Fascinating Facts and Trivia

Ever suddenly feel like you’re being watched?

Well, you probably are!

Your brain has a primal gaze detection system, which can sense when someone is looking straight at you or slightly to the left or right of you.

If you have trouble sleeping in unfamiliar surroundings, it might be a case of your brain trying to protect you.

The “first night effect” is a situation which by your brain puts itself in a “half awake” state, to protect you from potential dangers in your new environment.

In Switzerland it is against the law to slam your car door.

Scissors were invented by Leonardo da Vinci.

The longest time between two twins being born is 87 days.

In 1567, the man said to have the longest beard in the world at the time died after he tripped over his beard running away from a fire.

The Dutch village of Giethoorn has no roads; its buildings are connected entirely by canals and footbridges.

The longest musical performance in history is currently taking place in the church of St. Burchardi in Halberstadt, Germany.

The performance of John Cage's "Organ²/ASLSP (As Slow As Possible)" started on Sept. 5, 2001, and is set to finish in 2640.

The last time the note changed was October 2013; the next change isn't due until sometime in 2020.

An epidemic of laughing that lasted almost a year broke out in Tanganyika (now Tanzania) in 1962.

Several thousand people were affected, across several villages.

It forced a school to close.

It wasn't fun, though — other symptoms included crying, fainting, rashes, and pain.

We've heard about the COBRA Committee, when there's a flood or foot and mouth disease or a tour operator goes tits up the Prime Minister chairs a meeting of the COBRA Committee doesn't s/he

I'm sure that this one's been done to death in this thread but just in case there's someone who still doesn't know, just why is it called the COBRA Committee?
Is it because a Cobra is a jolly dangerous snake that might bite you on the bum just like the imminent disaster might harm the nation?
No, that's not it at all.
The fact is that the Committee meets in Cabinet Office Briefing Room A....see, C O B R A.