Wow, really?

Hello friends and welcome to Eccentric Spheres for a lesson in weird facts!

Yes, it's once again time to take a look at some of the odd and amazing things and people that populate the spinning ball of rock and molten iron we call Earth.

As usual, the facts are borrowed from Kickassfacts.com.

1. During the early 20th century, there was some interest in mock dueling with pistols loaded with wax bullets. The sport first gained popularity in France, and heavy canvas clothing was worn to protect the body, a metal helmet with a thick glass plate protected the head and face, and the pistols were often equipped with guards on the front of the trigger guard that extended outwards to protect the shooter’s hand. For a brief time it was popular, and was featured during the 1908 Summer Olympics.

2. W.V Meadows of West Point, Georgia, was shot in the eye at the battle of Vicksburg on July 1, 1863 during the American Civil War. He survived and fifty eight years later, he unexpectedly coughed the bullet out of his mouth on July 21, 1932.

3. A sharp knife does less damage to the cell walls of an onion, releasing less propanethial S-oxide, the irritant that causes you to cry.

4. Obsidian blades are so sharp (3 nm thick) that, on a cellular level, obsidian knives will cut between cells rather than tear the cells as steel knives would do, these blades were used to make blades in the Stone Age and they are now being used in modern surgery because it is sharper than metal.

5. In the late 1950s, psychologist Milton Rokeach conducted an experiment called The Three Christs of Ypsilanti. Three schizophrenics who claimed themselves to be Jesus were brought together have their reactions documented. In the end, each came to the conclusion that the other two must have mental issues.

6. In the 1960’s, US army did an experiment, where two people without nuclear training had to design a nuke with only access to public available documents and they succeeded.

7. No one knows who invented the fire hydrant, because its patent was destroyed in a fire.

8. Disney World is the largest consumer of fireworks in the United States. The park also launches the fireworks with compressed air instead of gunpowder to reduce fumes and gain better height and timing.

9. Two scientists proved time dilation by each flying around the world (east and west) carrying 4 synchronized atomic clocks. Upon landing, they compared them to atomic clocks they’d left on the ground and found that their clocks were no longer in sync.

10. “Fire Fighting” and “kite flying” were featured at the 1900 Olympics in Paris. 

That's it for me, so until next time, have an interesting week!