did you know?

The metaphor refers to a pot of crabs that could easily get out, but they ensure their own demise by competitively clawing at each other- like spiteful humans trying to bring down those who are more successful by diminishing their importance.

When your eyes move, your eardrums do, too. Nobody knows exactly why, but it does indicate that the information we take in through sight and sound has a much closer relationship than previously thought. 

Boketto is a Japanese word that means ‘gazing vacantly into the distance without really thinking about anything specific’. 

The country has a law called ‘allemannsretten,’ meaning ‘every man’s right’ or ‘the right to roam,’ that dates back to ancient times and allows you to freely roam and camp on all uncultivated land- as long as you show respect for nature and pick up your trash.

His yelling was so violent that it sent his flocks into a stampede, causing a sudden wave of anxiety and fear among everyone in the vicinity.

The word for ‘great-grandchildren’ in Icelandic is ‘barnabarnabarna’, which literally translates as ‘child a child a child.’

Studies show over 90% of us have experienced chills from hearing music, but how powerfully music affects you depends on your overall personality - not your opinion or preference of the of music you’re actually hearing.

While he waited, he won them over (despite treating them as minions) and gained so much trust that they didn’t believe it when he said he’d come back to kill them all. He later captured them, got his silver back, cut their throats, and had them crucified.

When he asked how the interpreter had managed to word it so well, he ducked his head and looked away before finally replying, “I told the audience President Carter told a funny story. Everyone must laugh.”

“L'appel du vide” is when you have self-destructive thoughts for a split second - like swerving your car into oncoming traffic or imagining yourself jumping when you’re standing at the edge of a cliff even though you’d never really do it. The phrase literally translates as ‘the call of the void’.

Fighting with your partner when you are both sleep deprived can seriously damage your health.

They track it right along with homicide, arson, and assault, because “there is overwhelming evidence that [animal abuse] is linked to crimes against people, including violent crimes and domestic violence.”

However, if you praise them by saying they ‘did really well this time’, they’re more likely to keep working hard so they can ‘do well’ again the next time.

All people with blue eyes can be traced back to one person who lived near the Black Sea less than 10,000 years ago.

Cats were so sacred that killing one, even accidentally, could be punishable by death.

If you’re thin, tall, left-handed, funny, politically liberal, have a cat, have taken music lessons, have used recreational drugs, drink alcohol regularly, worry a lot, learned to read early, and are the oldest child in your family, studies show you’re probably a lot smarter than the average person.

Because they provide a state of controlled conflict, board games can improve your relationship skills by requiring that you practice taking turns, following rules, being fair, and winning or losing gracefully.