Strange But True: Inert Gold

By Lucie Winborne

• Hummingbirds are the only birds that can fly backward. In fact, they're so impressive in the air that they've been referred to as the "flying ninja."

• And speaking of flying, fruit flies can turn in midair simply by shrugging their shoulders.

• Want to feel safer while driving? White cars are considered the safest color because they typically stand out against black roads. Statistics have also shown that they're 12% less likely to be involved in an accident than black cars.

• Forefingers possess the highest dexterity among their eight neighbors.

• If you ever visit China, don't hug a tree! The act was forbidden after a mass tree hugging occurred outside of China's imperial garden and the Chinese government speculated that the huggers were part of a suspicious cult.

• Until it actually blows against something, wind makes no sound.

• Gold will never erode because it is chemically inert, meaning it doesn't react to oxygen in the atmosphere.

• Earlier this year, Taylor Swift's "Eras" tour performances registered as a 2.3 earthquake on seismometers in Seattle due to the collective dancing of her enthusiastic fans. The activity was compared to 2011's "Beast Quake," in which Seattle Seahawks fans shook the ground as they celebrated a touchdown, but Ms. Swift's lasted longer.

• During the 12th century, tennis was first played in France, but without rackets. Instead, players used the palms of their hands to lob the ball back to their opponents.

• Humans' ability to detect and discern scents fluctuates throughout the day, peaking during the late hours when environmental stimuli decrease, likely due to changes in body temperature and brain activity.

Thought for the Day: "For pilgrims walking ... every footfall is doubled, landing at once on the actual road and also on the path of faith." -- Robert Macfarlane

(c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.