Great fit
Beginner telescope
See Venus for yourself, the planet where a day lasts longer than a year.
🪐 The fact behind it: On Venus, a day lasts longer than a whole year View on Amazon Gifts with a story
The WTF gift finder
Three questions and you get gift ideas. Each comes with a WTF fact you can tell when you hand it over.
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- Great fit
UV flashlight
Platypuses glow blue-green under UV light. Find out what glows in your home.
🔦 The fact behind it: Platypuses glow blue-green under UV light View on Amazon - Great fit
Kids’ microscope
Tardigrades survived 10 days in open space. You can find some in the moss outside.
🐻 The fact behind it: Tardigrades survived 10 days in the vacuum of space View on Amazon - Great fit
Retro game console
Pac-Man was first called Puck-Man, and one letter was the problem. Here it runs again.
🟡 The fact behind it: Pac-Man was first called Puck-Man, and one letter was the problem View on Amazon - Great fit
Hot sauce gift set
The Scoville scale began in 1912 with a heat rub and human tasters. Now it’s your guests’ turn.
🌶️ The fact behind it: The chili heat scale began in 1912 with a muscle rub and human tasters View on Amazon - Great fit
Viking history book
The horned helmet came from an opera costume designer. What Vikings really wore is in the book.
⚔️ The fact behind it: Vikings in horned helmets? An opera costume designer made that up View on Amazon - Great fit
Optical illusions book
In the checker shadow illusion, A and B are exactly the same grey. This book is full of brain traps like that.
🏁 The fact behind it: Squares A and B in this illusion are the exact same gray View on Amazon - Great fit
Big modelling dough set
Play-Doh started out as wallpaper cleaner. Luckily nobody cleans with it now.
🧽 The fact behind it: Play-Doh started out as a wallpaper cleaner View on Amazon - Great fit
LED frisbee
The Frisbee is named after a pie bakery, just misspelled. This one glows in the dark.
🥧 The fact behind it: The Frisbee is named after a pie bakery, just spelled wrong View on Amazon - Great fit
Language flash cards
One language has no left and right, only compass directions. Most are easier, luckily.
🧭 The fact behind it: This language has no left and right, only north, south, east and west View on Amazon - Great fit
Galaxy star projector
The Andromeda galaxy looks six times as wide as the full moon. Here it glows on the ceiling.
🌌 The fact behind it: The Andromeda Galaxy looks 6 times wider than the full Moon, you just can't see most of it View on Amazon - Great fit
Venus flytrap growing kit
The Venus flytrap counts: two touches to snap shut, five to start digesting.
🪴 The fact behind it: The Venus flytrap counts: 2 touches to snap shut, 5 to start digesting View on Amazon - Great fit
Crystal growing kit
Bismuth grows rainbow crystals and is technically radioactive, just extremely slowly. These crystals are not.
⚛️ The fact behind it: Bismuth is radioactive. Its half-life is over a billion times the age of the universe View on Amazon - Great fit
Stackable Tetris lamp
Tetris was the first video game in space, in 1993. This lamp stays on your desk.
🚀 The fact behind it: Tetris became the first video game in space in 1993 View on Amazon - Great fit
Cotton candy machine
A dentist co-invented the cotton candy machine. So brush your teeth afterwards.
🍭 The fact behind it: The cotton candy machine was co-invented by a dentist View on Amazon - Great fit
Nintendo Hanafuda playing cards
Nintendo started in 1889 making playing cards. These are still sold today.
🎴 The fact behind it: Nintendo started out making playing cards in 1889 View on Amazon - Great fit
Metal puzzle set
Your brain burns about 20 percent of your energy. More with these puzzles.
🧠 The fact behind it: Your brain is 2 percent of your weight but burns about 20 percent of your energy View on Amazon - Great fit
Endless bubble wrap toy
Bubble wrap was meant to be wallpaper in 1957. Good thing it went another way.
🫧 The fact behind it: Bubble wrap was supposed to go on your walls in 1957 View on Amazon - Great fit
Over-the-door mini hoop
Basketball was invented with peach baskets. This hoop at least has a hole at the bottom.
🏀 The fact behind it: Basketball was invented with peach baskets, and the first game ended 1-0 View on Amazon - Great fit
Whistle set
On La Gomera, children learn to speak in whistles at school.
🎵 The fact behind it: On La Gomera, kids learn to talk in whistles at school View on Amazon - Great fit
3D moon lamp
When NASA crashed a rocket stage into the Moon, it rang for almost an hour. This lamp stays quiet.
🔔 The fact behind it: NASA crashed part of a spacecraft into the Moon, and it kept shaking for almost an hour View on Amazon - Great fit
Reversible octopus plush
An octopus has three hearts and blue blood. This one has two faces for good and bad moods.
🐙 The fact behind it: Three hearts, blue blood and a brain in its arms View on Amazon - Great fit
Chemistry experiment kit
Liquid oxygen is pale blue and sticks to magnets. At home there are safer experiments.
🧲 The fact behind it: Liquid oxygen is pale blue and sticks to magnets View on Amazon - Great fit
Wooden computer mouse
The first computer mouse in 1964 was made of wood. So is this one, minus the cable.
🖱️ The fact behind it: The first computer mouse from 1964 was made of wood View on Amazon - Great fit
Sushi kit with real wasabi
The wasabi with your sushi is usually dyed horseradish. This kit lets you taste the difference.
