Really strange facts most people don't know — Roosevelt Island, New York, Daily News

Hey, have you ever heard some of these really strange facts? Most people won’t believe them, but they’re true! So, just for fun and enlightenment, starting with the most eye-popping of all…

by David Stone

A feature of the Roosevelt Island Daily News

There are approximately 100 trillion cells in the human body

adult beautiful body coffee — 100 trillion cells in incredible unison = you./Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

The number of cells in the human body has been estimated at around 100 trillion. This number is so large that it is difficult to comprehend.

To put it into perspective, if each cell was a star in the sky, then the night sky would be filled with stars.

The thing is, despite their numbers, cells are very small. They are so small that they can only be seen with a microscope. The average person has more cells in their body than there are stars in the Milky Way galaxy.

The human body is an amazing thing. Every day, our cells work tirelessly to keep us alive and functioning. With approximately 100 trillion cells in your body. it’s a lot of cells, but each one has its unique job to do.

But did you know that not all of our cells are human? We have more bacterial cells in our bodies than human cells. Add to that fungal and viral cells. Many of them, like Phages, play critical roles in our overall health and well-being.

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So next time you’re feeling under the weather, remember how lucky you are that you’re made up of a lot more than just human cells!

The average person produces about 1.2 liters of saliva each day

The average person produces about 1.2 liters of saliva each day, which is enough to fill two small water bottles.

Saliva is produced by the salivary glands, located in the mouth and throat. The glands produce a clear, sticky fluid that helps to moisten food and keep the mouth and teeth healthy.

Saliva also contains enzymes that help to break down food, making it easier to digest. In addition, saliva helps to protect the teeth from bacteria and other harmful microbes. Without saliva, we would be at risk for tooth decay and other oral health problems. Thanks, saliva!

Babies are born without kneecaps. They don’t start to form until the age of 2-6 months

Did you know that babies are born without kneecaps? It’s true! The kneecaps, or patellae, don’t start to form until the age of 2-6 months.

In the meantime, the knees are protected by a layer of cartilage. This strange fact may make you wonder what other strange things happen during fetal development.

For example, did you know that unborn babies can actually yawn? And that they start to produce urine by around 10 weeks gestation?

Can you imagine what it must be like to live in such a strange and wonderful world? I for one am grateful that we have the chance to experience it.

The human brain is about 75% water

The human brain is a strange and fascinating thing. Did you know, for example, that it is about 75% water? That’s right – three-quarters of your brain is made up of H2O.

This strange fact has led some scientists to believe that our thoughts and emotions may be influenced by the moon, as the tides are caused by the gravitational pull of the moon on the water in our bodies.

Of course, there is no conclusive evidence to support this theory, but it is nonetheless intriguing to think that the same force that governs the seas might also have an impact on our inner oceans.

The human brain is a strange and wonderful organ. It’s responsible for everything from our ability to think and feel to our ability to breathe and move.

And, as it turns out, the brain is also mostly water. While approximately 75% of the brain is water, this strange fact has serious implications for our health and well-being.

For example, dehydration can lead to headaches, fatigue, and even impaired cognitive function. Conversely, staying properly hydrated is essential for keeping the brain healthy and functioning at its best.

Next time you’re feeling sluggish or struggling to focus, reach for a glass of water – your brain will thank you for it!

The average adult human has about 20 square meters of skin

Most people think of skin as simply the stuff that covers the outside of our bodies, but it’s so much more than that. The average adult human has about 20 square meters of skin, making it the largest organ in the body!

And that’s not even counting all the hair follicles, sweat glands, and other structures that are found in our skin. Skin is truly amazing stuff, and here are some strange facts about it that you probably didn’t know.

For starters, did you know that your skin is constantly shedding? You can lose up to 1.5 grams of skin every day! That’s equivalent to the weight of about three-quarters of a penny.

And speaking of shedding, did you know that snakes shed their entire skin at once? They start at the head and work their way down their bodies until they’re completely naked.

Humans aren’t quite that extreme, but we do have some strange shedding habits of our own. For example, did you know that dandruff is actually just dead skin cells?

And when you get goosebumps, those are also dead skin cells being raised up by your muscles!

The average person blinks their eyes around 10 times per minute

Did you know that the average person blinks their eyes around 10 times per minute?

That’s over 1200 times per day! While blinking may seem like a simple, automatic process, it serves an important function.

Blinking helps keep our eyes lubricated and prevents them from drying out. It also helps to protect our eyes from foreign objects and debris.

A single sneeze can travel up to 100 miles per hour

Believe it or not, a single sneeze can travel up to 100 miles per hour. That’s faster than a cheetah can run.

Sneezes are so powerful that they can break ribs. So if you ever find yourself near someone who is sneezing, stand back!

Sneezes are caused by irritants in the air, such as dust or pollen. When these irritants enter the nose, they trigger a reflex that causes the muscles in the chest and abdomen to contract.

This contraction forces a burst of air out through the nose and mouth at high speed. So the next time you see someone sneezing, give them some space – and be glad you’re not in their line of fire!

The human heart beats around 100,000 times per day

There are some strange facts about the human heart that most people don’t know. For example, did you know that the human heart beats around 100,000 times per day?

That means that throughout a lifetime, the heart will beat billions of times. And yet, despite all of this activity, the heart is only about the size of your fist.

It’s truly amazing what such a small organ can do. In addition to pumping blood throughout your body, the heart also provides oxygen and nutrients to your cells and helps to remove waste products. Without it, we wouldn’t be able to live.

Coughing can expel air at speeds up to 60 miles per hour

Did you know that coughing can expel air at speeds up to 60 miles per hour? That’s just one of the strange facts about coughing that you may not know.

For example, did you know that a cough is a reflex action? The body’s natural reaction to something irritating the throat is to expel the irritant as quickly as possible.

That’s why coughing is so important – it helps to clear the airway and prevent further irritation. Coughing is so important that we have a special muscle dedicated to it – the triangularis sterni muscle.

This muscle is located in the chest and is responsible for contracting the chest during a cough. So next time you have a tickle in your throat, don’t suppress that cough – let it out! It just might save you from further irritation.

Hiccups can occur at speeds up to 50 miles per hour.

If you’ve ever been driving along the highway and suddenly gotten a hiccup, you may have wondered if there’s a connection between the two.

As it turns out, there is! Hiccups occur at speeds up to 50 miles per hour. This strange phenomenon is caused by a sudden change in the pressure of the air around the lungs, which forces them to contract sharply.

While this may not be a cause for concern for most people, it can be dangerous for those who are driving at high speeds. If you find yourself hiccuping while behind the wheel, pull over and take a break until the hiccups subside.