The provided text is a collection of 50 interesting and little-known facts across various fields, including history, science, culture, and entertainment. Here's a concise summary:
1. Unique celebrations: In Peru's Chumbivilcas Province, people settle grudges by fist-fighting on December 25th.
2. Medical checklist: The "Safe Surgery Checklist" reduces surgical deaths by over 40%.
3. Ancient pyramids: The Great Pyramids in Egypt were once shiny and polished.
4. Free Wi-Fi statue: A statue of Nikola Tesla in Silicon Valley provides free Wi-Fi.
5. Invisible jet: Mattel sold an empty plastic shell as Wonder Woman's invisible jet.
6. NASA's smell tester: George Aldrich has worked for NASA for over 40 years, ensuring there are no unpleasant smells in space.
7. Front porch campaign: William McKinley won the 1896 US election despite campaigning from his front porch.
8. Heaviest human: The heaviest human recorded was John Minnoch, who weighed 635 kg (1,400 lb).
9. Coffee benefits: Studies show coffee reduces cancer risk, improves overall health, and prevents diabetes.
10. Unique product: A Japanese company created a silicone toy that mimics the sensation of popping bubble wrap.
11. McDonald's weddings: McDonald's in Hong Kong offers cheap weddings, complete with food and an apple pie for 50 guests.
12. Pilots sleeping: A study found that 56% of pilots fell asleep while flying, and 29% found their co-pilot asleep.
13. Rope-free elevator: A German company created the world's first rope-free elevator system using magnetic technology.
These are just a few of the many interesting facts presented in the text.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. In Peru, the inhabitants of the Chum Bivas province celebrate Takanakuy on December 25th, where men settle grudges by fist fighting.
2. There is a set of 19 questions known as the Safe Surgery Checklist that has been proven to reduce surgical deaths by over 40%.
3. The Great Pyramids in Egypt were once shiny like glass after craftsmen polished the stone surfaces to perfection.
4. A statue of Nikola Tesla in Silicon Valley radiates free Wi-Fi and contains a time capsule to be opened in 2043.
5. Mattel sold a collectible "invisible jet" of Wonder Woman, which was an empty plastic shell with weights to give the illusion of content.
6. Actor Don Johnson was slapped by Hunter S. Thompson when he asked about the sound of one hand clapping.
7. Blind people forget many memories due to the lack of visual imagery.
8. A 3D printing company called Touchable Memories prints 3D objects from old photos for the blind.
9. At least five Americans have accidentally shot off their penises since 2010.
10. Jamaica, Colombia, and St. Lucia are the only countries where a boss is more likely to be a woman than a man.
11. In 1979, a college student only needed to work 182 hours per year to pay for tuition, compared to over 991 hours in 2013.
12. The molecular structure of a chemical compound called Penguin 1 resembles a penguin.
13. George Aldrich has worked for NASA for over 40 years, smelling things to ensure there are no unpleasant odors in space.
14. William McKinley won the 1896 US election despite campaigning from his front porch, while his opponent traveled extensively.
15. Nicolo Paganini was a violin virtuoso who was so good that people questioned if he had sold his soul to the devil for his talent.
16. A silicone toy called Mugan Pooie Pooi was created in Japan to mimic the sensation of popping bubble wrap.
17. Mexican Shamans used Coca-Cola in their rituals, and Pepsi offered commissions for using their product instead.
18. Kiko the Orca, who starred in "Free Willy," was released into the wild in Iceland in 2002 and swam to a Norwegian inlet a few weeks later.
19. A college student in 1979 only needed to work 182 hours per year to pay for tuition, compared to over 991 hours in 2013.
20. The average student in 2013 had to work over 991 hours per year to pay for tuition.
21. In the early 1800s, Napoleon demanded a method of communication that would not require light or sound, leading to the development of "night writing," a tactile military code that became the basis for Braille.
22. The heaviest human ever recorded was John Minnoch, who weighed 635 kg (1,400 lb) and later lost approximately 419 kg (924 lb).
23. Since 2010, at least five Americans have accidentally shot off their penises.
24. Jamaica, Colombia, and St. Lucia are the only countries where a boss is more likely to be a woman than a man.
25. A college student in 1979 only needed to work 182 hours per year to pay for tuition, compared to over 991 hours in 2013.
