Bored Panda works better on our iPhone app

Continue in app Continue in browser

People Share The Scariest Science Facts They Know (40 Answers)

Interview With Expert

ADVERTISEMENT

The scientific world isn’t just about inventing new gadgets and discovering new planets and species. Pushing the boundaries of human knowledge can be… very uncomfortable at times. Some of the things that researchers discover can be quite disturbing. Like the fact that human brain organoids can be used to create bioprocessors, which is something almost straight out of a dystopian movie.
The members of the r/AskReddit online community revealed some of the scariest science facts they know. We’ve collected some of the most intriguing ones that you might not have been aware of, Pandas. Scroll down to read up on some things that might make you reevaluate how you see the world. But a word of warning: these might keep you up at night!
We wanted to learn more about pushing the boundaries of scientific knowledge, so we got in touch with N. Otre Le Vant, the author of 'On Progress in Physics and Subjectivity Theory’ and the founder of Inisev. Read on for Bored Panda's full interview with him.

This post may include affiliate links.

#1

People Share The Scariest Science Facts They Know (40 Answers) Trauma can cause structural changes to your brain. PTSD is literally an injury.

PsychologicalBend467 , Alex Green / Pexels Report

Final score:

246points

View more comments

Bored Panda asked N. Otre Le Vant, who researches progress in science and uses a pseudonym on purpose, about his thoughts on scientific boundaries that should potentially not be pushed.

"Since the dawn of humanity, discoveries in science and technology have always had two sides: the good and the bad. Nuclear energy can be used to build an atomic bomb, but it can also solve our energy problems. Dynamite can be used in war, but it can also help us access valuable resources by breaking through rock in mining. Even a stone can be used in two ways: to crack open a coconut or to hit someone’s head," he was kind enough to explain to us in an email.

According to the expert, the way to tackle this challenge is to learn to handle our knowledge responsibly.

#2

People Share The Scariest Science Facts They Know (40 Answers) I only recently learned that when you get sunburned, the burn isn’t because of skin cell damage. The UV radiation damages the DNA. Then the skin cells decide to commit s***ide and fall off so that the damaged DNA doesn’t produce cancer. I’ll never be mad at my skin peeling again.

TheJWeed , Rachel Claire / Pexels Report

Final score:

232points

View more comments

ADVERTISEMENT

#3

People Share The Scariest Science Facts They Know (40 Answers) I don't think this is scary, but some tin-foil-hat types might.

The frequency range that 5G utilizes is the shared with the C-Band frequency range, which commercial satellites have been utilizing for the past 50+ years. If 5G frequencies do anything to humans (They do not) then they have been doing it on a global scale for decades.

Source: I'm a senior engineer at a global satcom company.

Ocksu2 , Robin Kearney / Flickr Report

Final score:

186points

View more comments

"Stopping science is equivalent to stopping to think. It’s also impossible: if we decide to halt certain scientific pursuits, who determines what type of science is permissible and what is not? This is similar to free speech. While some free speech can cause harm, restricting it raises the question: who decides what can be said, and what cannot? Such restrictions are always prone to misuse," he said.

N. Otre Le Vant added that there's no other path forward other than to continue to push science and technology. After all, it's them that we have to thank for the high living standards we can enjoy in this day and age. "We just have to learn how to handle these advancements responsibly."

ADVERTISEMENT

#4

People Share The Scariest Science Facts They Know (40 Answers) Homeopathy does not work and it's only proven effects derive from the so-called placebo effect.

FormalExplanation412 , Nataliya Vaitkevich / Pexels Report

Final score:

182points

View more comments

#5

People Share The Scariest Science Facts They Know (40 Answers) Reverting global warming does not unmelt the south pole.

Antarctica is a giant ice mountain (size of US+Canada, average 1km thick) on top of land that is studded by plates of ice in the sea. Think of a very slow moving pudding held in place by a little edge.
All the modeling suggests that once you lose those plates, eventually all the ice will slide into the water.

To refreeze the plates once they are gone, you need an ice age of about -2C to preindustrial, or -3C to current.

There is a 70m of sea level rise of ice on the south pole. The models swing widely on how long it takes to melt on a bunch of factors, but it could be less than 2 centuries for the first 10m.

So either we geoengineer to cool at least the south pole by a tremendous amount, or to hold the ice in place, or in time all coastal regions are lost.
The plates are still in place, but the warmest one is showing signs of stress and thinning. It is linked to 7m of sea level rise if it fails.

To me this is more threatening than any other climate change catastrophe.

sanderjk , Pixabay / Pexels Report

Final score:

178points

View more comments

ADVERTISEMENT

#6

People Share The Scariest Science Facts They Know (40 Answers) If you're exposed to rabies and start to show symptoms, your chance of survival is virtually zero percent.

DonkeyTron42 , Polina Tankilevitch / Pexels Report

Final score:

168points

Lyone Fein 3 months ago

This is why we always go to the ER for a rabies shot after being bitten by a random dog.

81points

Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 3 months ago

Or any other potential wild animal. Racoons and squirrels look cute but they carry rabies as well as any other host.

44points

Load More Replies...

Soy 3 months ago

It's counterintuitive that you can get vaccinated after you get infected, but it works.

18points

Nadine Debard 3 months ago

Even a little scratch with teeth, not only a bite, and every animal, not only dogs.

13points

Rebecca Joan 3 months ago

How many times are you bitten by random dogs?

