15 Bits Of Trivia We’ve Arranged Into An Impenetrable Factual Phalanx Capable Of Infiltrating Your Hippocampus (Though Admittedly Ineffective Against Cavalry)
![15 Bits Of Trivia We’ve Arranged Into An Impenetrable Factual Phalanx Capable Of Infiltrating Your Hippocampus (Though Admittedly Ineffective Against Cavalry)](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/6/6/898166_320x180.jpg)
When it comes to peculiar hobbies, Patricia Highsmith, the renowned novelist famous for her psychological thrillers, takes the cake. Instead of collecting stamps or coins, she opted for something a little slimier: snails. Not only did she keep 300 of them as pets in her Swiss home, but she also brought them to social events in her handbag. And if that wasn't enough to make you do a double-take, brace yourself for the next fact: Double Stuf Oreos are not, in fact, doubly stuffed. A 2013 study proved that the amount of filling in these beloved cookies is only 1.86 times that of the classic version, leaving us all feeling a little betrayed. And last but not least, did you know that in the Victorian era, fern collecting was all the rage? The trend, known as pteridomania, had people scouring the countryside in search of exotic specimens to add to their collections. Sounds like a pretty wild time if you ask us! Sit back, relax, and stock up on your ferns as you read through the rest of these amazing facts!
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Caboose Baboon
![CRACKED DURING THE 1880S, A BABOON WAS EMPLOYED AS A SIGNALMAN FOR A SOUTH AFRICAN RAILROAD AND SERVED FOR NINE YEARS. In exchange for his services, he was compensated with beer, and reportedly never made any mistakes while on the job.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/7/3/897673.jpg)
Isn’t That Nutty
![CRACKED CHOCK FULL O'NUTS COFFEE DOESN'T CONTAIN ANY NUTS. It's named that because the store originally sold nuts before they were converted to coffee shops.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/7/1/897671.jpg)
Persian Pipes
![CRACKED SCOTLAND DIDN'T INVENT THE BAGPIPES. Persia did. CLINIQUE LINIQUE lauid tacial SOUR party mild dire avon visage kcal) doux 2](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/7/2/897672.jpg)
Yearn For Ferns
![CRACKED FERN COLLECTING WAS A TREND IN THE VICTORIAN ERA. The activity was so popular it earned its own name: pteridomania.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/7/0/897670.jpg)
Doubly Disappointing
![CRACKED DOUBLE STUF OREOS ARE NOT DOUBLY STUFFED. According to a 2013 study by a high school math teacher, Double Stuf Oreos are only 1.86 times as stuf'ed as classic Oreos, not twice as much, as the name suggests. ALWAYS MADE WITH REAL COCOA NABISCO Double Stuf OREO - 2012 PER 2 COOKIES 140 2g 90mg 13 NET WT SAT FAT SODIUM SUGARS CHOCOLATE CALORIES SANDWICH COOKIES 15.35 OZ (435g) SLIT APPEARS WHEN OPENED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/6/5/897665.jpg)
Snail You Later
![CRACKED PATRICIA HIGHSMITH, THE AMERICAN NOVELIST BEST KNOWN FOR HER PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLERS, WAS AN AVID COLLECTOR OF SNAILS AND KEPT AROUND 300 OF THEM AS PETS IN HER HOME IN SWITZERLAND. She even carried a few snails in her handbag to social events, and some of her friends would gift her new snails to add to her collection.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/6/9/897669.jpg)
It’s For Science
![CRACKED HIGH SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES IN NEW ZEALAND CAN POSSESS UP TO ONE POUND OF URANIUM. The Atomic Energy Act of 1945 allows them to do this for educational purposes. 2068](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/6/4/897664.jpg)
In Russia Ghost Eat Pacman
![CRACKED DURING THE SOVIET ERA, THE USSR HAD ITS OWN ARCADE GAMES. These games have been preserved in St. Petersburg's Museum of Soviet Arcade Games. БОЙ 191 СНАЙПЕР- MUSEUM LKAN 4ev](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/6/2/897662.jpg)
This Is Just Weird
![CRACKED IN ENGLAND, ROYAL BOYS CANNOT WEAR PANTS. It is considered middle class for them to wear pants before the age of 8.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/6/6/897666.jpg)
Seeing Red
![CRACKED BABIES CANNOT SEE COLOR WHEN THEY ARE BORN. The first color they can see is red.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/6/8/897668.jpg)
Bittersweet
![CRACKED CHOCOLATE WAS FIRST CONSUMED AS A BITTER DRINK BY THE MAYANS AND AZTECS OVER 3,000 YEARS AGO. It wasn't until the 16th century that it was sweetened and became popular in Europe.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/6/7/897667.jpg)
Smell Ya Later 2: Electric Boogaloo
![CRACKED YOU CANNOT SMELL IN YOUR SLEEP. Though many people say they can, science says the sensation comes from your brain, not an outside source.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/6/1/897661.jpg)
Violent Canals
![CRACKED AMSTERDAM IS FAMOUS FOR ITS CANALS, BICYCLES, AND RELAXED CULTURE. However, it is also home to the Museum of Torture Instruments, which features over 40 different instruments used for torture throughout history. MUSEUM of medieval TORTURE instruments- Museum 1 KANIST mai MISTE - = 194 REPRACE - avo - - 2 WC U SALAMOUNA AIAI CHANGE - CHANGE WECHSEL no](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/6/3/897663.jpg)
The Leadiest Place on Earth
![CRACKED DISNEYLAND IS FULL OF LEAD. Disneyland's earliest rides, including The Haunted Mansion and Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, were found to contain unsafe levels of lead to this day. Disney has dismissed the concern and it is unknown if they ever fixed the issue.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/6/0/897660.jpg)
Smell ya later
![CRACKED ACCORDING TO SCIENCE, SMELLS CAN FALL INTO TEN CATEGORIES. Fragrant, woody/resinous, fruity (non-citrus), chemical, minty/peppermint, sweet, popcorn, lemon, pungent and decayed.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/5/9/897659.jpg)