The Big Book of Useless Science Knowledge: 250 of the Coolest, Weirdest, and Most Unbelievable Science Facts You Won't Be Taught in School

An encyclopedia of mind-bogglingly random science facts that will lodge in your brain and refuse to leave. Heard about the poisonous tree in the Amazon rainforest that grows exploding fruit? Did you know that manatees control their buoyancy with farts? Or that the first vending machine was invented in ancient Egypt? In this compendium of obscure facts readers will be treated to baffling scientific knowledge they would never learn at school. Broken into chapters including engineering, space, and biology, a team of experts has scoured the margins to find the silliest and most pointless science facts that the world has to offer. Accompanied by hilarious illustrations, kids will meet the ants turned to zombies by a deadly fungus, discover why astronauts left their poop on the Moon, and find out about the rainstorm that lasted a million years (before umbrellas were invented!). They will also learn completely useless information like that all of the hair on your head could hold the weight of two elephants. (SPOILER: the information in this book isn't really useless. It will inspire, shock, and amuse the reader-and maybe spark an interest that will last a lifetime. It just won't help you with any exams!) Written by experts: nErin Winick Anthony has always loved making things, whether it was Halloween costumes with her mom or LEGO towers in her living room. That inspired her to get a mechanical engineering degree! She now uses her technical background to translate complex science and space topics for the public. Saad Bhatty is a geologist. By day, he brings the wonders of geoscience to life through captivating science animation videos. By night, he transforms into MrEarthGuy on TikTok and YouTube, where he shares mind-blowing facts about our planet. When he's not unravelling Earth's mysteries, you can find him exploring new ways to make science fun and engaging for everyone. Dr. Oluwapelumi Kareem is an organic chemist and science communicator who loves teaching science to anyone who will listen. He is the owner of the education company At The Benchtop, which makes learning kits and promotes science in diverse communities. Ellen Weatherford is a science communicator who expresses her love for animals and nature by creating fun and informative content online. When she's not making the podcast Just the Zoo of Us, she's probably going on adventures with her kids, playing video games, or reading science-fiction novels. Matt Green, also known as The Rapping Science