# Tell us an interesting random fact you stumbled across (Part 1) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 13, 2020, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674 "2020-04-13T03:19:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 29
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2020, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/561 "2020-07-23T16:22:56Z")
There is a dog, inappropriately named “Nig”. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2020, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/562 "2020-07-23T16:25:43Z")
> [@Mark\_Finn](#): > > “November 2, 2000 was the last date that all humans were on the planet. Since that day, the International Space Station has had at least one occupant.” > > There would have been several thousand above the ground in airplanes; maybe a few in hot-air balloons, and others in various other assorted lighter-than-air craft. Not to mention people jumping into the air from the ground > > Can you define “on the planet”? Is it where the pull of gravity is above a certain level?. This sounds overly pedantic. On Earth should mean anyone who isn’t in space. So those who are below the Karman Line (100-kilometer altitude) are on Earth. By this logic, if I jump two feet off the ground, I would not be “on Earth” anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Kzbre5m](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f08c70/32.png) [@Kzbre5m](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kzbre5m)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2020, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/563 "2020-07-23T16:31:34Z")
How about the photograph that showed every human, alive or dead within the frame of the picture. Except Michael Collins. > **[Michael Collins, the astronaut who took this photo, is the only human, alive...](https://rarehistoricalphotos.com/michael-collins-picture-1969/)** > > Collins took this picture of the Lunar Module containing Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong with Earth in the background during the Apollo 11 mission. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2020, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/564 "2020-07-23T16:35:11Z")
Who launched missiles at the SR-71? ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2020, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/565 "2020-07-23T23:55:43Z")
> [@Kzbre5m](#): > > How about the photograph that showed every human, alive or dead within the frame of the picture. Except Michael Collins. You couldn’t do that now. Since then, some people have had their ashes scattered in space, so they may be long gone from any similar photo taken now (or in the future). ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2020, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/566 "2020-07-24T00:07:07Z")
> [@Mark\_Finn](#): > > You couldn’t do that now. Since then, some people have had their ashes scattered in space, so they may be long gone from any similar photo taken now (or in the future) I don’t think the ashes are scattered in space. They are suborbital flights and the ashes will burn up on re-entry. There is someone ‘buried’ on the moon though. ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2020, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/567 "2020-07-24T01:47:02Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I don’t think the ashes are scattered in space. They are suborbital flights and the ashes will burn up on re-entry. There is someone ‘buried’ on the moon though. It sounds like they’re ramping up for “burying” others there as well. > **[Luna Moon Burial Service | Celestis Memorial Spaceflights](https://www.celestis.com/experiences-pricing/luna/)** > > The Luna service places the Celestis spacecraft carrying cremated remains or DNA on the surface of our nearest neighbor — the Moon. DNA storage, too? I didn’t realize they actually sterilize some space craft, not wanting to send invasive species to other worlds. > [@](#): > > _Galileo_ had not been sterilized prior to launch and could have carried bacteria from Earth. Therefore, a plan was formulated to send the probe directly into Jupiter, in an intentional crash to eliminate the possibility of any impact with Jupiter’s moons and prevent a [forward contamination](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forward_contamination). […] At the completion of its 35th and final circuit around the Jovian system, _Galileo_ impacted the gas giant in darkness just south of the equator on September 21, 2003, at 18:57 UTC. Its impact speed was approximately 173,700 km/h (108,000 mph).[[61]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galileo_(spacecraft)#cite_note-61) But then, tardigrades might still survive the trip. > **[BBC Earth | Environment, Climate Change, AI, Food, Health, Social, &...](https://www.bbc.com/future-planet)** > > As we face the world’s greatest environmental challenges, BBC Earth brings you solutions in psychology, food, climate change, health, social trends, and technology that can make the world a more sustainable place. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2020, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/568 "2020-07-24T21:58:56Z")
