where A Language Other Than English Is The Most Spoken, According To The Us Census

    StrawWordXbox Report

    #54

    Herbivore Megafauna Of Modern Europe

    Herbivore Megafauna Of Modern Europe

    zek_997 Report

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    David Paterson
    Community Member
    11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I looked it up, and any terrestrial mammal weighing more than 100 kg is counted as megafauna. That includes me.

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    #55

    Andrew Jackson (1844) - First Photograph Of Any Us President

    Andrew Jackson (1844) - First Photograph Of Any Us President

    Chibs24K Report

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    Shoe
    Community Member
    11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    He also was also responsible for the Indian Removal Act and the Trail of Tears.

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    #56

    A Stack Of Wasps. Not Sure If They're Fightin' Or Fornicatin'

    A Stack Of Wasps. Not Sure If They're Fightin' Or Fornicatin'

    taintmyrealname Report

    #57

    Worlds Largest Jellyfish? What Can It Be?

    Worlds Largest Jellyfish? What Can It Be?

    19°23'06.7"N 37°19'49.5"E found on Google Maps at these coordinates

    icadeer Report

    #58

    Uss Bennington Sailing By The Wreck Of Uss Arizona, Honolulu, Us Territory Of Hawaii, 30 May 1958

    Uss Bennington Sailing By The Wreck Of Uss Arizona, Honolulu, Us Territory Of Hawaii, 30 May 1958

    5MikesOut Report

    #59

    Old Bottle Caps From Tailgates Past At Miller Park

    Old Bottle Caps From Tailgates Past At Miller Park

    sunflower53069 Report

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    Zephyr343
    Community Member
    11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Why does this not surprise me it is in WI? Oh, and Summer Shandy is a really good beer.

    #60

    I Teared Off A Sticker And What Appears Was A Pretty Accurate Map Of The World

    I Teared Off A Sticker And What Appears Was A Pretty Accurate Map Of The World

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