Random Facts 17

Magic 8-Ball Cube
The answer cube inside a Magic 8-Ball is a 20-sided icosahedron.
Uncle John's Triumphant 20th Anniversary Bathroom Reader, p. 13.

Avalanches
Each year avalanches kill 150 people worldwide (25 in the US). Between 15-45 minutes, the odds of survival plummet from 90 to 30 percent.
Discover Magazine, February 2008, pg. 17.

Tire Slashing
In the US 300 million tires are thrown away a year. The average used tire weighs 22.5 pounds and contains about 2 gallons of fuel. The percentage of scrap tires recycled in the US (into crumb rubber and tire dust for a urethane binder to make sidewalks, playground surfaces, tracks, roads and basketballs courts) rose from virtually zero in 1990 to 30 percent in 2005.
Discover Magazine, February 2008, pg. 27.

Dishcloth Bacteria
Dishcloths are purged of 99% of their bacteria during two minutes in a microwave.
BBC News, "100 things we didn't know last year," 1/1/08. More details.

Duvet Dust Mites
The average duvet is home to 20,000 live dust mites.
BBC News, "100 things we didn't know last year," 1/1/08. More details.

Sockets
A new three-bedroom house must have at least 38 plug sockets.
BBC News, "100 things we didn't know last year," 1/1/08. More details.

UK Exhumations
There are 1,200 exhumations every year in the UK, but not all of those are part of criminal cases.
BBC News, "100 things we didn't know last year," 1/1/08. More details.

Friends
Nearly seven out of 10 (69%) of adults are still in touch with at least one childhood friend.
BBC News, "100 things we didn't know last year," 1/1/08. More details.

Peanut Diamond
Peanuts can be made into diamonds.
BBC News, "100 things we didn't know last year," 1/1/08. More details.

Naming CD's
CDs were nearly called mini-racks.
BBC News, "100 things we didn't know last year," 1/1/08. More details.