1. A kitchen sink contains more bacteria than a toilet
When scientists discovered that a kitchen sinks contain more grossness than a toilet it caused a real stink in the hand-hygiene community. Obviously, it depends on whose kitchen sink you’re talking about (and who’s just used the toilet). Whatever the conditions of the experiment, always to remember to wash your hands in the toilet after using the sink (only kidding!).
2. Flies lay eggs in old meat
Finally, unlike cuter animals, who nest in warm and cosy places – think hedgehogs or chickens – flies prefer a much grosser place to raise their babies. These gross, six-legged vomit-creatures actually lay their eggs on dead flesh to hatch maggots. That means that raw beef-burger your Dad hasn’t burnt on the barbecue yet… Let’s just say, maybe let it go a hungry sibling.
3. Famous author kept her husband’s heart after he died
Author Mary Shelley kept her dead husband’s heart in her writing desk! Apparently, a rare condition meant the poor chap’s heart remained unburnt after his cremation, and rather than bury it, Mary Shelley decided to keep it in a drawer. If only there had been some sort of clue that the author of Frankenstein was a bit creepy. Historian’s say that rumours that she used the heart as an eraser are unfounded.
4. You probably have eyelash mites
Animals are resourceful. They’ve colonized almost every habitat known to mankind. Some of these habitats are far away from human civilization, like the Mariana Trench or Swanigan. Others are closer to home. To cut to the chase, you have loads of mites living in your eyelashes. Blink and you’ll miss them.
5. People sweat. A lot
Sweating helps the body regulate heat. When we sweat it helps the body cool down so it’s no wonder we sweat loads in bed, when we are wrapped up snug and warm. But did you know that a human can produce 26 gallons of sweat in bed every year. It’s just one of the reasons why you need to change your sheets more regularly. Yes, we are talking to you. Goodnight and Sweat dreams.
6. Maggots get squashed in fruit juice
Do you like a hint of maggot in your apple juice? I bet you didn’t realise that in the USA, canned fruit juices can contain four squashed maggots per litre before they are obliged to add the word maggot onto the ingredients list. At least you’re getting some extra protein!
7. Some flowers smell like rotten meat
Some flowers smell like rotting meat to attract flies! The flies are either used to pollinate the flowers or – sadly for the fly – are trapped by carnivorous plant species to provide energy for the flower. There’s an important lesson here for flies: Don’t be so gross. And here’s a top tip for you: Avoid these flowers on Mother’s Day!
8. Frogs can vomit their entire stomach inside out
When it needs to vomit, a frog’s entire stomach spews out and dangles from its mouth. The frog then cleans the contents of the stomach with its cute little hands then swallows it back down again. Disney decided to cut that scene from the Frog Princess otherwise it would have been an 18.
9. Rat hair is allowed in peanut butter
In the USA, the legal limit of rodent hairs that can be found in peanut butter is 5 per 100 grams. The real question here is why do peanut butter factories allow rat barbers to operate on their factory floor?
10. Crushed pigs eyes used to cure blindness
According to ancient hieroglyphics and some dubiously researched websites, Ancient Egyptians crushed a pig’s eye and poured the goo into a patient’s ears to cure blindness. That fact was so disgusting a little bit of vomit came up. Definitely should’ve gone to Specsavers!
11. Humans shed skin
Human beings can shed up to 40 pounds of skin in their lifetimes. That’s enough skin cells to dust a hundred donuts with something that looks suspiciously close to icing sugar but tastes completely different. Anyway, next time you’re brushing the dust of a dropped ham sandwich before taking a bite…
12. You make a lot of snot
Snot or mucous is one of the bodies multi-purpose ways of protection. Not only does it stop dust (see above) being breathed in but it also helps fights infection. Even when they are not ill, humans can produce 1 litre of snot every day. Do you need to borrow a tissue?
13. Sneezes can travel upto 30 feet
We all know that viruses and bogies can be passed on through the explosive clearance of facial holes in a process known to Grossologists as a sneeze. Tiny particles of snot and whatever other disgusting thing you have up your nose can fly up to 30 feet through the air. If you’d borrowed that tissue, I wouldn’t have your snot in my hair!
14. Your brain can leak
Stuff comes out of your nose when you’re ill. That’s a gross fact of life. But it’s not always snot, though. There is a real condition where you can lose cerebral fluid through your nose. Luckily it’s pretty rare. Talk about a memory drain!
15. Slugs exist
Slugs exist and are famous for grossness. Their slime is impossible to remove from your hands and also tastes gross (Don’t ask us how we know this, we are still traumatised). Having said this, these little molluscs serve an important role in the environment, clearing up waste and helping break down dead material. So let’s give these disgusting, slime monsters a break. Note to slugs: That doesn’t mean you can crawl back into our salad bowl.
16. There’s a human wee stain on the moon
When you’ve got to go, you’ve got to go. Humans basically spoil everything and the moon’s no different. Did you know that Buzz Aldrin was the first man to wee on it’s surface. The momentous words uttered whilst relieving himself: “One giant leak for mankind!”
17. Cockroaches won’t die
If cockroaches weren’t disgusting enough already, did you know that they can survive for a week without their heads. Cockroaches are so durable that it’s considered that even the event of a nuclear war raging across the earths surface wouldn’t trouble the Earth’s cockroach population. It’s lucky they don’t know the codes to the nuclear button or we’d all be in trouble!
18. Gross lizard shoots foul blood from its eyes
Just incase it’s spiked body wasn’t enough of a warning to stay clear, one species of horned lizard fights off predators by shooting foul smelling blood out of its eyes and into it’s attackers mouth. That is literally the most disgusting thing we have ever heard. There’s a moral to the story: DO NOT ATTACK LIZARDS.
19. A man had a six foot long tapeworm in his body
Doctors in India removed a 6-foot-long tapeworm by pulling it out through a man’s mouth. Tape worms survive by eating the food in your gut before it gets digested. Basically, the tape worm gets bigger as you get thinner. Like we said, Doctors managed to remove the poor guy’s tapeworm but not before his teacher gave him a terrible end of worm report.
20. A hair-bowling-ball really happened
Hair takes ages to break down in the human gut. This is one of the reasons it’s generally considered a good idea to not eat hair at all. Another reason is because it’s gross. The biggest known human hairball weighed nearly the same as a bowling ball. A BOWLING BALL. Imagine that… Or maybe don’t… Bleurgh!!
21. Charles Dickens had a bookmark made from human skin
Gross expectations. Famous author Charles Dickens – the man who wrote, “A Christmas Carol” reportedly had a flap of human skin that he used as a bookmark. First Mary Shelley’s husband’s heart, now this. What is it about authors? They don’t tell you about the disgustingness on World Book Day!
22. Cats clean their bottoms with their tongues
Cat’s are sooooo cute. One of the best things about them is that they keep themselves clean. You don’t even need to give them a bath (not like a stinky dog!) There’s only one problem… they clean by licking themselves all over. And when I say all over, I mean ALL OVER. Even this cute cat does it. Then it licks the butter when you’re not watching.
23. Cats also eat their owners
Unlike stinky dogs who have been shown to mourn their dead owners, it’s been found that cats have a different approach. Researchers have discovered that should a cat’s owner die, the cat will only wait a day before tucking in. That’s gratitude for you!
24. Sprouts are real
These green abominations have always tasted like farts, but despite this remain a staple part of Christmas Dinner, bringing a blot to the otherwise perfect day of present-receiving, constant snacking, and playing on your new Xbox. Have an unhappy Christmas!