What's something that sounds made up, but is completely true?

Merlu, 6 months ago

In Vatican, there are 2,28 popes per square kilometer.

glittalogik, 6 months ago

Sharks have been around for longer than the rings of Saturn.

hellfire103, 6 months ago

Hospitals use vodka to treat methanol poisoning.

They also use liquid cocaine to treat allergic reactions if the patient isn’t responding to epinephrine.

bradboimler, 6 months ago

0.999... (infinite nines) and 1 are equal. They are two representations of the same number, like 0.5 and 1/2 (one half) are.

DrYes, 6 months ago

While it's easy to prove rigorously I think the easiest way to think about it is to think what number/numbers could go between 0.9 repeating and 1.
I guess that it also requires a second thought experiment that if no numbers can go between two numbers, those two numbers must be the same.

edit: this might be even easier:

1/3 = 0.333... -> multiply both sides by 3
3/3 = 0.999...
1 = 0.999...

teft, 6 months ago

Maine is the closest US state to Africa.

DrYes, 6 months ago

If anyone wants pictures:

https://blogs.sas.com/content/graphicallyspeaking/2021/05/20/myth-busting-maine-is-closest-us-state-to-africa/

palordrolap, 6 months ago

Here's a capital city one for the Brits and fans of this fair isle:

Edinburgh is due north of Cardiff.

This one blew my mind when I figured it out. I mean: Scotland is north of England. Edinburgh is in the east of Scotland. Wales is west of (most of) England.

You might (as I did) expect Edinburgh to be closer to being north of London, not so far west that it has the same longitude as Cardiff.

JCPhoenix, 6 months ago

Came across this one today. Sprinkling sugar on a prolapsed anus can make it go back in.