Wednesday, August 12, 2026
Fact of the Day
One surprising fact, every day. React, explore, and go deeper.
The Panama Canal, opened in 1914, reduces the sea journey between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans by approximately 12,900 km.
Source: Panama Canal Authority
The Full Story
The Panama Canal: How a 77-Kilometer Ditch Transformed Global Shipping
Before the Panama Canal opened in 1914, a ship traveling from New York to San Francisco had to sail around the entire South American continent, covering over 22,000 kilometers. The canal cut that journey to roughly 9,500 kilometers — a transformation in global trade that ranks among the greatest engineering achievements in history.
Trending Facts
A single strand of spider silk is stronger than a steel wire of the same thickness.
258 reactionsRead more →
scienceHot water freezes faster than cold water, a phenomenon known as the Mpemba effect.
222 reactionsRead more →
historyThe 'D' in 'D-Day' merely stands for 'Day', a military term for the start date of an operation.
195 reactionsRead more →
historyThe world's oldest surviving musical instrument is a 40,000-year-old flute made from a vulture's bone.
199 reactionsRead more →
Explore by Topic
Animals
19Did you know?
Sloths only poop once a week and lose up to one-third of their body weight in the process.
Art
14Did you know?
Leonardo da Vinci could write with one hand and draw with the other at the same time.
Explore ArtFood
10Did you know?
In 2006, a Coca-Cola employee tried to sell trade secrets to Pepsi. Pepsi immediately notified Coca-Cola.
Explore FoodGeography
18Did you know?
Russia has more surface area than Pluto.
History
57Did you know?
Leonardo da Vinci could write with one hand and draw with the other at the same time.
Literature
20Did you know?
The first book ever bought on Amazon.com in 1995 was 'Fluid Concepts and Creative Analogies' by Douglas Hofstadter.
Explore LiteratureMusic
12Did you know?
The world's oldest surviving musical instrument is a 40,000-year-old flute made from a vulture's bone.
Explore MusicNature
44Did you know?
Sloths only poop once a week and lose up to one-third of their body weight in the process.
Explore NaturePsychology
20Did you know?
Cognitive dissonance — the discomfort of holding contradictory beliefs — is so powerful that people who endured a difficult initiation to join a group rated that group as significantly more valuable, to justify their suffering.
Explore PsychologyScience
26Did you know?
The smell of freshly cut grass is actually a plant distress signal.
Space
8Did you know?
The moon has moonquakes. These are caused by tidal stresses connected to the distance between the Earth and Moon.
Sports
13Did you know?
NFL referees also receive Super Bowl rings for officiating the championship game.
Technology
15Did you know?
The first commercially available handheld cellular phone was the Motorola DynaTAC 8000X in 1983.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Fact of the Day?+
Fact of the Day is a free website that delivers a new fun fact every day. Improve your knowledge, get better at trivia, and discover fascinating things across science, history, space, nature, and more.
How often is the featured fact updated?+
A new fact is featured every day. You can also browse all facts organized by category — including science, history, space, animals, and more.
Are the facts on this site accurate?+
Yes. Every fact is researched and sourced from credible references. Many facts link to an in-depth article explaining the science or history behind them.
Can I browse facts by topic or category?+
Absolutely. You can explore facts by category — such as space facts, science facts, history facts, animal facts, and many more — directly from the homepage or navigation menu.