# 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:** 388
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2023, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7751 "2023-10-12T22:12:59Z")
Thank you! I always find it interesting to learn where call letters for radio/TV stations originated. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2023, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7752 "2023-10-12T22:38:31Z")
That is cool even if it is not strictly true as stated! And on a related note, there is always at least one point on Earth where the wind speed is zero, related to the topological proof that it is impossible to “comb” the hairs on a sphere without having a vortex. Which means a fusion reactor cannot be spherical, as there would be at least one point with no magnetic field to contain the plasma (–\> see: Booom!), so they try toruses or stellarators and other more complicated forms. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2023, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7753 "2023-10-12T22:56:17Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > so it makes sense that there would be matching temperatures at some opposition – not always antipodal, but somewhere. Nope The theorem says antipodal. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2023, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7754 "2023-10-13T06:09:26Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Nope The theorem says antipodal. > [@the linked article](#): > > More formally, it says that any continuous function from an _n_ -sphere to R_n_ must send a pair of antipodal points to the same point. (So, in the above statement, we are assuming that temperature and barometric pressure are continuous functions.) It is a mathematical abstraction that may not be entirely applicable in the real world. I was saying that given the nature of solar heating and night-side cooling, there probably are actual antipodal points that match as described, but in many parts of the globe, the opposing points that do match will not be precisely antipodal because heating and cooling will not follow an exactly-sinusoidal curve due to confounding air currents. If you have ever experienced a pineapple express moment, you would understand this. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2023, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7755 "2023-10-13T10:30:43Z")
The theorem doesn’t require the temperature function to be sinusoidal. It makes no requirements on the temperature function except that it is continuous, which is pretty much always true in the real world. If you think that’s not correct, then try to construct a counterexample. Draw a circle and label some points on it with numbers in such a way that there is no diameter with the same number on both ends. It is not possible. (For continuity, assume that the value changes linearly between each adjoining pair of labeled points.) ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2023, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7756 "2023-10-13T13:28:39Z")
Today I learned a couple interesting things about bitcoin mining. First, the mining sites use a _lot_ of electricity. A U.S.-owned company called Bison Blockchain just built one in Cheyenne, WY. It is estimated it will use 45 megawatts of power when it is completed. To put that in perspective, the entire city of Cheyenne uses around 110 megawatts of power. Secondly, a number of [China-affiliated companies are building bitcoin mines in the U.S.](https://dnyuz.com/2023/10/13/across-u-s-chinese-bitcoin-mines-draw-national-security-scrutiny/), because they’re not allowed to build them in China. Some of these mines are being built in Cheyenne. Bison Blockchain filed a [federal lawsuit](https://cowboystatedaily.com/2023/09/06/bitcoin-miner-warns-lawmakers-of-chinese-takeover-in-wyoming/) against these companies a few months ago. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2023, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7757 "2023-10-13T21:19:13Z")
In the book about crypto I was recently reading, it said the CO2 emissions from Bitcoin mining globally are about the size of the emissions of the country of Argentina. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2023, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7758 "2023-10-15T00:54:09Z")
Not a fact as much as an interesting story. This med student had a close shave with a poisonous fruit he found on a beach. Not the brightest person, I’d say. > **[My most unfortunate experience: Eating a manchineel “beach apple”](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1127797/)** ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2023, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7759 "2023-10-15T01:22:19Z")
Wow. Every manchineel tree I’ve seen had a warning sign on it ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2023, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7760 "2023-10-15T01:33:49Z")
I just noticed that I mistyped “he” when it should be “she” in my post for the author ( who is the current nationally elected President of the Royal College of Radiologists). ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2023, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7761 "2023-10-15T02:23:43Z")
> [@Al128](#): > > and given the dynamics of a funicular it makes for quite efficient track-laying … (there is only a short space of overlap b/ween the 2 cars - for the remainder of the distance you just need 1 track) Possibly, at least. The one in [Johnstown, PA](https://www.inclinedplane.org/), one of the steepest in the world, has two completely separate straight tracks. This might be because they wanted to keep it simple, and because there was a steel mill right there to make the rails. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2023, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7762 "2023-10-15T03:33:44Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > Not a fact as much as an interesting story. This med student had a close shave with a poisonous fruit he found on a beach. Not the brightest person, I’d say. > > [My most unfortunate experience: Eating a manchineel “beach apple” - PMC](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1127797/) This WW2 cartoon mentioned the “beach apple” among the many things G.I.s should not eat: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86TuOzcFo74](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86TuOzcFo74) ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2023, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7763 "2023-10-15T11:26:27Z")
“Beach apple” sounds like some kind of slang. “I saw you with that cute beach apple yesterday! Who are they?” ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2023, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7764 "2023-10-15T14:47:38Z")
I dunno, to me it sounds more like a “horse apple” or “prairie apple”. Which you also shouldn’t eat. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2023, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7765 "2023-10-15T15:48:01Z")
“road apples” (always more tian one) ---
**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:** [October 15, 2023, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7766 "2023-10-15T16:29:03Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > Not a fact as much as an interesting story. This med student had a close shave with a poisonous fruit he found on a beach. This made me wonder if there was - just out of interest, y’know - a manchineel tree anywhere in the UK. So far as I can tell, no; but I did come across this intriguing “attraction”: > **[The deadliest garden in the world](https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20220804-the-uks-deadliest-garden)** > > The Poison Garden at the Alnwick Garden in Northumberland, England, is home to more than 100 toxic, intoxicating and narcotic plants. And it's open to public. > Established in 2005, the Poison Garden at the Alnwick Garden in Northumberland, England, is home to more than 100 toxic, intoxicating and narcotic plants. “Before visitors are allowed to enter, they must have a safety briefing,” said Dean Smith, a guide at the Poison Garden. Visitors are instructed that they’re not allowed to touch, taste or smell anything – nevertheless, as the website notes, guests have still occasionally fainted from inhaling toxic fumes as they walk through. Should you feel an urge to buy tickets: [The Alnwick Garden Poison Garden - The Alnwick Garden](https://www.alnwickgarden.com/the-garden/poison-garden/) j ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2023, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7767 "2023-10-15T16:31:42Z")
I’d love to visit that place. Pity that the shipping costs for merchandise to the US are probably huge ---
**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:** [October 15, 2023, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7768 "2023-10-15T16:35:30Z")
I knew this already, but I was reminded of it on a trip out today. Box Hill is a famous beauty spot on the North Downs. Slightly surprisingly, from it you can watch planes taking off and landing at both Gatwick and Heathrow airports. As we did today. Slight cheat: you can see the two airports from different points on the hill. Distances, BTW: Gatwick 15.5 km, Heathrow 25.5 km. j ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2023, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7769 "2023-10-15T21:03:41Z")
Manchineel fruit sounds delicious if it only weren’t for the deadly poison part. Maybe they could try to breed a mutant variety that’s safe? ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2023, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7770 "2023-10-16T03:12:48Z")
I remember enjoying the toxic plants garden in the Montreal Botanical Gardens. I don’t think there were nearly that many plants, though. [https://espacepourlavie.ca/en/gardens-and-greenhouses/toxic-plants-garden](https://espacepourlavie.ca/en/gardens-and-greenhouses/toxic-plants-garden) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674.md?page=387) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674.md?page=389)