6points

Kristie Jones 3 months ago

Or any mammal, though I doubt orcas and other sea mammals encounter rabies much.

5points

CP 3 months ago

How often does it happen?

5points

Kurt Schilling 3 months ago

Add just about any critter/varmit that bites you. With the exception of Humans. We carry AIDS and Ebola.

3points

N G 3 months ago

This makes me angry and foam at the mouth

15points

Nadine Debard 3 months ago

And afraid of water?

12points

Load More Replies...

Upstaged75 3 months ago (edited)

There's also bat lyssavirus in Australia. Basically the same thing, with similar symptoms/death rate. I saw a story about a little boy who got bit by a bat and by the time his parents realized he was sick (he didn't tell them he was bitten) it was too late. It's a horrible way to die. :(

9points

Jenna Kay 3 months ago (edited)

There is a list of countries considered rabies-free! https://petraveller.com.au/blog/understanding-rabies-country-classification#

0points

Load More Replies...

Panda Kicki 3 months ago

I was bit by a confirmed rabies dog (shot by police). Didnt trust local healthcare, so went home to Sweden, as I knew I had at least a few days to vaccinate. 18 hours later the exotic disiease unit was thrilled to treat me, I was the first rabies patient in years. Several shots later I was fine and now I do booster shots for updates.

8points

Thom Serveaux 3 months ago

Not to be that guy, but...not quite. There's the Milwaukee protocol, invented after a wisconsin teen got bitten by a bat. They took some wild steps and she survived, even though she didn't get the vaccine in time. It almost never works, though, and saying rabies has a 100% fatality rate is not far from reality.

7points

Al Padilla 2 months ago

Of the (rare!) rabies survivors, a large proportion have major cognitive deficits - so they could run for U.S. president as Republicans, I guess.

2points

Load More Replies...

Vera Diblikova 3 months ago

In Czechia this year is a first case of rabies in 20 years. We are a real dog lovers and we bring in return of holidays or vacancies with us feral dogs from countries where isnˇt such a strong vaccination (in forests for wild beasts - foxes, baggers, wolfs etc). like here. May be the case is this. When I ask my vet about vaccination for my biddy Valinka - here isn´t any rabies, why vaccine - he told me - only thank to vaccination.

7points

Becky Samuel 3 months ago

If you want your vet to comply with ravies vaccination, tell them you're applying for a pet passport. This has the vaccination as a requirement.

13points

Load More Replies...

Lauren Hilligas 3 months ago

I believe the general amount of time for symptoms to start is most commonly 2 weeks to a month. Usually flu-like symptoms are the first signs. But people often don't associate the first symptoms with the initial source of infection because the wound itself has already healed and is gone. They usually just think it's a cold or the flu.

6points

Jenna Kay 3 months ago

It can take months to develop as well, so sometimes people don't even remember the scratch or nip that caused it by then.

3points

Load More Replies...

Sharkie 3 months ago

I have read that some people survived after the symptoms appeared. Like 2? Or 5? From the whole history of mankind. I am terrified of rabies. But when I was bitten by a wild mouse, I went to the hospital to ask for the rabies shots and they told me, it's very unlikely I could have rabies, because there have been no known instances in many years... Our country has all dogs mandatory vaccinated and hopefully I won't be the one crazy coincidence proving the nurse wrong.

6points

Colleen Glim 3 months ago

The dogs might be vaccinated, but are the raccoons, skunks, bats,etc?

2points

Load More Replies...

Rayne OfSalt 3 months ago

The rabies virus does not exist in Australia. That's why our biosecurity laws about bringing pets to the country are so strict.

3points

Bernd Herbert 3 months ago

Get the vaccination, people!

3points

Dragon mama 3 months ago

And incubation is several months up to a year, so never assumer you don't have it because you "feel fine" after a week or two. Get seen.

2points

EmAdoresHerKats🇮🇪🇩🇿🇵🇸 3 months ago

God that's so scary.

2points

Jenna Kay 3 months ago

Take this advice "See a stray, stay away!" My daughter's advice as a rabies coordinator - she sends people for shots weekly. Right now, there is a cat colony in her area that has had several positive tests, they have warned people on the news, yet people keep going to try and play with these feral cats!

2points

Load More Replies...

Earl Grey 3 months ago

Use of monoclonal antibodies is showing promise as a future treatment modality.

1point

Broadredpanda 3 months ago

Only one girl I know (not personally, she was on "somethings killing me") survived after a plasma exchange. I'm not saying anyone else would survive after this. This girl was so close to death that it really was a miracle. She was from America.

1point

Lauren Hilligas 3 months ago

I have read extensively on the subject of rabies because I live in an area with a lot of bats. Like, A LOT OF BATS. So I'm pretty terrified of it.

1point

V.vi 3 months ago

Wait does that include hospital treatment? Like If someone's exposed to rabies and shows symptoms then go to the ER, is it still too late? There's no cure? If so, why get a vaccine AFTER you get bitten by a dog? Like what is it gonna help? I don't think I fully understand this one

1point

Terran 3 months ago

I don't know how long you actually have, but the rabies take their sweet time, so even if you are infected you can still vaccinate. Your body learns fast enough from the vaccine, that it can effectively fight the actual disease

4points

Load More Replies...

Jenna Kay 3 months ago

Once you show symptoms, it's too late. No, there is no cure. The vaccine passes through the body faster than the rabies virus can, so if you get the full vaccine treatment (4 shots over two weeks), you will be okay. The vast majority of animals are not carriers, however if you get bit, it is best to try and get the animal to a vet or animal shelter ASAP. They will either hold the animal to see if it develops symptoms (usually done for pet bites), or kill the animal to test it (only way to know is examine the brain).

