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Ten Random Facts

The California redwood – coast redwood and giant sequoia – are the tallest and largest living organism in the world.
Environment

In a 1996 interview, actor Walter Matthau related this self-deprecating story about his film career: "Apparently, I shout a lot in most films. I did a film with Elvis Presley, King Creole. And the Hungarian director says to me, 'Matt-ow, you are high-priced actor. Pretend you are low-priced actor. Don't act so much.'"
Entertainment

Without the support of ocean water's buoyancy, a blue whale would suffocate under its own weight.
Animals

A pulsar is a small star made up of neutrons so densely packed together that if one the size of a silver dollar landed on Earth, it would weigh approximately 100 million tons.
Space

Did you ever wonder what the "WD" in WD-40® stands for? Per the company, the product's full name is WD-40® Water Displacer, which was perfected on the fortieth attempt. (Some trivia sources erroneously state the WD is an abbreviation for Water Displacement).
Inventions

It was reported that Napoleon carried chocolate with him on his military campaigns, and always ate it when he needed a boost of energy.
Food and Drink

The fastest animal on four legs is the cheetah, which races at speeds up to 70 miles per hour in short distances. It can accelerate to 45 miles per hour in two seconds.
Animals

Two towns in Vermont claim to be President Chester A. Arthur's birthplace, but recent research supports his opponents' charges that he was born in Canada, and therefore, was not eligible to be president under the U.S. Constitution.
People » US Presidents

Expressing recognition rather than love, Utah prairie dogs exchange "kisses." By the touching of incisor teeth, they quickly confirm the identity of group members.
Animals

Actress Hedy Lamarr obtained a patent as a co-inventor of a radar-controlled system to direct torpedoes at moving ships. Her co-inventor was composer George Antheil.
People

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