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“What’s Your Favorite True Statistic That Makes People Do A Double Take When They Hear It?” (30 Answers)
Numbers can be very powerful. Even though a few bits of data cannot provide the full nuanced context about something, they can subtly change how we perceive the world. Random stats and facts are also one (albeit a slightly geeky) way to break the ice at social gatherings.
Redditor u/magica12 recently sparked an interesting discussion after asking the incredibly active r/AskReddit online community for their favorite true statistics that stun other people. We’ve collected some of the most interesting ones, and it’s quite likely some of them are going to be completely new to you, too, dear Pandas. Scroll down to see for yourselves.
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#1
Sharks have existed for longer than the North Star, by a considerable margin.
Not that sharks have existed for longer than the star was in position along Earth's rotational axis. Polaris, the star itself, only formed 70 million years ago, whereas the first sharks evolved **450 million** years ago.
Also, sharks are older than trees.
RELATED:
#2
51% of all Americans aged 16-72 cannot read above a 6th grade level, which makes it impossible for them to educate themselves on their own, as they lack vital skills in the areas of cross-referencing information or even finding a particular piece of given information in a body of text.
You can send that [insert political party here] person as many links to articles to prove your point as you want. They literally will not be able to understand them.
Edit: what's worse is that statistic is more than 20 years out of date and ~~education~~ classrooms have steadily been decreased funding since. The studies involved took place at the height of education in the US.
#3
There are greenland sharks up to 500 years old out there in the ocean. That means atleast one out there was born in the 1500s.
#4
For me its gotta be that hippos have a higher kill count yearly than sharks. Its a good example of confirmation bias, or at least as far as ive been able to tell. And i think its because pop culture has conditioned us to think of sharks as the one of the ultimate predators.
#6
Water blocks more radiation than the same amount of concrete or lead. And coffee grounds can set off Geiger Counters.
#7
America had twice as many deaths from Fentanyl in 2022 than all the U.S. casualties in Vietnam.
#9
Joe Biden was born closer to Lincoln’s second inauguration than his own inauguration.
No hot take, no politics, no comment, just a wild fact.
#10
The largest air force in the world is the US Air Force.
The 2nd largest air force in the world is the US Navy.
#11
The solved rate for murder in the USA is 50%.
If no arrest is made in the first 48 hours, it drops to 28%.
#12
Did you know that caterpillars have more muscles in their bodies than humans do? Mind blown, right?
#13
Not really statistics, but;
The lighter was invented before the match
Oxford University predates the Aztec empire
#14
The leading cause of death for pregnant American women is homicide.
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/hsph-in-the-news/homicide-leading-cause-of-death-for-pregnant-women-in-u-s/
#15
If you took away Wayne Gretzky’s goals he’d still lead the NHL in points just on his assists.
#16
Meerkats are the most homicidal animals on earth. ~20% of meerkat fatalities are due to other meerkats
#18
There are estimated to be more Earth-like planets in the Universe than grains of sand on Earth
#20
A deck of cards can be arranged in so many different ways that every time you shuffle a deck, it's (so statistically unlikely that it's fair to say) impossible that any deck of cards has ever been in that exact order.
#21
In a group of 23 people, there’s a 50% chance that at least 2 people in the group share a birthday. In a group of 57 people, there’s a 99% chance that at least 2 people in the group share a birthday.
Hellcaste's Wife 1 week ago
We have 19 people in my team. Two have the same birthday as my husband and one has the same as me and one has the same as my daughter. I take that as a sign I'm supposed to work there! LOL
#22
One thing that only happened yesterday: The youngest F1 driver on the grid was born *after* the oldest driver on the grid got his first win.
#23
If Kobe Bryant (RIP) took another 5000 free throw attempts and missed them all, he would still have a better career free throw percentage than Shaq.
#25
Coconuts do actually [migrate](https://academic.oup.com/aob/article/113/4/565/2768952?login=false), no swallows needed.
#26
If the earth was the size of a marble it would be the smoothest object you’ve ever encountered.
#27
About half of social security disability applications are never approved. I work in healthcare and many people think if they just get an attorney their application will definitely be approved. The statistics show otherwise. https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/statcomps/di_asr/2020/sect04.html
#28
Not a statistics, but scales.
The distance between the lowest point in the ocean and the highest peak is less than the length of Manhattan.
If you put all the planets in the solar system and line them up side by side. They fit between the moon and the earth with room to spare.
#29
For most mammals over 3kg, it’s takes about 20 seconds to evacuate the bladder.
(I just timed myself. 20.5 seconds)
#30
If you took the Edmund Fitzgerald and stuck it nose down on the lake bed at the point it sank, over 200 feet of it would be sticking out of the water.
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