1point

Terran 3 months ago

And no, when you show symptoms, there is no treatment that is effective enough, when it has infected your brain, it's game over for you

1point

Pamelot 3 months ago

Zero?!! Nip, nada. After being bitten, how long until symptoms begin?!

1point

Spring Fisk 3 months ago (edited)

there has been a hand full of people that have survived recently. there was an American teen that had it and they put her in a coma until the effect of the rabies had go through her body. she survived and it may be that other doctors are trying that as a few other people have survived also. more info https://www.nature.com/scitable/blog/viruses101/is_rabies_really_100_fatal/#:~:text=Jeanna%20Geise%20was%20only%2015,known%20as%20the%20Milwaukee%20Protocol.

5points

Load More Replies...

Jenna Kay 3 months ago

A few weeks to a few months - get bit, go get vaccinated!

1point

07000 3 months ago

In rare instances, even several years before symptoms appear. Depends on how far from the brain the bite is: as virus needs to travel along the nerves to the brain.

0points

Donald Holder 2 months ago (edited)

This is all depending on country and it's wealth. The places like the United States and Canada. There hasn't been a single case of Rabies successfully transmitted to a human in over 125 years. And the most common animal that carries rabies is the Bat, not wolves or coyotes domestic dogs. And it isn't a death sentence for the bats like is pretty wildly insinuated in movies. It's just like the Koala Bears in Australia, they carry the same disease and strain of chlamydia that is deadly to humans if not treated. But does not affect the Koala.

0points

Al Padilla 2 months ago

Some years ago, I (a human endocrinologist) would occasionally help my wife in her veterinary practice, by helping to hold her patients. In order to do so, I was prophylactically vaccinated against rabies. Now, if I (a New York resident) bite somebody, they don't have to send my head to Albany.

0points

Lowrider 56 3 months ago

I've seen a video of a man dying from rabies. It's not pretty or for the faint of heart.

0points

Bill Kinsey 3 months ago

Wrong. A close family friend survived. My dad--a vet--was bitten by rabid dogs numerous times, but the jabs always prevented infection.

0points

SmooshyFries 3 months ago

A rabid bat barely grazed my finger but I still had to get all rabies's vaccines. The darn lil creature came in to my office building and ppl were trying to take pictures with it so I caught it to protect them dummies. I put gloves on and captured it between two small boxes but it still managed to nip my finger. I immediately put alcohol on it and there was 0 sting but once the bat came back positive for rabies , you absolutely get the shot s. rabies,

0points

BarkingSquirell 3 months ago

And the needles for treatment if one does seek help immediately are thick as all heck.

0points

Beth Wheeler 3 months ago

And then Urgent Care for the rest of the series of the shots.

0points

Happyhappyhappy 3 months ago

That’s why my number 1 fear is rabies

0points

Pitbull Dad 3 months ago

I recently had the rabies vaccine. My insurance was billed 70k! Fortunately I was on the hook for "only" 2k.

0points

deletemyaccount 3 months ago

Not exactly zero but close enough. Ive read that 1 person has survived but with serious brain damage.

0points

PlsDo NotDelete 3 months ago

Per the CDC, March 2024: Less than 20 cases of human survival from clinical rabies have been documented. Only a few survivors had no history of rabies vaccination before disease onset.

1point

Load More Replies...

El hefe 3 months ago

How long?

0points

Becky Samuel 3 months ago

It varies from person to person, but can in rare circumstances be several years.

2points

Load More Replies...

View more comments

Meanwhile, some facts about the world can make people a bit uncomfortable. We asked the scientific progress researcher for his thoughts on how they can deal with this anxiety. He shared a few possible strategies to help with this.

First of all, he pointed out that our brains have evolved to focus on risks and negatives. It's a survival mechanism that's hard-wired into us. If we understand and recognize this, we can then reduce our anxiety.

The expert also urged everyone to try to focus on the positives. "Scientific discoveries often lead to beneficial advancements," he said that focusing on these can help us develop a more optimistic perspective on science and life.

In the meantime, we should all strive to limit how long we dwell on any unsettling facts that we learn about. To put it bluntly, it's unproductive. "Instead, focus on areas where we can make a positive impact and engage with topics that inspire and uplift us."

ADVERTISEMENT

#7

People Share The Scariest Science Facts They Know (40 Answers) Blue whale fart bubbles are big enough to hold a racehorse.

soldinio , Elianne Dipp / Pexels Report

Final score:

164points

View more comments

#8

People Share The Scariest Science Facts They Know (40 Answers) All onions (all veggies in the Allium family) are toxic to dogs. Worst senario then can develop is AIHA, Auto immune hemolytic annemia, whereas the body destroys its own red blood cells. This disease is about 80% fatal. My dog caught it (we are not sure from where) but is was a primary disease (not a result of a cancer). We think he was eating leeks out of the garden. Took a week in the hospital, 2 blood transfusions, and about 6 months of meds to get him back. He started at 45lbs and was down to 19lbs at the worst part of it.

crusttysack , Michael Burrows / Pexels Report

Final score:

153points

View more comments

ADVERTISEMENT

#9

People Share The Scariest Science Facts They Know (40 Answers) 50% of insects have disappeared since 1970. Insect population is down 27% in the last 30 years. Declining between 1 and 4% each year depending on the genus.

