# Unbelievable facts that turn out to be true. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 27, 2010, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unbelievable-facts-that-turn-out-to-be-true/530648 "2010-02-27T14:47:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2010, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unbelievable-facts-that-turn-out-to-be-true/530648/81 "2010-03-02T02:47:03Z")
Here they come Floating on a tree Get the funniest looks from All the fish in the sea Hey hey we’re the Monkees And people say we monkey around But we’re too busy swimming To make anybody drown We’re just floating to Brazil Come and watch us build and play We’re the next evolution And we’ve got something to say ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2010, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unbelievable-facts-that-turn-out-to-be-true/530648/82 "2010-03-02T02:57:41Z")
> [@postcards](#): > > (He was the _tenth_ president.) Ah, amazing!!! I knew that. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2010, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unbelievable-facts-that-turn-out-to-be-true/530648/83 "2010-03-02T18:21:01Z")
> [@fachverwirrt](#): > > I’ve posted this one before, but it’s still pretty cool: > > If you could fold a piece of paper in half 100 times, it would be over 10 billion light years thick. I think I remember this one with the answer being “eight hundred and twenty something trillion miles”; Is that remotely close to 10 billion LY? Just asking, I’m sure your figures are correct. . ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2010, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unbelievable-facts-that-turn-out-to-be-true/530648/84 "2010-03-02T18:51:37Z")
The actual numbers might be a little off, but it’s still reasonably close enough to show that it’s really big: 9.45T km in one LY Paper with thickness of .2 mm 2^100 ≈ 1.27 \*10^30 (number of folds) 0.2mm \* 1.27 \* 10^30 = 2.54 _10^29 mm (thickness in mm) 2.54 \* 10^29 mm = 2.54_ 10^23 km (thickness in km) 2.54 \* 10^23 km / 9.45 trillion km = 27B LY (converted to LY) ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2010, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unbelievable-facts-that-turn-out-to-be-true/530648/85 "2010-03-02T19:42:04Z")
Cats will not face the setting Sun. Hens’ eggs that are laid in the dark have white yolks. Ferris wheels were originally invented as elevators. Angelica Huston was born in Orlando, FL, and Tony Orlando was born in Houston, TX. ---
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2010, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unbelievable-facts-that-turn-out-to-be-true/530648/86 "2010-03-02T19:54:32Z")
> [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](#): > > The actual numbers might be a little off, but it’s still reasonably close enough to show that it’s really big: > > 9.45T km in one LY > Paper with thickness of .2 mm > > 2^100 ≈ 1.27 \*10^30 (number of folds) > 0.2mm \* 1.27 \* 10^30 = 2.54 _10^29 mm (thickness in mm) > 2.54 \* 10^29 mm = 2.54_ 10^23 km (thickness in km) > 2.54 \* 10^23 km / 9.45 trillion km = 27B LY (converted to LY) And most regular A4 paper is 0.1 mm thick, so even taking that into account the final figure is ~13 billion light years. ---
**Author:** ![zeldarae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/f14d63/32.png) [@zeldarae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zeldarae)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2010, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unbelievable-facts-that-turn-out-to-be-true/530648/87 "2010-03-02T20:05:33Z")
> [@fifty-six](#): > > Thanks for the link > > [Look at the post date on this one.](http://www.futilitycloset.com/2010/01/08/the-land-speaks/) I read that post when it first appeared and even had a discussion about it with my husband. I was pretty creeped out when the quake was reported. :eek: I love that site, BTW. ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2010, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unbelievable-facts-that-turn-out-to-be-true/530648/88 "2010-03-02T22:36:05Z")
> [@GESancMan](#): > > And most regular A4 paper is 0.1 mm thick, so even taking that into account the final figure is ~13 billion light years. I was using .003 inches as my figure, which if I recall correctly is about the thickness of the thin paper often used in bibles. The point, of course, is that it’s really freakin’ thick. ---
**Author:** ![uncle\_squeegee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b5e925/32.png) [@uncle\_squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/uncle_squeegee)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unbelievable-facts-that-turn-out-to-be-true/530648/89 "2010-03-03T03:25:12Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > John Tyler, born in 1790, has two living grandsons. > > He was the twelfth President of the United States. This fact amazed me so much I posted it as my Facebook status. A FB friend (the husband of on of my wife’s high school friends) responded and said knows the son of one of the grandsons. Not quite enough to start me singing “It’s a Small World” but close. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unbelievable-facts-that-turn-out-to-be-true/530648/90 "2010-03-03T03:38:32Z")
> [@uncle\_squeegee](#): > > This fact amazed me so much I posted it as my Facebook status. A FB friend (the husband of on of my wife’s high school friends) responded and said knows the son of one of the grandsons. Not quite enough to start me singing “It’s a Small World” but close. Did any of them ever work with Kevin Bacon? ---
