Interesting Facts for Curious Minds

By Benny White

"Interesting Facts for Curious Minds:

Lots of random but amazing facts about history, science, humanity and everything else"

 

Discover an intriguing collection of fun facts that will pique your curiosity and quench your thirst for knowledge. In "Interesting Facts for Curious Minds" we present you with a diverse selection of amazing information from different fields such as history, science, culture and many more.

 

Find out, for example, which country has the oldest existing democracy in the world or which curious inventions mankind has produced. Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of science and learn about amazing phenomena and discoveries that amaze us.

Whether you're looking to expand your knowledge, excel at small talk, or just satisfy your curiosity, this book is an essential companion. With an entertaining writing style and a variety of topics and facts, this is a book that you will return to again and again.

 

"Interesting Facts for Curious Minds" is suitable for readers of all ages and backgrounds. Whether you're a history lover, interested in science, or just have a passion for knowledge, this book has something for everyone.

 

With the purchase of this book you not only get a rich source of fascinating facts, but also a fun reading experience that immerses you in the world of knowledge. Let yourself be surprised by the unexpected and exciting facts and broaden your horizons.

 

So don't hesitate any longer! Order "Interesting Facts for Curious Minds" today and enter a world of wonder and amazing discoveries.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Benny White
• Release date: Jun 4, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223030188

Book preview

Musical instruments

The largest music box in the world is in the Museum Speelklok in Utrecht, Netherlands and is almost 5 meters high. It contains more than 20,000 whistles and is controlled by a punch card that records the musical notes.

The longest concert on a guitar lasted more than 114 hours and was performed by a guitarist in India in 2011. He played more than 4000 songs with a 30 minute break every 4 hours.

The highest pitched sound a flute can produce is beyond the audible range of humans and only heard by dogs and bats. This sound is called ultrasound and has a frequency of over 20 kilohertz.

The deepest note that an organ can produce is so deep that you not only hear it but also feel it as it creates vibrations. This tone is called the 16 hertz tone and is produced by the world's largest organ, the Wanamaker Grand Court Organ in Philadelphia.

A violin consists of more than 70 parts, all of which must be assembled to complete the instrument. Most of these parts are made out of wood, but there are also some metal and plastic parts.

A piano has 88 keys, while a keyboard usually only has 61 keys. The piano's extra keys are necessary to enable the instrument's full tonal range.

The bagpipe has a long history and is often associated with Scotland, although it is popular in many other countries as well. The sound of the bagpipes is made by playing three different types of pipes.

The didgeridoo, a traditional Aboriginal instrument in Australia, can produce an infinite sound by the player inhaling and exhaling simultaneously. The sound is created by vibrating the lips and tongue and can be varied by changing the shape of the mouth.

The violin, also known as the fiddle, is the smallest member of the stringed instrument family. It has four strings and is usually played with a bow.

The clarinet has an interesting history and was used extensively in the music of Mozart and Beethoven. The instrument is cylindrical in shape and is usually made of wood.

The trombone is the only musical instrument that plays in a straight line, producing different tones by lengthening the bell. The trombone usually has a slide system that allows the player to change the length of the instrument to produce different tones.

The harp is one of the oldest instruments in the world and has a rich history in Celtic and classical music. The harp has 47 strings and is usually played with the fingers.

The theremin is a strange instrument played without touch and often featured in science fiction movies. The player uses their hands to manipulate the instrument's electromagnetic field, creating a spherical sound.

The xylophone is a percussion instrument made up of wooden sticks arranged in a specific order and struck with mallets. It can be heard in many music genres such as jazz, pop and classical music.

The bass drum is the largest percussion instrument in an orchestra and produces a deep, muffled sound. It is usually played with a pedal that allows the player to control the sound.

The glockenspiel is a percussion instrument made up of metal bars placed on a frame. It is usually played with mallets and can be heard in many school bands and orchestral ensembles.

It's all about the money

Cash only in small amounts: Did you know that some countries actually have restrictions on how much cash you can use? For example, in Italy it is illegal to use cash to pay for goods or services worth more than 2,999 euros. In India the limit is 300,000 rupees (about US$4,000) and in Mexico it is 200,000 pesos (about US$10,000).

The most expensive currency in the world: Kuwaiti dinar is the most valuable currency in the world. One Kuwaiti dinar is roughly equal to US$3.31. Kuwait has a high percentage of oil reserves, resulting in a high gross domestic product (GDP) and hence a strong currency.

The First Credit Card: The first credit card was introduced in 1950 by Diner's Club International. However, this credit card was not a real credit card, but a kind of charge card that allowed customers to pay in selected restaurants and hotels.