Magoogooo , Quang Nguyen Vinh / Pexels Report

Final score:

149points

View more comments

ADVERTISEMENT

Learning more about people, nature, our planet, and the cosmos might be exhilarating, sure. But it can also be downright frightening at times. The more you learn, the more questions you have about how everything works. It’s a humbling experience to realize how little we actually know despite being well-educated.

On top of that, you can uncover a lot of terrifying stuff about how things actually work when your curiosity makes you leave your comfort zone. Whether that’s learning more about climate change, what black holes would do if you were to fall in one (hello, spaghettification), or how the circle of life might be less about balance and more about brutal chaos.

“Some species exclude all others in particular tracts. Where is the balance? When the locust devastates vast regions and causes the death of animals and man, what is the meaning of saying the balance is preserved… To human apprehension there is no balance but a struggle in which one often exterminates another,” wrote British naturalist and explorer Alfred Russel Wallace.

#10

There is a naturally occurring thought in many humans named “The Call of the Void” where, without reason, humans see a way they could die and they wonder whether they should kill themselves, even if they have no real intention of doing so

Edit: Yes, the true term is “L’appel du Vide”, the French term for “Call of the Void”. Also, thanks for the awards! I believe this is my first gold.

Pixelpeoplewarrior Report

Final score:

145points

View more comments

ADVERTISEMENT

#11

People Share The Scariest Science Facts They Know (40 Answers) Microplastics in the food and water supplies are crossing the blood/brain barrier.

Shhh.

MonsieurReynard , Helena Lopes / Pexels Report

Final score:

132points

View more comments

#12

Many antibiotics make hormonal birth control stop working. Not just a fact but a warning.

stopnoyoustop Report

Final score:

127points

View more comments

It’s easy to start getting anxious about all the ways the world could end or how a small accident could lead us to get hurt or worse. Some people develop phobias about certain things in part due to their genetics, and partly due to the environment in which they were raised. For example, if you had a particularly traumatic experience or your parents were scared of something, you might end up developing a phobia related to spiders, deep water, dogs, heights, eating in public, etc.

Dealing with anxiety and moving on from your phobias is a lot of hard work. Often, it’s worth getting in touch with a licensed counselor or psychologist who specializes in handling fears. They might suggest that you try something like exposure therapy and mindfulness techniques to react differently than you usually do when you feel distressed.

ADVERTISEMENT

#13

People Share The Scariest Science Facts They Know (40 Answers) Antimicrobial Resistance

The bacteria are getting resistant to the medicine much faster than the rate at which we are producing new medicine.

Soon we will reach a scenario when antibiotics cannot treat simple yet lethal infections.

anon , Chokniti Khongchum / Pexels Report

Final score:

124points

View more comments

#14

People Share The Scariest Science Facts They Know (40 Answers) Brain aneurisms can be completely unpredictable and can happen at anytime in your life no matter how healthy you are. A kid who I went to high school with at the age of 16 just did not wake up one morning and his cause of death was a brain aneurism.

To_Fight_The_Night , Robina Weermeijer / Unsplash Report

Final score:

116points

View more comments

#15

If your dog swims in a lake after receiving a spot on flea treatment - it absolutely decimates the invertebrate population.

A large dog swimming in 8 Olympic swimming pools worth of water soon after treatment will leech enough neurotoxin to kill 50% of the lake's invertebrate population within 48 hours. I say "after" I mean relatively soon after, within say a day, to have an effect quite this devistating. The leeching does reduce over the month, but it's still there and the effect of multiple dogs still allows for a terrible buildup of chemicals.

pbourree Report

Final score:

114points

View more comments

ADVERTISEMENT

For example, someone might be scared of deep bodies of water (they develop thalassophobia) because they might have learned something disturbing about them or they nearly drowned in the past. Exposure therapy in this particular case could include looking at photos of the sea and listening to the sound of the waves while the therapist guides the person and reminds them that they’re not at risk.

What is the scariest science fact that you personally know, dear Pandas? Which of the facts in this list creeped you out the most? How do you deal with the anxiety that comes from knowing too much about how scary the world can be? If you have a moment, share your thoughts in the comments section. For science!

#16

People Share The Scariest Science Facts They Know (40 Answers) That you should never use bleach to clean cat pee.
The combination creates Chlorine gas that is very toxic.

younaughtypossum , Nothing Ahead / Pexels Report

Final score:

112points

View more comments

#17

There's many unknown and forgotten diseases trapped in the permafrost and it's slowly but surely melting away. There's been a few cases in Russia (while exploring for oil/gas I believe) of people dying of strange diseases that we have no idea how to treat, because they've basically been hidden there since before medicine even existed. Some could be contagious, we just know very little about it.

Incorect_Speling Report

Final score:

111points

View more comments

ADVERTISEMENT

#18

Magnolia plants are so old that they predate the evolution of pollination by bees. They were pollinated by beetles :).

Final score:

106points

View more comments

#19

People Share The Scariest Science Facts They Know (40 Answers) The plague is still out there. The Bubonic Plague is endemic in many parts of the world, but cases are very rare because we've got it pretty well handled.

If there's a general breakdown in society like a nuclear war, super volcano eruption or asteroid impact?

It's out there waiting to come back.

gogojack , Nandhu Kumar / Pexels Report

Final score:

104points

View more comments

#20

People Share The Scariest Science Facts They Know (40 Answers) The youngest persons who developed Alzheimer's were around 25 years old. One lady got diagnosed with it at 31 while pregnant.

