9 Fun Facts to Make You Smile

It is so much easier today to stay informed. People can connect to news on the internet, Facebook, Twitter, or on cable TV. This really is the information age. 

But, sometimes when you turn on the TV or open Facebook, it seems like all you see is bad news, making it difficult to see the silver lining behind every cloud. While it’s good to stay informed, we should also remember the big picture and notice the good things happening all around you. So brighten up your day with these 9 fun facts to make you smile.

1. Trees can make friends and talk to each other

If you ever thought you heard whispering in the willows, you may be right! Ecologists released surprising research indicating that trees communicate through their closely connected root systems by sending messages via soil fungi. So what do trees “talk” about? Everything from sharing sunlight with their neighbors or to warn about environmental changes, according to Peter Wohlleben, author of The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate.

(Lukasz Szmigiel on Unsplash)

2. The oldest “Your Momma” joke dates back 3,500 years

If you were around in the 90s, chances are you heard a few “your mama” jokes. As it turns out, people have had the same comedy routine for centuries. The New York Daily News wrote that scientists discovered a “your mom” joke on a 3,500-year Babylonian tablet in Iraq.

(David Herraez Calzada / Shutterstock.com)

3. Humpback whales have recovered 30 percent of their population

Conservationists rejoice! Humpback whales nearly went extinct after their population dropped to 450 in the 1950s. But a study published in Royal Society Open Science in October 2019 announced the South Atlantic humpback whale population has grown to 25,000 thanks to conservation efforts and a ban on commercial whaling.

(Todd Cravens on Unsplash)

4. Sea otters hold hands so they don’t drift apart

Sleepy sea otters hold each other’s hands so that they don’t drift apart while taking a nap in the water so that they can stick together, as reported in The Daily Mail. As if these marine mammals couldn’t get any cuter?

(fred goldstein / shutterstock.com)

5. The actors who played Mickey and Minnie Mouse were married in real life

Sure, you’ve heard of the most famous mice in history, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, created by Walt Disney. But did you know of the real life romance behind the scenes? Actor, Wayne Allwine, provided the voice of Mickey Mouse for over 30 years. One day at work, he met Minnie, played by actress Russi Taylor. Soon Minnie became Mickey’s leading lady off-screen as well, and the two married until Allwine’s death in 2009.

(George Sheldon / Shutterstock.com)

6. We are all made of stars

It may seem impossible to believe when you look up at the starry night, but according to The National Geographic scientists have discovered that elements found in the human body come from the thousands of stars in our Milky Way. In fact, everything on earth originates from stardust!

(Greg Rakozy on Unsplash)

7. Norway knighted a penguin named Sir Nils Olav III

If you visit the Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland, you’ll get to see a very special penguin… a knight, in fact. Sir Nils Olav III holds the ranks of mascot, brigadier, and colonel-in-chief of the elite Norwegian King’s Guard. He represents the third in succession after Norway began the tradition in 1972 of knighting a selected king penguin to serve the high distinction. Not bad for a 3-foot tall penguin!

(Pongsathon Ladasuwankul / Shutterstock.com)

8. Happiness is contagious

They say what goes around, comes around, and according to a study from Harvard Medical School and the University of California, San Diego, the same goes for happiness.  According to WebMD, people feel statistically happier spending time around other happy people. Emotional health spreads to the people we come into contact with up to 3 degrees, reaching friends of friends. 

(Helena Lopes on Unsplash)

9. Octopus make their own gardens at the bottom of the sea

You may have already heard of The Beatles’ song, but did you know that you can visit a real octopus’ garden? The underwater creatures actually gather sponges and grow other marine plants on the seafloors. They even gather together in groups to lay eggs –  like an octopus party!

(EdBrown / Shutterstock.com)