10 of the Most Endangered Animals in the World

Nature is a wondrous thing, from gorgeous waterfalls hidden deep in the mists of African jungles, to the open skies, and endless plains of the American midwest. Inhabiting these vast, and diverse, regions are countless species, each one unique, and fascinating. Throughout history, however, these beautiful creatures have suffered many existential dangers, from natural disasters to man-made incursions. Tragically, these events have led many species to their ultimate demise, rendering them extinct. However, all is not lost. Scientists, and wildlife protection agencies, across the globe, have contributed greatly to preventing the extinction of several endangered species. Animals such as the

The post 10 of the Most Endangered Animals in the World appeared first on Factual Facts.

13 Facts About Harry Styles

Emerging as a sensational member of one of the eminent British boy bands, whose music has drawn millions of fans worldwide otherwise known as Directioners, Harry Edward Styles is a key figure in the pop-music industry. Alongside Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne and now ex-member Zayn Malik, Styles rose to fame after the fivesome were formed as a group on the stage of The X Factor UK 2010 on July 23. If you are looking to knowing more on Harry Styles, here are 13 facts about him. 1. He was in a band named White Eskimo It seemed as

The post 13 Facts About Harry Styles appeared first on Factual Facts.

4 Celebrities With Asthma

Can you imagine what it would feel like to have an elephant standing on your chest as you try to take a breath? That is the comparison one child gave to describe an asthma attack she experienced. Now think about English professional footballer star David Beckham racing up and down the field or pop star Pink in the middle of very physical choreography on stage. They could have let asthma keep them from realizing their dreams, but they didn’t. What is Asthma? It is a chronic lung disease that causes a person’s airways to become constricted and fill with mucus.

The post 4 Celebrities With Asthma appeared first on Factual Facts.

9 Facts About Green Eyes

Brown, Blue, Hazel, Grey, Green. These are just a few of the eye color shades which we see humans or animals possessing. Sometimes, the color of your eye can be due to your genes or genetic reasons as well. The color green, however, has some rather interesting facts associated with it. According to research, it is said that green eyes have existed from the Bronze Age Era, which means that they have been around for thousands of years. This color is most commonly found in Europeans. It is also said that Europeans with green eyes are usually considered to be

The post 9 Facts About Green Eyes appeared first on Factual Facts.

Why Don’t UPS Drivers Turn Left?

Image credit: 
Getty Images

United Parcel Service (UPS) celebrates its 110th anniversary this year, but it’s not likely any of their drivers are going to stop for cake. With 4.9 billion packages routed via UPS trucks every year, their priority is getting your goods to your front door while maximizing productivity.

In their pursuit of expediency, in the 1970s UPS began mandating that its fleet of brown-clothed drivers avoid turning left whenever possible. While that might seem like a curious policy, it turns out that it’s the most economical way to distribute packages.

When motor vehicles turn left, they’re operating against the flow of traffic. In addition to creating safety issues with collisions, it also means a truck—say, one full of Amazon packages—is going to sit idling waiting for cross-traffic to abate before it can successfully navigate away from it, wasting both time and fuel.

To combat this, UPS uses an onboard navigational system they’ve dubbed ORION (On-Road Integrated Optimization and Navigation) to tell drivers the best route to take that’s made up primarily of right turns. By looping right during delivery runs, the company estimates it saves up to 10 million gallons of fuel every year and shortens paths by an average of six to eight miles.

Not all left turns are avoidable—UPS figures drivers go left about 10 percent of the time, or more if they’re in more rural areas. But the general rule of thumb is to keep right to keep on schedule.

Would that strategy work for all drivers? Not necessarily. According to traffic analysts, commuters and other non-commercial drivers are typically using the same route, minimizing the necessity to cut corners.

Have you got a Big Question you’d like us to answer? If so, let us know by emailing us at bigquestions@mentalfloss.com.


March 6, 2017 – 3:00pm

You Can Now Experience ‘Walden’ as a Video Game

Image credit: 

GameInnovationLab via YouTube

If you feel inspired by Henry David Thoreau’s Walden but not inspired enough to isolate yourself in the woods for two years, you can now relive his experience by playing a video game. As The Verge reports, Walden: a game presents the theme and setting of the classic book in a modern package.

We first reported the video game last year, and it launched through the indie game marketplace itch.io in late February. A team of developers led by Tracy Fullerton, a University of Southern California professor and the director of USC Games, went to great lengths to ensure their creation channeled the source material. Players can find inspiration at Walden Pond, build a cabin, forage for food, and visit Ralph Waldo Emerson at the neighboring town.

If they so please, players can also make choices that contradict Thoreau’s original mission. Instead of living in seclusion, they can take the path of the successful writer and purchase fine suits from the local shop and ask their editor about public speaking opportunities. Thoreau’s words are hidden in descriptions of items and actions, hinting at the choices he himself would make.

Whether or not the same writer who championed surrendering everyday luxuries would approve of video games is up for debate. Video game players looking for a transcendental experience, or those who just want to relax with some virtual fishing, can purchase the game for $18.45.

[h/t The Verge]


March 6, 2017 – 1:30pm