Btw, when you get the disease at like 65, it didn't suddenly begin. It has been creeping up and ravaging your brain for at least 20 years if not more. You just didn't realise it because our brain is very good at compensating damages until it cannot. Basically, the day you lose yourself in the supermarket, it's too late, your brain is mostly mush and there is so far nothing you can do.

That mean that if you are 40-60 years old and reading this, chances are that some of you already started to experience the onset of alzheimer's brain degeneration, it's just not advanced enough for you to realise it.

Have a nice day !

Matrozi , cottonbro studio / Pexels Report

Final score:

100points

View more comments

ADVERTISEMENT

#21

I learned about Ton 618 the other day. My facts here may be mildly incorrect, feel free to google.

It’s a black hole about 10.3 billion light years away, but we can still detect the massive amount of light bending around it. It’s so large, they had to make a new category of black hole for it called “Ultramassive Black Holes”. It’s believed to be the largest “thing” in the universe. It’s diameter is **14 times** the diameter of Neptunes orbit. So it could fit our entire solar system in it 14 times across, side to side. If the black hole replaced our sun, we would be deleted. If it replaced the black hole that is currently at the centre of the Milky Way, within 120 years the Milky Way would be deleted. This black hole doesn’t swallow planets, it swallows entire *Galaxies*.

The idea of this thing freaks me the f**k out.

Edit: Woah I went for a nap and this blew Tf up. Most upvoted comment of all time, les gooo

So yeah I was mistaken a few times here; like if the black hole replaced ours it would take 120 years to destroy *us*, not the entire galaxy. The black hole is larger than I originally said, and true black holes don’t technically give off light, but they are pretty much “surrounded by light”.

I typed this out from memory and sadly my memory is pure garbage, but still I’m glad this encouraged you folks to look more into it and stuff. Space is cool and terrifying, huh?

TTungsteNN Report

Final score:

98points

View more comments

ADVERTISEMENT

#22

Airplanes are dynamically stable, but helicopters are dynamically unstable. That means, if an airplane pilot lets go of the controls of a small plane with no autopilot, if it's correctly trimmed and balanced it will keep flying level until it runs out of fuel. If a helicopter pilot lets go of the controls, in about 2.4 seconds, it will tip over to such a degree that it is unrecoverable. We can let go of one control (the collective) for a little while by frictioning it in place to change the radio, adjust something, scratch our nose or whatever - but it's friction on, do the thing with the left hand, friction off and hand back on the collective. We fly three seconds away from falling out of the sky all the time.

(But then that's also kinda the same for bicycles, although they can only tip left and right, not every direction. Subconsciously, you are always adusting your weight and controlling the steering to stay upright - same thing in a heli. You balance on a column of air, and you keep balancing the whole time, just like on a bike. You don't even notice, you just do it.).

WriterofWords2021 Report

Final score:

97points

View more comments

ADVERTISEMENT

#23

People Share The Scariest Science Facts They Know (40 Answers) Activated charcoal in foods and drinks can decrease the effectiveness of any medications you take. Those "instagrammable" black foods can end up killing you if you're not careful.

avril04 , Polina Tankilevitch / Pexels Report

Final score:

94points

View more comments

#24

People Share The Scariest Science Facts They Know (40 Answers) Microplastics are revealed in the placentas of unborn babies.

SuperfluouslySlims , Leah Newhouse / Pexels Report

Final score:

89points

View more comments

#25

People Share The Scariest Science Facts They Know (40 Answers) So many people will struggle with infertility. It's not talked about or really discussed in middle school or highschool in health class. When it happens, it's such a shock to the families and they are completely unprepared. The numbers are going up as well. Statistical 1/4 pregnancies end in miscarriage. Which is pretty high but again, miscarriage isn't discussed.

Doromclosie , Kampus Production / Pexels Report

Final score:

87points

View more comments

#26

People Share The Scariest Science Facts They Know (40 Answers) A lot of people in rural towns with an elevated cemetery around (this happens in Ireland a lot)….there is formaldehyde leaking into the drinking water. But it won’t kill you, but the thought of drinking dead people juice is probably equally bad. Sorry not sorry.

PurnimaTitha , Andrea Piacquadio / Pexels Report

Final score:

81points

View more comments

ADVERTISEMENT

#27

People Share The Scariest Science Facts They Know (40 Answers) When doing an autopsy they don’t put the organs back where they belong, they are all stored in the belly.

Chariatid , Nick Youngson CC BY-SA 3.0 Alpha Stock Images Report

Final score:

77points

View more comments

#28

Limnic eruptions.

There are pockets of Co2 trapped under lakes all around the world that can be released at anytime creating an invisible tidal wave that kills everything in its path. Since it's heavier than air you will just suddenly start choking and die.

MurderDoneRight Report

Final score:

77points

View more comments

#29

Politics plays a huge part in scientific research.

Final score:

77points

View more comments

#30

An electric current of only 20mA is enough to stop your heart and kill you. Under the right conditions, even a nine volt battery can be lethal

Tldr: we humans are incredibly easy to kill.

Ka0z_WARRIOR Report

Final score:

76points

View more comments

ADVERTISEMENT

See Also on Bored Panda

Dutch Swimmer Goes Viral For Super Revealing Trunks During 2024 Olympics: “Is This Legal?”

Dutch Swimmer Goes Viral For Super Revealing Trunks During 2024 Olympics: “Is This Legal?”