Most valuable paper money: The Bank of Zimbabwe issued a $100 trillion note in 2008 in response to hyperinflation in the country. Although the banknotes had a nominal value, they were actually worthless due to inflation and were eventually withdrawn from circulation.

The longest name on a banknote: The country with the longest name on a banknote is Thailand. The full name of the country, Kingdom of Thailand, has 18 letters and is printed on the 100 baht banknotes.

World's Most Expensive Stock: The world's most expensive stock is Berkshire Hathaway, which cost over $400,000 per share in 2021. Berkshire Hathaway is an investment and venture capital firm led by legendary investor Warren Buffett.

The most expensive gemstone: The most expensive gemstone in the world is the pink star diamond. The 59.6-carat diamond was sold for $83 million in 2013.

World's Richest People: Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, is the richest person in the world as of 2021 with a net worth of over $177 billion, according to Forbes. Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Bernard Arnault, CEO of Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy, follow in second and third place.

The most expensive art auction: The most expensive work of art that has ever been sold at auction is Salvator Mundi by Leonardo da Vinci. It was auctioned in 2017 for a whopping $450.3 million.

The most valuable brand: The most valuable brand in the world is Apple. Apple's brand value is over $263 billion in 2021, according to Forbes. Amazon and Google follow in second and third place.

The highest rent in the world: The highest rent in the world is paid in Hong Kong. An average 1-bedroom apartment here costs over US$3,000 per month on average.

Most Expensive Athlete of All Time: The most expensive athlete of all time is former world boxing champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. According to Forbes, his 2021 net worth is over $1 billion.

The most expensive yacht in the world: The most expensive yacht in the world is the Eclipse, owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich. It cost over 1.5 billion US dollars and has an area of over 16,000 square meters.

The most expensive food in the world: The most expensive food in the world is the Spring Roulade Pancake from the French restaurant Maison Pic Valence. It costs a whopping $5000 per serving.

The most expensive bottle of wine: The most expensive bottle of wine in the world is a bottle of Romanée-Conti 1945. It was auctioned in 2018 for US$558,000.

Cars, trains and planes

World's Fastest Land Vehicle: The world's fastest land vehicle is the Bloodhound SSC. It reached a speed of 1,227 km/h and is expected to be even faster in the future.

The longest train in the world: The longest train in the world had a length of 7.3 km and consisted of 682 wagons and 8 locomotives. It was used in Australia and transported ore.

The largest aircraft in the world: The largest aircraft in the world is the Antonov An-225 Mriya. With a wingspan of 88.4 meters and a length of 84 meters, it can transport a payload of up to 250 tons.

History's First Car Accident: The first car accident in history occurred in 1891 in Ohio, USA. A vehicle crashed into a brick wall and caused only minor damage. The occupants were unharmed.

The most expensive car in the world: The most expensive car in the world is the Bugatti La Voiture Noire. It sold for $18.7 million and is one of a kind. The owner of the luxury car is still unknown to this day.

The longest train in the world without a locomotive: The longest train in the world without a locomotive was a freight train in Australia and had a length of 4.6 kilometers. The train was controlled by just one engine driver and transported coal, among other things.

The fastest airplane in the world: The fastest airplane in the world is the SR-71 Blackbird. It was used by the US Air Force from 1966 to 1998 and reached a top speed of 3,529 km/h.

The First Commercial Flight: The first commercial flight took place on January 1, 1914 in Florida. At that time, the St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line carried passengers between St. Petersburg and Tampa Bay.

The first ICE: The first ICE (Intercity-Express) was presented in Germany in 1989 and is still one of the fastest train types in Europe. The ICE 4, which has been in service since 2017, can reach a top speed of 250 km/h.

The first car: The world's first car was built in 1886 by Carl Benz. It had a four-stroke engine and a top speed of 16 km/h. The car had three wheels and was named Patent Motor Car Number 1.

The longest runway: The longest runway in the world is located in Qamdo, China and is 5.5 kilometers long. It was opened in 2013 and also allows larger aircraft such as the Airbus A380 to land.

The longest train route: The longest train route in the world runs from Spain to China and is almost 14,000 kilometers long. The freight train needs about three weeks for the route.

The first flight across the Atlantic: The first flight across the Atlantic was made in 1919 by John Alcock and Arthur Brown. They flew from Newfoundland to Ireland, taking 16 hours and 12 minutes.

The First Bullet Train: The first bullet train was the Shinkansen in Japan. It was opened in 1964 and at that time reached a top speed of 210 km/h.

The First Transcontinental Railroad: The first transcontinental railroad in the United States was completed in 1869. It connected the east coast to the west coast and allowed goods and people to be transported quickly between the two coasts.

With a top speed of 431 km/h, the Transrapid in Shanghai is the fastest commercially operated transport system in