The shock factor

You’ve seen these 12 things, but you had no idea they had names!

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Ever notice how some everyday objects or sensations seem to lack a name? You use them, experience them, and see them all the time—yet you never stop to think about what they’re actually called. And when you have to talk about them, you end up using a bunch of words to describe them rather than the specific word. Well, prepare to be amazed: here are twelve things you never knew had their own official names!

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That amazing earthy smell after a fresh rainfall? It’s called petrichor. The scent is produced when rain interacts with dry soil, releasing aromatic compounds into the air.

The term was coined by Australian scientists in 1964, combining the Greek words petra (stone) and ichor (the fluid said to run through the veins of the gods). It’s so distinct that some companies have even tried to bottle it as a fragrance. Would you buy one?

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Your kids or grandkids will love this fact—because they all love this little thing! Do you know that small plastic table in the center of a pizza box? It’s officially called a tent, and its job is to prevent the box lid from collapsing onto your delicious pizza.

Introduced in the 1980s, this small invention has saved countless pizzas from disaster, keeping the cheese intact for your enjoyment. Now, once it’s removed, that’s a kid’s toy for sure!

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That little strip of tissue separating your nostrils? It has a fancy name: columella nasi. It’s crucial for maintaining the shape of your nose and is often involved in rhinoplasty procedures.

The term originates from Latin, where columella means "little column"—which makes perfect sense since it's the little column keeping your nose upright!

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If you find it nearly impossible to get out of bed in the morning (pretty much like everyone else), you might have dysania. While this is not strictly a medical condition, the term perfectly captures that all-too-familiar feeling of wanting to stay under the covers forever.

It comes from Greek, with dys- meaning "difficulty" and -ania referring to a state of mind or struggle. It really is a struggle sometimes!

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If your handwriting looks like a doctor’s prescription, you might be guilty of griffonage.

This word refers to scrawled, unreadable handwriting—the kind that leaves people squinting and guessing. It comes from French, where griffonner means "to scribble." So… are you guilty of it?

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Look at your hand—your nails, specifically. Do you notice that little white, half-moon shape at the base of your nail? That part is called a lunule.

It’s actually part of the nail’s root and is most visible on the thumbs. The name comes from the Latin word luna, meaning "moon," because of its crescent shape. A healthy lunule is a sign of good nail growth!

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The smooth patch of skin between your eyebrows has a name: the glabella. It’s the area where frown lines often form and is a frequent target of Botox treatments.

The word comes from the Latin glabellus, meaning "smooth." Next time someone wrinkles their forehead, impress them by pointing out their glabella in action!

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That deep indentation at the base of your wine bottle? It’s called a punt. While its exact purpose is debated, it’s believed to add structural integrity and aid in pouring.

Some say it also makes the bottle look more expensive! The origin of the word is uncertain, but it has been used in glassmaking for centuries. Pour that wine—now that you know all about it!

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The beautiful, never-ending figure-eight symbol that represents infinity is officially called a lemniscate.

It has been used in mathematics, philosophy, and even tattoos as a symbol of endless possibilities. The name comes from the Latin lemniscus, meaning "ribbon"—a perfect description of its flowing shape.

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Have you ever had "butterflies" in your stomach before a big event? You know, that nervous, fluttery sensation is actually called the collywobbles. It’s your body’s way of responding to excitement, anxiety, or nervous anticipation.

The term dates back to the 19th century and is believed to be a playful alteration of "colic," a word used for stomach pain—naturally.

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We’ve all been to the eye doctor, hoping we wouldn’t need glasses. Yet the eye test chart is right there, waiting to issue its verdict. That chart you stare at during an eye exam—with rows of letters that get progressively smaller—is called a Snellen chart.

It was developed in 1862 by Dutch ophthalmologist Dr. Herman Snellen and remains a standard tool for testing vision to this day.

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Ever wondered why "knight" has a silent ‘k’ or "what" has a silent ‘h’? Those unpronounced letters are called aphthongs. The word comes from Greek, where "aphthongos" means "voiceless" or "speechless." Quite accurate, right?

English is full of them, and they make spelling just a little trickier—especially if it’s not your first language!

Eggs, worms, and other life lessons from 10 proverbs!

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Who said we need school to learn the most important lessons? Just kidding, school does matter. But do you know what is another source of knowledge and wisdom? Proverbs! In this article, we’ve listed 10 proverbs that you have probably heard and used, but never thought about where they come from. Why is it that we don’t have to count our chickens before they hatch? How come books are not to be judged by their cover? Read on and learn all about these expressions!

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Have you ever shown up late to a yard sale and found the good stuff already gone? You should’ve got there earlier, first even! That’s when you find the best things and that’s the essence of this saying.

First recorded in the 1600s, it is a proverb that reminds everyone that being early often gives you a leg up. For example, what about those early risers who get the best donuts while you’re still well asleep?

