You Can't Make This Stuff Up!

[Lee Stewart]

The Pledge of Allegiance was written as a PR stunt to sell magazines. "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America…" How many times did you stand and recite those words when you were growing up? While the Pledge of Allegiance might feel like something that's been around forever, it was actually written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy as part of a contest designed to promote sales of the weekly children's magazine Youth's Companion.

[Lee Stewart]

Bed bugs are near impossible to get rid of and can spread faster than water-cooler gossip. But that might also be why they've managed to stick around for so long. Scientists believe that the bugs have existed since the time of the dinosaurs, coming onto the scene about 115 million years ago, according to a 2019 study in Current Biology.

[Lee Stewart]

You can tell the temperature by counting a cricket's chirps. If you're not sure what the temperature is on hot summer day, just listen to the crickets. According to the Library of Congress, the musical creatures adjust their signature sounds according to the temperature, which means that if you count how many times a cricket chirps in 15 seconds and then add 37, you'll get a number that is a pretty close approximation of the current temperature in degrees Fahrenheit.

[Lee Stewart]

Dogs evolved "puppy eyes" to manipulate humans. That puppy-dog look that your canine companion gives you is completely adorable, totally intentional, and something that they've developed since they've become man's best friend. A 2019 study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences explained that domesticated dogs have evolved to have facial muscles around their eyes that wild wolves lack. These muscles give our pets the ability to make certain expressions that are intended to communicate with humans, such as raising their eyebrows to make them look like they're sad or pouting.

[Lee Stewart]

If you sneeze while driving at 60 mph, your eyes are closed for around 50 feet. When you sneeze, your eyes automatically close for a moment. But if you sneeze in a car that's traveling at 60 mph, then your eyes will be closed for around 50 feet. According to one 2014 study by Halfords Autocentres, drivers who temporarily lose vision due to sneezing are the cause of 2,500 accidents every week in England.

[Lee Stewart]

Planes burn a lot of fuel transporting passengers around the world, which is why Qantas airlines, one of the largest carriers in Australia, has been looking for eco-friendly alternatives. One option? A blended fuel that is half conventional fuel and half cooking oil. The end result produces around 60 percent fewer carbon emissions than traditional options. Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce told ABC, "We need to get ready for a future that is not based on traditional jet fuel or, frankly, we don't have a future."

[Lee Stewart]

Watermelon is a summer staple and the preferred fruit for a delicious picnic. It's also Oklahoma's state vegetable—yes, vegetable. Senator Don Barrington, who sponsored the 2007 bill that saw the watermelon earn the honor, reportedly backed up the decision by saying that watermelon comes from the cucumber and gourd families, which are classified as vegetables.

[Lee Stewart]

It's hard not to smile when you spot a ladybug⁠—but they may not seem so cute once you find out they're cannibals. An adult ladybug typically eats around 50 aphids (sap-sucking insects that gardeners despise) per day, but when there's not enough food around, they'll devour ladybug larvae and even other young ladybugs, which both have shells that are soft enough for an adult ladybug to chew, according to the BBC.

[Lee Stewart]

Lettuce is a member of the sunflower family.

[Lee Stewart]

The Roads Are Nearly Empty, and People Are Driving like Idiots. The California Highway Patrol has seen tickets issued for speeds over 100 mph almost double.