26. John F. Kennedy's grandmother, Mary Josephine Fitzgerald, outlived her grandson and was never told about his assassination.
27. In 2008, a Japanese company created a silicone toy called Mugan Pooie Pooi to mimic the sensation of popping bubble wrap.
28. Pepsi offered commissions to Mexican Shamans for using their product in rituals instead of Coca-Cola.
29. Kiko the Orca, who starred in "Free Willy," was released into the wild in Iceland in 2002 and swam to a Norwegian inlet a few weeks later.
30. The average student in 2013 had to work over 991 hours per year to pay for tuition.
31. Google announced Gmail on April 1st, 2004, with an unbelievable 1 GB of free storage, which seemed impossible at the time.
32. Outer space is only an hour away if you could drive a car straight into the sky at 96 km/h (60 mph).
33. Napoleon demanded a method of communication that would not require light or sound, leading to the development of "night writing," a tactile military code that became the basis for Braille.
34. Nicolo Paganini was a violin virtuoso who was so good that people questioned if he had sold his soul to the devil for his talent.
35. In 2008, a Japanese company created a silicone toy called Mugan Pooie Pooi to mimic the sensation of popping bubble wrap.
36. Pepsi offered commissions to Mexican Shamans for using their product in rituals instead of Coca-Cola.
37. Kiko the Orca, who starred in "Free Willy," was released into the wild in Iceland in 2002 and swam to a Norwegian inlet a few weeks later.
38. The average student in 2013 had to work over 991 hours per year to pay for tuition.
39. Google announced Gmail on April 1st, 2004, with an unbelievable 1 GB of free storage, which seemed impossible at the time.
40. Outer space is only an hour away if you could drive a car straight into the sky at 96 km/h (60 mph).
41. Napoleon demanded a method of communication that would not require light or sound, leading to the development of "night writing," a tactile military code that became the basis for Braille.
42. Nicolo Paganini was a violin virtuoso who was so good that people questioned if he had sold his soul to the devil for his talent.
43. Knowing someone who works at a company increases your chances of getting an interview and makes you 40% more likely to get the job.
44. Jim Wanky, a blind man, and Gia Heia, a double amputee, planted 10,000 trees in Yelli Village, China, and plan to plant another 10,000.
45. High school freshmen today were not alive during any part of the 1990s.
46. Scotland had the highest rate of cocaine use in the world in 2014.
47. The last words of French philosopher Voltaire were "Now is not the time to be making new enemies."
48. The crew of "American Horror Story: Freak Show" would sometimes leave the set because Twisty the Clown was too scary.
49. HG Wells' last words were "Go away, I'm all right."
50. A parking meter official in Salem, Oregon, stole $90,000 and was caught in 2015.
51. Research from the University of Chicago found that people think more rationally in their second language and make better choices.
52. Studies in the UK found that short female drivers who sit close to the steering wheel are the most likely to be killed by an airbag.
53. Bradley Cooper begged his father to send him to Japan to train to become a ninja until he was 21.
54. Jonah Hill was paid only $660,000 for his role in "The Wolf of Wall Street" and received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
55. The pink cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C., were a gift from Japan in 1912 as a symbol of friendship between the two nations.
56. McDonald's in Hong Kong will host cheap weddings for couples at a cost of around $1,200.
57. A study found that 56% of pilots fell asleep while flying, and 29% had woken up to find that the co-pilot was also asleep.
58. Cornelius Mike Anderson helped rob a Burger King employee in 1999 and was ordered to serve 13 years in prison but was never arrested.
59. A German engineering company created the world's first rope-free elevator system using magnetic technology.
60. Economics professor at Emory University found that couples who spend below average on their weddings and wedding rings have lower divorce rates.
61. Musician David Grohl was admitted to a hospital due to a caffeine overdose from coffee while recording a new album.
62. Studies conducted by the University of Toronto found that people who trust others are better at spotting liars.
63. A Japanese soldier was stranded on an island for 30 years after World War II and continued to stand his post in uniform until his commander came to dismiss him in 1974.
64. Some college students in Cleveland live rent-free in a retirement home, which is beneficial for both parties.
65. In 1978, Soviet geologists found a family of six who had survived in the middle of Siberia without seeing another human since 1936.
66. Pumba was the first character to fart in a Disney movie.
67. 2015 was the first year in over 40 years that McDonald's closed more stores than it opened in the United States.