Dutch Swimmer Goes Viral For Super Revealing Trunks During 2024 Olympics: “Is This Legal?”

Thrill-Seeking Diver Jumps Down Extreme Waterslide, Ignoring The Strict Ban For Women

Thrill-Seeking Diver Jumps Down Extreme Waterslide, Ignoring The Strict Ban For Women

Thrill-Seeking Diver Jumps Down Extreme Waterslide, Ignoring The Strict Ban For Women

#31

Approximately 30% (in some reports) of the world's population have the parasite toxoplasma gondii in their brain. For a long time it's through to have been a benign presence, but recent statistical research shows that it may have an impact on things like levels of anger and rates of accidents and suicide.

When gondii is on rats it changes their behaviour so that they find the smell of cat urine sexually appealing. So they find cats and get eaten. In the gut of the cat the parasite can reproduce.

nervouscrying Report

Final score:

74points

View more comments

#32

You can overdose on water. Basically you dilute the normal chemical balance of your body so much you can cause serious damage, it's called hyponatremia.
In an EMT class, I heard a story of an old woman who bought distilled nutrient free water, normally used for ironing clothes or something, because it was cheaper, she had to call 911 and it took a while to figure out the problem.

Reddennisit Report

Final score:

70points

View more comments

ADVERTISEMENT

See Also on Bored Panda

Woman Put A Water Fountain With A Camera In Her Yard, Here Are 24 Photos Of Regular Visitors (New Pics)

Woman Put A Water Fountain With A Camera In Her Yard, Here Are 24 Photos Of Regular Visitors (New Pics)

Woman Put A Water Fountain With A Camera In Her Yard, Here Are 24 Photos Of Regular Visitors (New Pics)

“Ma’am I Live Here”: Woman Refuses To Back Out Of Driveway, Learns A Lesson The Hard Way

“Ma’am I Live Here”: Woman Refuses To Back Out Of Driveway, Learns A Lesson The Hard Way

“Ma’am I Live Here”: Woman Refuses To Back Out Of Driveway, Learns A Lesson The Hard Way

#33

People Share The Scariest Science Facts They Know (40 Answers) At any given time the Earth can be hit with a gamma ray burst. We won’t see it coming since it moves at the speed of light and all life apart from deep underground or deep in the ocean will be wiped out in minutes. Although unlikely it can happen at any time.

anon , NEOM / Pexels Report

Final score:

69points

View more comments

#34

Heart muscle cells don’t reproduce much in adults (roughly 1% per year). If you have an infarction or other stressor that kills those cells, then your heart wont be able to “grow” new cells to replace the dead ones. This is why patients with diseases like heart failure end up needing a heart transplant. Trying to get this process to happen is a major goal for many cardiac researchers.

Keiterchip Report

Final score:

67points

View more comments

#35

People Share The Scariest Science Facts They Know (40 Answers) The human body temperature in developed countries is actually declining, and at the same time, global warming is increasing the temperature thresholds for many fungus types.

This is leading to a whole new medical issue of fungus infecting humans and its main source of protection (body temperature) is no longer working.

That body temperature is a large reason for the success of mammals all over the world.. After the K-T extinction the sun was blocked and cold-blooded species couldn't raise their body temperature to kill off infections in their bodies. There is ample evidence that aft K-T Fungus spread all over the world in massive quantities, which leads many to believe this lead to the ascendancy of mammals on earth.

Reverend_Ooga_Booga , Pixabay / Pexels Report

Final score:

67points

View more comments

ADVERTISEMENT

See Also on Bored Panda

50 Of The Most Incredible Shots That Were Submitted To The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

50 Of The Most Incredible Shots That Were Submitted To The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

50 Of The Most Incredible Shots That Were Submitted To The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

French Diver’s “Jewels” In Tight Swimming Trunks Become Talk Of The Town At Olympics

French Diver’s “Jewels” In Tight Swimming Trunks Become Talk Of The Town At Olympics

French Diver’s “Jewels” In Tight Swimming Trunks Become Talk Of The Town At Olympics

#36

Before the vaccine, the number of people who have had HPV infection, and have had at least one sexual partner, was 85% in females and 91% of males. By far the most common STI.

carringtonagain Report

Final score:

64points

View more comments

#37

Late to the party, but here goes:

There are weaponized strains of anthrax which can remain viable and dangerous for 40+ years after release. In 1942, the UK tested an anthrax bomb on Gruinard Island, killing a flock of sheep in days (some died in hours.) Examination showed that the spores could remain active "for decades" and decontamination proved impossible at the time. The project was scrapped.

Fast forward to 1981, an eco-terrorist group smuggled a sample off of the island and threatened the UK government with releasing it if the island wasn't decontaminated. The spores were still active and deadly. It took 4 years to plan and execute the cleanup, using 280 tons of formaldehyde in a seawater solution, and removing 7 hectares worth of soil to a depth of 3 feet (about 58,000 tons of topsoil) where the concentration was too high for the juice to do the job. The island was confirmed clean in 1990, 4 years after cleanup began.

ivanthemute Report

Final score:

60points

View more comments

ADVERTISEMENT

See Also on Bored Panda

Woman Moves Out Of Parents' Home After They Asked Her To Give Her Space To Brother, They Freak Out

Woman Moves Out Of Parents' Home After They Asked Her To Give Her Space To Brother, They Freak Out

Woman Moves Out Of Parents' Home After They Asked Her To Give Her Space To Brother, They Freak Out

Mom Leaves $250k Inheritance To Son, Throws A Fit When Daughter Stops Looking After Her

Mom Leaves $250k Inheritance To Son, Throws A Fit When Daughter Stops Looking After Her

Mom Leaves $250k Inheritance To Son, Throws A Fit When Daughter Stops Looking After Her

#38

People Share The Scariest Science Facts They Know (40 Answers) Scientists don't know exactly how Acetaminophen works to relieve pain and reduce fever. They have an idea but nothing for sure. But yet it's the most commonly used pain reliever in the world.

anon , Pixabay / Pexels Report

Final score:

58points

View more comments

#39

Not sure if this counts but no matter what we do the final result will always be the same. We will all die, the universe will cease to exist eventually and everything will become nothing.