**Author:** ![ataraxy22](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ataraxy22/32/307_2.png) [@ataraxy22](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ataraxy22)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unbelievable-facts-that-turn-out-to-be-true/530648/91 "2010-03-03T03:45:52Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > I think that the Northwest Angle part of Minnesota is farther north than any part of Washington. > > And anyway, Idaho, Montana & North Dakota all go just as far north as Washington – they all share the same border with Canada. Perhaps not true. Due to a surveying error, Sumas, WA is [slightly further north](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extreme_points_of_the_United_States) than 49 degrees N. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2010, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unbelievable-facts-that-turn-out-to-be-true/530648/92 "2010-03-14T03:08:37Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > What State is Furthest North, furthest South, East, West? > > In a way, Hawaii & Alaska get all Furthest North, South, East, & West. Parts of AK go across the 180th parallel. Thus it gets West & East- and North, of course. > > HA is furthest South. > > 48 contiguous states: WA- N and West, Fla=S, Maine= E. I’m pretty sure you’re wrong about farthest north in the lower 48 states. That would be Minnesota where the Northwest Angle juts up above the line forming the northern boundary of all the western states. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2010, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unbelievable-facts-that-turn-out-to-be-true/530648/93 "2010-03-14T03:50:31Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Hens’ eggs that are laid in the dark have white yolks. > > . I don’t believe this one at all. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2010, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unbelievable-facts-that-turn-out-to-be-true/530648/94 "2010-03-14T04:06:58Z")
> [@ataraxy22](#): > > Perhaps not true. Due to a surveying error, Sumas, WA is [slightly further north](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extreme_points_of_the_United_States) than 49 degrees N. Yes, quite true. Sumas, WA is "slightly’ north of 49 degrees. But the Northwest Angle of Minnesota is well over 49 degrees, almost halfway to 50 degrees. ---
**Author:** ![kidneyfailure](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9f8e36/32.png) [@kidneyfailure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidneyfailure)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2010, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unbelievable-facts-that-turn-out-to-be-true/530648/95 "2010-03-14T04:51:28Z")
> [@uncle\_squeegee](#): > > This fact amazed me so much I posted it as my Facebook status. A FB friend (the husband of on of my wife’s high school friends) responded and said knows the son of one of the grandsons. Not quite enough to start me singing “It’s a Small World” but close. Ok, someone explain how this is possible. I’m too lazy to Wiki or Google it, but I assume Tyler’s son or daughter had the kids late in life and that the surviving grandsons must be quite old by now. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2010, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unbelievable-facts-that-turn-out-to-be-true/530648/96 "2010-03-14T05:15:45Z")
> [@](#): > > Ok, someone explain how this is possible. I’m too lazy to Wiki or Google it, but I assume Tyler’s son or daughter had the kids late in life and that the surviving grandsons must be quite old by now. John Tyler was born in 1790. He married Letitia Christian in 1813 (on his 23rd birthday) and they remained married until her death in 1842 and had eight children. Tyler met Julia Gardiner that same year and they were married in 1844. It was considered somewhat scandalous because Tyler was 54 and Gardiner was 24. But the marriage lasted until Tyler’s death in 1862 (at the age of 71) and produced seven children. John’s thirteenth child was a son named Lyon and he was born in 1853 when John was 63 (and Julia was 33). Like his father, Lyon was married twice. He and his second wife, Sue Ruffin, were married in 1921 (when Lyon was 68) and had three children before Lyon’s death in 1935. Two of these children were Lyon Gardiner Tyler Junior (born in 1924) and Harrison Ruffin Tyler (born in 1928) and they are still alive. Getting back to John Tyler’s children, his youngest daughter Pearl was born in 1860 when the former President was 69. She lived until 1947 - 106 years after her father became President. ---
**Author:** ![Ace\_Weederman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/919ad9/32.png) [@Ace\_Weederman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ace_Weederman)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2010, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unbelievable-facts-that-turn-out-to-be-true/530648/97 "2010-03-14T05:21:22Z")
> [@Kyrie\_Eleison](#): > > Take a piece of string. Wrap it around a basketball. Increase the length of the string enough to wrap around the basketball at a height of 1 in. above its surface. This will require an additional 6.28 in. of string. > > Take a piece of string. Wrap it around Earth. Increase the length of the string enough to wrap around the planet at a height of 1 in. above its surface. This will require the same additional 6.28 in. of string. > > Simple geometry. Still kinda mind boggling. This actually made me gasp. Thanks for posting this! ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2010, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unbelievable-facts-that-turn-out-to-be-true/530648/98 "2010-03-14T05:22:16Z")
Shakespeare and Cervantes both died on April 23, 1616. But Shakespeare died on Tuesday and Cervantes died on Saturday. That’s because England was still using the Julian calendar and Spain had converted to the Gregorian, the latter having October 4 followed by October 15 in 1582. ---
**Author:** ![kidneyfailure](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9f8e36/32.png) [@kidneyfailure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidneyfailure)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2010, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unbelievable-facts-that-turn-out-to-be-true/530648/99 "2010-03-14T06:53:58Z")
This isn’t unbelievable, but according to FutilityCloset Sylvester Stallone is only 5’7. ---
**Author:** ![runcible\_spoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc29f/32.png) [@runcible\_spoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/runcible_spoon)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2010, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unbelievable-facts-that-turn-out-to-be-true/530648/100 "2010-03-14T07:38:41Z")
Ulan Bator contains more than one-third of the total population of Mongolia; the city is less dense than the entire state of Connecticut. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unbelievable-facts-that-turn-out-to-be-true/530648.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unbelievable-facts-that-turn-out-to-be-true/530648.md?page=6)