Weird Facts

Shoji Morimoto, a man in Tokyo, runs a unique service called “Rental Person Who Does Nothing.” Clients hire him simply to be present as a non-judgmental company—sitting at a meal, attending an event, or just existing nearby—with minimal interaction and only simple answers if asked. He began the business in 2018 after working at a publishing company where he was often chided for “doing nothing.” Morimoto has completed thousands of sessions and, while he has said he doesn’t disclose his earnings, some reports put it at around $80,000 in a recent year. He has written a memoir about the experience and maintains clear boundaries, refusing anything inappropriate or labour-intensive.

A nine-year-old Sammy Scott from Forest Hall, North Tyneside, was desperate to see his beloved Newcastle United play Arsenal in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg at the Emirates Stadium. His mother rang the school to say he was ill so that he could travel to London with his father. During the match, Sky Sports cameras zoomed in as Sammy, wearing his Newcastle kit, celebrated wildly with clenched fists when Anthony Gordon scored in the 2-0 win. The moment was shown live with the on-screen graphic “Geordie Joy.” Friends and relatives spotted him on TV, and the school later found out. The school emailed his parents marking the absence as unauthorised and asked them to contact the school if they wanted to discuss it. The story went viral, with many calling Sammy a “legend” for his dedication.

When male fruit flies are se*xually deprived (including after repeated rejection in lab training), they later choose to drink way more alcohol than the lucky guys who actually mated. In lab tests, rejected flies went straight for food spiked with booze, while successful ones mostly stuck to plain food. Scientists say it’s because se^xual deprivation lowers neuropeptide F (NPF), a key reward-linked signaling molecule, in their brains. It’s a striking reaction in a tiny insect — and a clear example of how social experiences can change behavior.

During the Apollo 15 mission at Hadley Rille, astronauts David Scott and James Irwin placed a small, about 3.3-inch (8.5 cm) aluminum sculpture known as the “Fallen Astronaut” on the lunar surface. Next to it, they left a metal plaque bearing the names of 14 astronauts and cosmonauts — American astronauts and Soviet cosmonauts — who had died in the line of duty up to that point. The memorial, created by Belgian artist Paul Van Hoeydonck, honors all who lost their lives advancing space exploration. Commander Scott placed the items secretly near the lunar rover at the end of the final moonwalk. The tribute remains on the Moon today, one of the most famous human artworks associated with the lunar surface, as a quiet reminder of the risks of spaceflight.

Daniell Koepke, a woman who struggled with severe irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) for years, experienced issues like indigestion, pain, and constipation. After trying antibiotics and making dietary changes without success, she decided to experiment with do-it-yourself fecal microbiota transplants (FMT). She swallowed capsules made from her brother’s stool, which improved her gut health, allowed her to gain weight, and led to more regular bowel movements, but also caused her to develop hormonal acne, similar to what her brother experienced. Seeking a different outcome, she then tried using her boyfriend’s stool as a donor. While this eased her acne, she found that her depression worsened, reflecting his own struggles. After switching back to her brother’s stool, her depression quickly ended, according to her account. This is part of her personal story shared in the Netflix documentary, “Hack Your Health: The Secrets of Your Gut.” Experts caution against attempting FMT at home, as it may introduce dangerous, unscreened pathogens into the body.

A sunfish at the Kaikyokan Aquarium in Shimonoseki, Japan, reportedly became unwell after the aquarium closed for renovations. Staff said it lost its appetite and showed unusual behavior soon after the closure. After other explanations were considered, keepers tried a simple test: they placed human-shaped cutouts with photos of faces and hung staff uniforms outside the tank to recreate the presence of visitors. The approach worked quickly—the fish ate the next morning/next day again and began recovering. The story spread widely in the news and online, highlighting how changes in routine and environment can affect animals in captivity.

A Dollar General employee, Linda Atkins, who has type 2 diabetes asked her manager if she could keep orange juice at her cash register for emergencies, but was told policy didn’t allow it. In late 2011 and early 2012, while working alone, she had low-blood-sugar episodes and drank a $1.69 bottle of orange juice from the store cooler to treat them. After each episode, she paid for the juice and told her manager what happened. Dollar General later fired her under its “grazing” policy, which prohibits consuming merchandise before paying. A federal jury found Dollar General liable and awarded Atkins $27,565 in back pay plus $250,000 in compensatory damages, for a total of $277,565.

In July 1714, a Norwegian ship and a Swedish ship fought a long naval battle off Norway’s coast. After hours of heavy fighting, the Norwegian vessel started running low on ammunition. Its captain sent an envoy across to the Swedish ship with a simple request: could they spare some ammo so the duel could continue? The Swedes said no. The two captains then toasted each other’s bravery and sailed away. The event became famous for the Norwegian captain’s bold cheek during the Great Northern War.