DISCOVERmagazine.com

20 THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT EVERYTHING

A BOOKFUL OF FASCINATING FACTS

For 27 years DISCOVER has been the nation's leading science magazine. Now DISCOVER is publishing 20 Things You Didn't Know About Everything, a book based on one of the most popular regular features of the magazine: "20 Things You Didn't Know About..." The book brings readers strange facts from the far reaches of the barely known universe -- from a $3,000 chocolate milk to contraceptive dung to the supposed meteorite housed in the Kaaba in Mecca -- and the even stranger stories behind them. Each chapter details 20 surprising things about one curious topic, like the ones listed to the right (mouse over for more info). Click the links below to buy or preview the book, or take our quiz to try to win a free copy.

Readings and Book Signings

Friday 9 May, 7.30
Symposia Bookstore
Hoboken, NJ


Read the Reviews

OK! Magazine
Syracuse.com
Miami Herald
Hudson Reporter


THE CHALLENGE

Quiz

We gave away 20 books over 20 days to the folks who proved that they knew just about everything.

The contest is now over. Congratulations to the Winners!

Joe C.

Eric T.

Chris M.

Carson B.

Conor M.

Aaron L.

Heather B.

Ricardo B.

Miranda H.

Anahita M.

H. Su

Erika W.

Corrie S.

Deborah P.

Jeremy W.

Nicholas V.

Kenneth W.

  • Your Body

    Fact: A normal human heart beats around 100,000 times a day.

  • Duct Tape

    Fact: The original name for duct tape was "duck tape."

  • Airport Security

    Fact: 24 percent of knives make it through airport security.

  • Germs

    Fact: The average cutting board has roughly 200 percent more fecal matter than your toilet seat.

  • Milk

    Fact: The first ice cream on record was eaten by King Shang of China in 618 A.D.

  • Aliens

    Fact: One in seven Americans say they or someone they know has had an experience involving a UFO.

  • Sex in Space

    Fact: Sex in space is hindered by vomiting

  • Sleep

    Fact: During parts of WWII, Winston Churchill would sleep only two hours per night-plus some daily catnaps.

  • Weather

    Fact: Cape Disappointment, Washington, is the foggiest place in the U.S.

  • Sperm Banks

    Fact: The average human ejaculation contains about half a teaspoon of semen.

  • Bees

    Fact: Bees buzz around every continent but Antarctica.

  • Death

    Fact: The average cost for a Japanese funeral is $30,000.

  • Birth

    Fact: Only about 5 percent of births occur on the due date.

RULES & REGULATIONS