BradRodriguez Report

Final score:

57points

View more comments

#40

The United States has lost and never recovered at least six nuclear devices.

hagantic42 Report

Final score:

56points

View more comments

Continue reading with Bored Panda Premium

Unlimited content

Ad-free browsing

Dark mode

#41

Your microwave has several components that can kill you by touch. NEVER OPEN THE INSIDES OF A MICROWAVE!!!!!

JohnsonHardwood Report

Final score:

23points

View more comments

ADVERTISEMENT

See Also on Bored Panda

Woman Refuses To Chip In For Babysitting Because She Doesn’t Even Have Kids, Asks If She’s A Jerk

Woman Refuses To Chip In For Babysitting Because She Doesn’t Even Have Kids, Asks If She’s A Jerk

Woman Refuses To Chip In For Babysitting Because She Doesn’t Even Have Kids, Asks If She’s A Jerk

“This Breaks My Heart”: People Stunned—And Angry—After Woman Buys Lost Luggage From Airport

“This Breaks My Heart”: People Stunned—And Angry—After Woman Buys Lost Luggage From Airport

“This Breaks My Heart”: People Stunned—And Angry—After Woman Buys Lost Luggage From Airport

#42

CVS is about to close most of its outlet pharmacies. Which means many small-towns across the US will be without a conventionally available pharmacy, until others replace them.

Not to mention, in most districts, there simply aren't enough pharmacists to cover shifts to keep stores open. In my district, there's an average of two stores closed every day due to staff shortage. One store was closed for four days in a row.

People are going to die. There isn't a solution in sight.

TheOvershear Report

Final score:

23points

View more comments

#43

Another Carrington Event.

The 'original Carrington event was in 1859, which was basically an intense geomagnetic storm that disrupted/knocked out telegrams because thats all the technology there was to disrupt back then.

Nowadays we use electricity for virtually everything. If it hit now the effect would be like an EMP, but globally. There'd be no functional technology that involved electrics.

In essence, losing all electrics would in turn stop communications, then logistics and then fundamental infrastructure like food distribution, healthcare and utilities (other than electricity).

Final score:

21points

View more comments

ADVERTISEMENT

See Also on Bored Panda

"I Didn't Start The Dryer": Karen Gets Taught A Lesson After Throwing Out Neighbor's Wet Clothes

"I Didn't Start The Dryer": Karen Gets Taught A Lesson After Throwing Out Neighbor's Wet Clothes

"I Didn't Start The Dryer": Karen Gets Taught A Lesson After Throwing Out Neighbor's Wet Clothes

Guy Divorced 3 Years Ago Drops Off 3 Y.O. With His Ex-Wife Completely Out Of The Blue

Guy Divorced 3 Years Ago Drops Off 3 Y.O. With His Ex-Wife Completely Out Of The Blue

Guy Divorced 3 Years Ago Drops Off 3 Y.O. With His Ex-Wife Completely Out Of The Blue

#44

It’s easier to make gunpowder than it is to bake a cake.

God-of-Tomorrow Report

Final score:

21points

View more comments

#45

We still have no idea what consciousness is. Worse, we have not many ideas how to think about it. Just some philosophical ideas (Dennet, Chalmers etc).

I mean we don't know how to build interstellar ship, but we could write books and make movies about it. We could speculate about different approaches and ideas. For consciousness it's not true. We don't know why it exists, what is "I", what is the role of consciousness, how it emerges, how to research it and so on.

Final score:

20points

View more comments

#46

Farm salmon loses the pink color in captivity because its natural diet consist on krill and shrimp. So there are companies that offer artificial pink pellets that you can feed to the salmon in order to get the ideal Pantone.

Also the salmon is loaded with antibiotics due to farm parasites, yummy!

Microserves Report

Final score:

19points

View more comments

ADVERTISEMENT

See Also on Bored Panda

“All Three Shot Out Pink”: Triplets' Baby Shower Turns Sour, Pregnant Wife Wants A Divorce

“All Three Shot Out Pink”: Triplets' Baby Shower Turns Sour, Pregnant Wife Wants A Divorce

“All Three Shot Out Pink”: Triplets' Baby Shower Turns Sour, Pregnant Wife Wants A Divorce

College Student Does Exactly As Told After Roommates Demand They Keep Their Stuff In Their Room

College Student Does Exactly As Told After Roommates Demand They Keep Their Stuff In Their Room

College Student Does Exactly As Told After Roommates Demand They Keep Their Stuff In Their Room

#47

How easy it is to create large amounts of high-explosives.

Everyone determined enough and desperate enough can create easy workable explosives.

MrWarfaith Report

Final score:

17points

View more comments

#48

People Share The Scariest Science Facts They Know (40 Answers) The Vacuum Decay death of the universe.

