You may have heard someone say that there are three types of falsehoods: lies, darn lies, and statistics. Despite the imputation, statistics can be very compelling. Adding a statistic to your argument […]
How to Lie With Statistics
New Yorkers Are More Dangerous Biters Than Sharks
No one wants to run into a shark while swimming. A shark’s bite can definitely ruin your day. There is, however, another species that seems far more likely to take a chomp […]
Meet the Man Who Was Struck By Lightning 7 Times
Whoever said lightning never strikes twice never met Roy Sullivan. Sullivan was born on February 7, 1912. From 1936 to his retirement in 1977, he served as a United States park ranger […]
Is the Risk Worth the Reward? Understanding Micromorts and Microlives
When considering whether to do something, do you ever consider the risks? If you knew that one activity would certainly bring an immediate end to your life, you probably would not be […]
Will You Choose Door #1 or Door #2? Understanding the Monty Hall Problem
The television game show Let’s Make a Deal hit the airwaves in 1962. One of the most popular features of the program involved the host, Monty Hall, giving the contestant the option […]
Thanks to All Our Readers
There may be a lot of things about the year 2020 we all want to forget, but those of us at Commonplace Fun Facts look back at the year with fond appreciation […]
Vending Machines Are More Deadly Than Sharks
They have invaded human society so completely that they can be found in all areas of life. Businesses, hospitals, schools, and even police stations are their habitat. These silent killers lure their […]
Learn How Two Grandparents Hacked the Lottery and Made Millions
Despite all the advertisements telling us about the lavish lifestyle that comes to the winners of the lottery, most of us know that buying lottery tickets is just a less efficient means […]
Could an Infinite Number of Monkeys Really Reproduce the Works of Shakespeare?
It has been said that if you give enough monkeys enough time to peck away at typewriters, they will eventually, through random chance, reproduce the works of William Shakespeare. That’s an interesting […]
He’s Red Dead, Jim: How Likely Are Star Trek’s Red-Shirted Crew Members to Die?
It is widely accepted among fans of the original series of Star Trek that any crew member who beams down to a planet’s surface while wearing a red shirt is unlikely to […]
The Odds — and Risks — of Playing the Lottery
Americans spend more than $70 billion each year on lottery tickets. That comes out to $300 per adult in the states where lotteries are legal. With Powerball or Mega Millions payouts reaching […]
Tongue Tied Over Tie Tying Types?
Half Windsor, full Windsor, bow-tie, four-in-hand…. If you recognize these as different types of necktie knots, you are substantially ahead of most guys, who struggle to master one style. Some of us […]
Hot Water Can Freeze Faster Than Cold
It’s called the Mpemba Effect, and it is a mystery that has intrigued the greatest minds in history for over 2,000 years. As counter-intuitive as it may seem, hot water seems to […]
A Heart-Healthy Reason to Avoid Mondays
Mondays tend to be the least favorite day of the week for most people. As it turns out, there is a good reason for it. That is the day of the week […]
The Amazing Law of Word Usage in Languages
An interesting phenomenon occurs in languages, and it doesn’t seem to make a difference which language you study. Whichever word is the second-most commonly used will show up in normal usage half […]
Commonplace Fun Facts 