12 Facts About Ordinary Things That You Might Not Know, but You Definitely Should

There are people who are always on the search for acquiring new information and looking for answers to things our society never really questioned. For example, it seems that we have accepted the fact that oranges are sold in red mesh bags without ever asking why. Inquisitive people would want to know the real reason behind this choice. And we believe that we are that type of people, and hopefully, we will open up a whole new world for you.

1. Why do chocolate bars have wavy lines?

The way most candy bars are covered with chocolate is by being out on a conveyor belt while a veil of wet chocolate covers them. These belts have very specific patterns at the bottom, and as the bars are moving on them, the chocolate starts to cool. As a result, they are left with the pattern of the belts on their bottom side and very often with a less noticeable pattern on the top side.

2. Why do stores put oranges in red mesh bags?

The reason is aesthetic, simply because the red mesh bag makes the oranges appear more orange and therefore more appealing to the buyer. The orange peel might not actually be as orange as the bag makes it look, and the red color just enhances their vibrancy. The same trick is often used with other citrus fruit, like tangerines, grapefruit, and even lemons. With lemons, they are put inside green or yellow mesh bags, so they appear more yellow.

3. Why do egg yolks turn green when cooked?

If you want a hard-boiled egg, it’s quite easy to end up with a green ring between the white and the yolk. This isn’t something that should worry you, since the egg is still perfectly safe to consume. This happens because you boiled the egg for way too long. And in this case, the hydrogen in the egg white combines with sulfur in the yolk, resulting in this green color.

4. Why does chocolate turn white after a long time?

If you’ve kept a bar of chocolate in your cupboards for a long time, you might have noticed that it gets discolored. It looks like a white shadow has covered the chocolate, and it doesn’t look appetizing anymore. However, it’s nothing to worry about, and you definitely shouldn’t throw the chocolate out since it’s perfectly safe to eat. It’s just that through time, liquid fat like cocoa butter migrates through the chocolate and crystallizes on the candy’s surface.

5. Why don’t supermarkets have windows?

The trick is very simple: supermarkets want to keep you detached from the outside world, so you can shop for longer. Without windows or clocks, you have no idea what time it is and what the weather is like outside. It could be raining or snowing, and you will have no idea about it, since the nice music and products around you keep you occupied. But also, windows are much more expensive, and stores prefer buying shelves that are way more useful to them.

6. Why are bus seats often patterned?

You have probably noticed that bus seats are usually very bright or have extremely intricate bright patterns. It’s not because the manufacturers have a really bad aesthetic, but simply because they want to more easily cover up stains, dirt, and spills. Just imagine how often they would have to clean or change the seat covers if they had chosen white. On the other hand, a bright pattern makes you focus on the design and not the stains that are hiding in the fabric.

7. Why don’t freezers have a light?

There are 3 logical explanations for this choice, with one being that after you fill your freezer with stuff, you won’t be able to see the light anyway. Also, most freezers build ice around the sides, so the light will be covered with it and become completely useless. But, the main reason manufacturers choose to not include this small feature is due to the cost. A fridge would cost more money if it included a freezer light, and there wouldn’t be any point in adding it.

8. Why are barns painted red?

Back in the day, farmers would have to make their own paint with ingredients like linseed oil, milk, lime, and rust. The rust was used because it has the ability to get rid of fungi and moss, but it also turned the paint a reddish color. So, in their time, it wasn’t a matter of choice but mostly a matter of need. Today, many farmers continue to paint their barns red as a way of honoring tradition.

9. Why do we often use the letter “X” at the end of a text message?

In the Middle Ages, most people didn’t know how to write, and they often sealed their letters with an X. But during the medieval times, this letter was used as a way of sending a kiss or blessings to the other person. Nowadays, people who use the letter X to end their messages, either want to send their kisses or to showcase their affection. It is a way to give a warm tone to a conversation and not end a message abruptly.

10. Why do we have trouble sleeping in a different bed?

Many people have trouble sleeping on a different bed during the first night away from home. Scientists have found that this is because their brain’s left hemisphere is more awake than the right and therefore bothered by exterior noises. If that is a problem you need to solve, you can try taking your own pillow when sleeping outside your own home. Your brain is dominant, but it can also be trained to accept new environments.

11. What makes the sound when we click our fingers?

Most people will say that the sound appears after clicking the middle finger with the thumb. However, this is false since the noise appears right after the middle finger has touched the inside of our palm. As a result, vibrations are being sent into the air and that’s how we hear that clicking sound. You can try to snap your fingers without them touching your palm, and you will notice that it’s impossible to produce any noise that way.

12. What do the different egg yolk colors mean?

Egg yolk colors can range from really pale yellow to very dark orange, and it has nothing to do with the chicken’s breed. The different breeds can play a role in the color of the shell, but when it comes to the yolk, it’s all about a hen’s diet. For example, chickens that have food that is yellow in color will produce yellow-yolk eggs. While artificial colors aren’t allowed in eggs, some farmers might feed their chicken red peppers in order to produce eggs with deep orange yolks.

Did you know any of the information shared above? Do you happen to know anything else that many people would be surprised to find out?