The basic eli5 premise is that it is possible that at some point in the universe , the universe itself started collapsing into a more stable version of itself, and once this started , the 'collapse' spreads outwards into all directions at the speed of light. Because it travels at the speed of light , there is no way to know it's coming.

You could literally stop existing the next second.

TheShendelzare , Pixabay / Pexels Report

Final score:

16points

View more comments

#49

Bananas could be gone within a year.
We only grow one type of banana tree. If a specific infection occurs that kills that kind of tree, it woult spread like wildfire and we have no alternative.... Appearently this already happened now so long ago.

ZheWeasel Report

Final score:

16points

View more comments

ADVERTISEMENT

#50

Governments around the world have, and are developing, weapons technologies that can easily wipe out all life on Earth.

hinkelmckrinkelberry Report

Final score:

16points

View more comments

#51

1 in 3 people will get cancer

Electric_Kiwi007 Report

Final score:

15points

View more comments

#52

If my college biology professor wasn't completely misinformed, most humans have some form of parasite living inside them. Some variety of worm, etc. There are just creepy crawlies in our insides and we might never notice them.

The one that came closest to giving me nightmares was hookworms. Although the thought that you could have heartworms kind of messed with me, too. Evidently, they're not just for dogs.

Final score:

12points

View more comments

#53

Neutrinos are a particle that has an extremely small chance of interacting with matter. Like if a rock was dropped randomly from space to the Earth, the chance it would hit a specific target is similar to the chance it would interact with any matter. They have to build huge chambers deep in the earth and wait ~~months~~ *a while* to have the possibility to detect one from the countless that constantly zoom through the Earth from the sun.

If the sun were to go supernova, it would create so many neutrinos that they would kill you assuming nothing else did.

Edit: apparently, they detect more than I expected, several hundred a year.

Eskaminagaga Report

Final score:

12points

View more comments

ADVERTISEMENT

#54

If there is a nuclear attack on a city, don't expect a rescue or medical attention. The area will be so irradiated damaged that red cross will only be able to drop supplies from high altitudes and not let anyone out for risk of contaminates leaving the area.

LBusko2898 Report

Final score:

12points

View more comments

#55

Anthrax spores can remain viable for decades in the soil or animal products such as dried or processed hides and wool.

Final score:

9points

View more comments

Jonas Grinevičius

Storytelling, journalism, and art are a core part of who I am. I've been writing and drawing ever since I could walk—there is nothing else I'd rather do. My formal education, however, is focused on politics, philosophy, and economics because I've always been curious about the gap between the ideal and the real. At work, I'm a Senior Writer and I cover a broad range of topics that I'm passionate about: from psychology and changes in work culture to healthy living, relationships, and design. In my spare time, I'm an avid hiker and reader, enjoy writing short stories, and love to doodle. I thrive when I'm outdoors, going on small adventures in nature. However, you can also find me enjoying a big mug of coffee with a good book (or ten) and entertaining friends with fantasy tabletop games and sci-fi movies.

Storytelling, journalism, and art are a core part of who I am. I've been writing and drawing ever since I could walk—there is nothing else I'd rather do. My formal education, however, is focused on politics, philosophy, and economics because I've always been curious about the gap between the ideal and the real. At work, I'm a Senior Writer and I cover a broad range of topics that I'm passionate about: from psychology and changes in work culture to healthy living, relationships, and design. In my spare time, I'm an avid hiker and reader, enjoy writing short stories, and love to doodle. I thrive when I'm outdoors, going on small adventures in nature. However, you can also find me enjoying a big mug of coffee with a good book (or ten) and entertaining friends with fantasy tabletop games and sci-fi movies.

Mindaugas Balčiauskas

I'm a visual editor at Bored Panda. I kickstart my day with a mug of coffee bigger than my head, ready to tackle Photoshop. I navigate through the digital jungle with finesse, fueled by bamboo breaks and caffeine kicks. When the workday winds down, you might catch me devouring bamboo snacks while binging on the latest TV show, gaming or I could be out in nature, soaking up the tranquility and communing with my inner panda.

I'm a visual editor at Bored Panda. I kickstart my day with a mug of coffee bigger than my head, ready to tackle Photoshop. I navigate through the digital jungle with finesse, fueled by bamboo breaks and caffeine kicks. When the workday winds down, you might catch me devouring bamboo snacks while binging on the latest TV show, gaming or I could be out in nature, soaking up the tranquility and communing with my inner panda.

What do you think ?

Albert Pike 3 months ago

I think a huge pinch of salt is required.

4points

Phoebe Bean 3 months ago

Wow

2points

Hetal Vyas 3 months ago

Well that was scary

1point

Albert Pike 3 months ago

I think a huge pinch of salt is required.

4points

Phoebe Bean 3 months ago

Wow

2points

Hetal Vyas 3 months ago

Well that was scary

1point

You May Like

50 Cool And Interesting Facts About The World That May Be New To You

Mindaugas Balčiauskas

35 Disturbing Facts People Didn’t Ask To Know

Justinas Keturka

50 Random And Interesting Facts You Might Not Know About The World

Viktorija Ošikaitė

Back to Homepage

More about Facts

Related on Bored Panda

Related on Bored Panda

Word Search

WordroW

Jigsaw

Crossword

Sudoku

Picdoku

Killer Sudoku

Kriss Kross

Word Flower

Trending on Bored Panda

Also on Bored Panda