We will learn ten amazing facts that will make you smile. Every day, we’re bombarded with new information. We hear about current events, listen to stories in the news, and scroll through posts on social media. In some ways, all this exposure is good. We’ve never had more access to information than we do now.
We can learn more and communicate faster than at any point in history. But much of what we learn hurts our well-being. A large percentage of people say the media stresses them out. Social media, especially, is correlated with emotional distress, anxiety, and feelings of vulnerability.
These days, it feels punishing to explore online or try to learn new things. It’s hard to find information that genuinely makes you laugh or lifts you when you’re feeling down. We’re going to focus on facts and stories that are sure to make you smile. Research shows that smiling is one of the quickest ways to improve your mood and generally brighten your day.
It releases endorphins and serotonin that make you feel happier and more relaxed. If you’re one of many people feeling overwhelmed by stress and negativity, these ten facts might help you smile, laugh, and remember how happy the world can be.
Table of Contents
Here Are 10 Amazing Facts That Will Make You Smile
10: Penguins Make Proposals
Penguins have no problem charming a human audience. At zoos around the world, penguin exhibits are some of the most popular and beloved. Who doesn’t like watching these adorable birds hop, swim, and wiggle their feathers? Humans are easily impressed, but it takes extra effort for penguins to woo members of their kind. If a male Gentoo penguin wants to impress a female, they may perform a special romantic ritual.
The males will find the slickest, shiniest rock on the beach and offer it to the mate of their choice. If she accepts, the two penguins become mating partners. If that wasn’t charming enough, the happy couple uses that shiny pebble as the foundation for their nest, where they’ll raise their babies. Leave it to these adorable birds to remind us how sweet love can be.
09: Lucky Charms Work
Many people carry lucky items, like pens or neckties, that seem to bring them good fortune. While these charms may not make us lucky, one study found that they do improve our performance. According to a 2010 study from the University of Cologne, people carrying good luck charms perform better on average than people who don’t.
To be clear, this doesn’t mean that your lucky pair of underpants changes how the universe works. More likely, the results can be explained by a placebo effect. If you feel lucky, there’s a good chance you’ll perform at your best.
08: Cows Have Best Friends
Humans aren’t the only animals that value close friendships. Just like we create strong platonic bonds, researchers at Northampton University found that cows have best friends of their own. Not only do they enjoy spending time in groups, but they also become attached to certain platonic partners, much like humans and our best friends.
When they’re together, cow best friends experience less stress and lower heart rates, leading to greater health and well-being. We may not think of cows as loving social creatures, but you’d be surprised how meaningful their relationships can be.
Read More: Types of Humans
07: Squirrels Adopt Orphans
Squirrels are generally asocial animals. They fight over food and territory and typically live alone. But scientists have uncovered a kinder side of squirrels we never knew existed. If a baby squirrel is separated from its family, other related adults will go out of their way to adopt them.
For these vulnerable pups, they provide food and shelter, raising them as if they were their own. You may be delighted to learn that adoptions are common in the animal kingdom. From squirrels to dolphins, elephants, and dogs, never underestimate the kindness and generosity of good parents.
06: Joy Beyond Translation
Have you ever seen a puppy so fluffy and adorable you wanted to squeeze it in your arms? We all know what this joyous experience feels like, but it’s a difficult emotion to describe. It’s so difficult that we don’t have a word for this emotion in English. Luckily, there is one in Tagalog, a major language spoken in the Philippines.
The word “gigil” describes an overwhelming urge to grab, pinch, or pick up something adorable. Not only is it a happy-sounding word, but it reminds us of something sure to make you smile. No matter where you go or where you’re from, adorable things bring people joy.
05: Sea Otters Hold Hands
Sea otters are interesting and playful animals with all kinds of adorable quirks. If you’ve ever seen sea otters at the zoo or in the wild, you’ve probably seen them napping in the water, floating on their backs, and basking in the sun. But sleeping in the ocean comes with its risks.
For example, otters may drift away from their friends and families while they sleep. To make sure they keep their loved ones close, sleeping otters often hold hands during their daily naps. This adorable habit keeps otter families together and serves as a bonding experience for these loveable social animals.
04: Sometimes Wishes Come True
Every holiday season, children around the world send letters to the North Pole, hoping Santa Claus will grant their holiday wishes. These letters may be addressed to Santa, but many find their way to a group of postal elves in snowy Canada. For more than four decades, benevolent volunteers at the Canada Post have replied to letters from children around the world.
They respond to more than a million letters to Santa every year, taking the time to decorate and personalize each child’s note. Leave it to these generous volunteers to remind us that wishes sometimes do come true.
03: Dogs Love Us
Dogs may be man’s best friend, but do they feel the same way? For many years, we thought dogs only acted like our friends because we gave them food and a comfortable place to sleep. There is no question that we love our dogs, but do they love us? According to the American Kennel Club, dogs and humans do form strong, loving bonds.
When we interact, both dogs and humans experience rushes of oxytocin, sometimes called the love hormone. Brain scans also show that dogs become happier when they sense the smell of their owner as well as familiar dogs. Not only do our dogs love us, but they often share our emotional states.
For example, if you are calm and relaxed, your dog is likely to feel the same way. But if your emotions rise to a fever pitch, your dog is going to feel similarly anxious or afraid. It’s because of this emotional bond that dogs and humans form loving and trusting relationships. So, if you feel like your dog loves you, it’s because, at some level, they do.
02: Father of the Year
In 1972, American astronaut Eugene Cernan became the eleventh person to walk on the moon, but he may be most famous for something he left behind on the lunar surface. Cernan was the commander of the Apollo 17 space mission, which touched down on the Moon in 1972.
Along with three other astronauts, Cernan was responsible for surveying the lunar surface and collecting samples to bring back to Earth. But he had something else in mind. After completing their mission, the astronauts returned to their craft, but Cernan spared a few moments to make a very special gesture.
The surface of the moon. He dropped to one knee and carved his daughter’s name into the ground. Since the moon doesn’t experience weather and has no significant atmosphere, his daughter’s initials may stay there forever. If that doesn’t win him Father of the Year, we don’t know what would.
01: Dolphins Name Themselves
Many people think naming is unique to humans, but there’s at least one other animal that uses names to communicate. In 2006, researchers found that bottlenose dolphins call to each other using distinct whistles. When dolphins hear their unique sound, they respond with a whistle of their own. In other words, if a dolphin hears its name, it’ll answer, just like we do. Similar vocalizations are common among pods of orcas.
These animals frequently use different calls to communicate. Interestingly, Orca calls differ depending on where the animals are from, almost as if they’re speaking different languages. Some orcas even use dialects that resemble accents among humans. We may not understand the intricacies of their language, but these clever animals have a lot to say.