It’s not just about waking up early, though, it’s about being ready to make the most out of every opportunity. So, if you’re not really a morning person, don’t worry! Just be an "early bird" in your own way, timing is everything!

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Do you know that kind of friend who always says they’ll help you move but conveniently disappears when the truck pulls up? That’s why this proverb exists.

This proverb dates back to the 1700s, and it’s a way of saying, "Show me, don’t tell me." Think about the neighbor who says they care about the community but never picks up litter, versus the one who just rolls up their sleeves and gets to work.

We trust what we see, not just what we hear, naturally. Life is full of promises, but only actions can turn them into reality. So next time someone offers to help, maybe just hand them a broom and see what happens.

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Planning ahead is key to leading an organized life, but a very different thing is to plan based on something you think will happen, only to find out it won’t! Imagine the chaos.

That’s the essence of this proverb which originated in Aesop’s fable, as a lesson not to plan on something before things are certain. Maybe you’ve booked a vacation before your bonus came through or splurged on new shoes before payday. Can you relate to this? We can, because it’s quite easy to get ahead of ourselves. But as life often proves, things don’t always pan out. The saying isn’t about squashing your excitement; it’s just a reminder to stay grounded.

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Think about daily scenarios like blaming the oven when the cookies burned due to your lack of attention! We know we’ve all been there! We know we said actions speak louder than words, but if you choose to go with your words, remember to stay honest!

This proverb has been around since the ancient Greeks and Romans, but Benjamin Franklin helped popularize it in the country. It’s not just about being virtuous, honesty is practical. Let’s be honest, lies always find a way of snowballing until you can’t keep them straight. Plus, most people can spot a lie a mile away. Honesty is always the best policy!

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We’re not trying to bring tragic memories back, but do you remember your first time dealing with a computer crash and losing all your work? That’s when you either cry or channel this saying.

This phrase, widely used in the mid-20th century and popularized by the Kennedys, is kind of a self-pep talk. It’s about finding strength when things feel quite impossible, like losing all the work you had stored on your computer.

Sure, tough times test us, but they also show us what we’re truly made of. And if you come to think about it, tough times are probably more than you can even remember. But the good news is that you’re still going strong, proof that resilience works!

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Publishing houses heard this proverb and said: "Oh, really? Check this out," and started editing beautifully designed covers that make us wonder if not judging a book by its cover is indeed good advice. However, regardless of how beautiful a cover is, you never know what you’ll find inside and the only way to do so is to read the whole book. So, that is what this proverb is all about.

It first appeared in the 1800s to teach us that appearances are only that and we’re not to be fooled by them. Maybe it’s that shy person who turns out to be a karaoke star or the plain-looking gift that hides the most thoughtful surprise.

We’ve all been guilty of snap judgments that turned out wrong. In those cases, we’d do good to remember that some of the best things in life are hidden in plain sight.

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Have you ever found a coupon for 20% off right after someone told you it’s a waste of time to clip them? Benjamin Franklin would be proud of you!

This saying is all about the joy of long-term thinking, and small savings adding up, just like stashing loose change in a jar. Now, don’t get us wrong, it’s not about being miserly, but about valuing every little bit. Remember when you skipped the fancy coffee for a week and could treat yourself to dinner instead? That’s the power of this proverb. From comparing gas prices to reusing that gift bag, every little "saved penny" is a win.

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Geoffrey Chaucer and his Canterbury Tales gave us great things, among which we can find one of the most valuable lessons in life: potiusque sero quam nunquam. Don’t you speak Latin? Don’t worry, the translation is "better late than never."

How many times have you thought it was too late to make that house improvement? Or maybe you thought you were too old to start studying a new language. Well, there’s no such thing as "too late" or "too old" for this saying.

The point is, showing up, no matter when, matters more than sitting it out. Life doesn’t come with perfect timing, so cut yourself some slack. That late call or project? It’s still appreciated. Trust us, nobody’s keeping a stopwatch.

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Picture this: You’re making a crossword puzzle, answers flowing right in front of you, but you come across one definition you simply cannot figure out. You spend hours on it, only to have someone instantly spot the answer for you. This doesn’t mean they are better than you, it means that two heads are much better than one.

First recorded in the Book of Proverbs from 1546, the lesson behind this proverb is to resort to extra help every time we need it, or even when we don’t exactly need it but want to see a project unfold smoothly and to its best potential.

You know, it is more fun to tackle challenges together, there’s beauty in sharing ideas, splitting the effort, and laughing along the way, don’t you think?

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Nowadays, it’s not very common to see people going grocery shopping with a basket in which to put the eggs. However, the wisdom behind this proverb is timeless. Do you know what it means?

In short, this proverb prevents us from putting all of our faith into just one option. The clearest scenario is investments. Any expert in the field will tell you to put a little money into each of your investment choices. Why? Because if one of them fails, you have backup plans!

Life is unpredictable, so why risk everything on a single bet? Think of it as diversifying your happiness. After all, it is better to have a few baskets than just a broken one.