Why are you asking me? According to the [Wikipedia entry](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_SR-71_Blackbird), Blackbirds were shot at by the USSR, North Vietnam, and Libya. Other countries, too, perhaps, but you’ll have to find them yourself. Because it flew so high (88,000 feet) and so fast (Mach 3.5), it was beyond the range of any AAM or SAM. Its stealth characteristics gave it the radar cross-section of a much smaller plane. For these reasons, no Blackbird was ever lost to hostile action. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2020, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/569 "2020-07-25T02:34:59Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > Why are you asking me? You posted that they did not over fly the USSR. Why would the Rooskies shoot at them? ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b77776/32.png) [@Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_was_in_Saudi)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2020, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/570 "2020-07-25T07:30:55Z")
Congressman John Lewis sometimes went to comic conventions and cosplayed himself. Cool. [-=Linky=-](https://www.truthorfiction.com/did-rep-john-lewis-cosplay-as-himself-at-san-diego-comic-con/) ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2020, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/571 "2020-07-25T16:26:14Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > In 1969, Pontiac built a concept car that looked nothing like any other Pontiac I’ve ever seen – the [Pontiac Farago CF 428](https://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/cc-cohort/cohort-classic-1969-pontiac-farago-cf-428-delorean-asks-for-an-exciting-car-and-gets-one/#more-360234). At first glance, I would have thought it was some obscure 1960s Lamborghini or other Italian exotic; I certainly never would have guessed it was a Pontiac. Looking at it longer, it obviously is an interesting hybrid of Italian GT car and American muscle car styling. From what I can tell it was just a one-off concept car that never went into production. Reminds me of a Pantera. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2020, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/572 "2020-07-25T16:51:07Z")
Like a straight line version of the Pantera. Or the Pantera was a curved line version of that since it came second. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2020, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/573 "2020-07-25T20:13:49Z")
Ciabatta bread was invented in 1982: [Ciabatta - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ciabatta) ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2020, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/574 "2020-07-25T22:00:55Z")
But I didn’t say anything about the Russians shooting missiles at SR-71s. But to answer your question, the Russians didn’t like us spying on them, even if we didn’t overfly their borders. We could still “look over the fence” and see what they were doing (building nuclear weapons facilities, or moving troops, for instance) without actually penetrating their air space. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2020, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/575 "2020-07-25T22:37:36Z")
Firing missiles at SR-71s was a way they could evaluate the planes capability. If we actually didn’t fly over Soviet territory it’s because we were getting pictures from space or intelligence by some other means. I don’t believe the story that all of the Soviet Union could be seen by an SR-71 outside it’s borders. Even if there is such line of sight from the altitude of the SR-71 (which I think is doubtful) so much territory would be seen from such an acute angle that there would be too much atmosphere to visually resolve anything. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2020, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/576 "2020-07-25T22:43:43Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > But I didn’t say anything about the Russians shooting missiles at SR-71s. My mistake. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2020, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/577 "2020-07-25T22:44:36Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > According to the [Wikipedia entry](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_SR-71_Blackbird), Blackbirds were shot at by the USSR, North Vietnam, and Libya. Other countries, too, perhaps, but you’ll have to find them yourself. Perhaps you are differentiating between the USSR and “The Russians”. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2020, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/578 "2020-07-27T19:09:04Z")
I was reminded of this while posting in the Hiding In Plain Sight thread over in CS: In the sitcom **Absolutely Fabulous** , there is s specific reason why Jennifer Saunders’ character is called Eddie Monsoon. Sunders is married to Adrian Edmondson, who had the punning nickname Eddie Monsoon at school. j ---
**Author:** ![Dropo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Dropo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dropo)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2020, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/579 "2020-07-27T21:05:54Z")
God works in mysterious ways: > **[Erfurt latrine disaster](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erfurt_latrine_disaster)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > > The Erfurt latrine disaster occurred in July 1184, when Henry VI, King of Germany (later Holy Roman Emperor), held a Hoftag (informal assembly) in the Petersberg Citadel in Erfurt. On the morning of 26 July, the combined weight of the assembled nobles caused the wooden second story floor of the building to collapse and most of them fell through into the latrine cesspit below the ground floor, where about 60 of them drowned in liquid excrement. Thi... ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2020, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/580 "2020-07-27T21:11:37Z")
Olivia Newton-John’s grandfather was Max Born who won a nobel prize in physics. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674.md?page=28) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674.md?page=30)