🍣 The fact behind it: The wasabi with your sushi is usually dyed horseradish View on Amazon - Great fit
Classic board game
Monopoly’s 1904 ancestor was a game against monopolies. It still makes a great game night.
🎲 The fact behind it: Monopoly's 1904 forerunner was a game against monopolies View on Amazon - Great fit
Fingerprint detective kit
Even identical twins have different fingerprints. The kit finds the cookie thief.
👆 The fact behind it: Same DNA, different fingers: identical twins don't share fingerprints View on Amazon - Great fit
Unicorn gift
Scotland’s national animal is a unicorn. So this is an officially serious gift.
🦄 The fact behind it: Scotland's national animal is a unicorn View on Amazon - Great fit
Tug-of-war rope
Tug of war was an Olympic sport from 1900 to 1920. At family parties it is again.
🪢 The fact behind it: Tug of war was an Olympic event from 1900 to 1920 View on Amazon - Great fit
Book of word origins
“OK” started in 1839 as a joke about bad spelling. Lots of words have stories like that.
👌 The fact behind it: ‘OK’ started in 1839 as a joke about bad spelling View on Amazon - Great fit
LEGO space set
A phone photo is bigger than the memory of the computer that flew to the Moon. Rebuilding it only takes bricks.
🚀 The fact behind it: One photo on your phone is bigger than the computer that flew to the Moon View on Amazon - Great fit
Book of amazing animal abilities
Owls turn their heads up to 270 degrees. Books like this explain how, and what else animals can do.
🦉 The fact behind it: Owls turn their heads up to 270 degrees without cutting off their blood supply View on Amazon - Great fit
Galileo thermometer
Heat makes things expand: the Eiffel Tower is up to 15 cm taller in summer. Here glass bulbs rise and fall.
🗼 The fact behind it: The Eiffel Tower is up to 15 centimeters taller in summer than in winter View on Amazon - Great fit
Programmable robot kit
The word “robot” comes from a 1920 play. Today you build one at the kitchen table.
🤖 The fact behind it: The word ‘robot’ comes from a 1920 stage play View on Amazon - Great fit
Custom fortune cookies
Fortune cookies come from Japan, not China. You write the message inside.
🥠 The fact behind it: Fortune cookies aren't from China. They have Japanese roots View on Amazon - Great fit
Ancient Egypt dig kit
Cleopatra lived closer to the Moon landing than to the building of the Great Pyramid. This kit digs you back to the pyramids.
🏺 The fact behind it: Cleopatra lived closer to the Moon landing than to the building of the Great Pyramid View on Amazon - Great fit
Speed cube
Hermann Ebbinghaus memorised 2,300 nonsense syllables to measure forgetting. Cube algorithms get forgotten just as easily.
📝 The fact behind it: A psychologist made up 2,300 nonsense syllables to measure forgetting, and his curve still holds View on Amazon - Great fit
Whoopee cushion
Wombats produce cube-shaped poo, 80 to 100 cubes a night. This cushion luckily only makes noises.
🎲 The fact behind it: Wombats poop cubes. Seriously. View on Amazon - Great fit
Office putting mat
An astronaut played golf on the Moon in 1971. The office is easier.
⛳ The fact behind it: An astronaut played golf on the Moon in 1971 View on Amazon - Great fit
Emoji guessing game
In 2015 an emoji became word of the year for the first time. In this game everyone talks in pictures.
😂 The fact behind it: In 2015, the Word of the Year wasn't a word. It was an emoji View on Amazon - Great fit
Freeze-dried astronaut ice cream
Astronauts say space smells like seared steak. Luckily this ice cream tastes of strawberry.
🥩 The fact behind it: Astronauts say space smells like seared steak View on Amazon - Great fit
Bird feeder with camera
Crows remember faces for years. With the camera you can remember theirs.
🐦⬛ The fact behind it: Crows never forget your face, even years later View on Amazon - Great fit
Science advent calendar
Lightning is hotter than the surface of the Sun. Behind these doors it’s just exciting.
⚡ The fact behind it: Lightning is hotter than the surface of the sun View on Amazon - Great fit
Lightsaber with sound
The lightsaber hum is an old projector motor plus a TV buzz.
⚔️ The fact behind it: The lightsaber hum is an old projector motor plus a TV's buzz View on Amazon - Great fit
Honey tasting set
A 3,000-year-old honey is said to still be edible. This one will be gone faster.
🍯 The fact behind it: This honey is 3,000 years old. And it is said to still be edible. View on Amazon - Great fit
History quiz game
Napoleon wasn’t short at all, just average. The quiz busts more history myths like that.
🎩 The fact behind it: Napoleon wasn't short. He was about 1.70 meters tall View on Amazon - Great fit
Speed reaction card game
Naming colour words printed in the wrong colour takes much longer. Reaction games turn that into a trap.
🎨 The fact behind it: In Stroop's 1935 test, people took 74 percent longer to name the ink color of a clashing color word View on Amazon - Great fit
Ampelmann gift
East Germany’s little traffic light man was meant to vanish after reunification, but fans saved him. Now he comes as lamps, mugs and sweets.
🚦 The fact behind it: Fans set up a rescue committee for the East German traffic light man after reunification View on Amazon - Great fit
Beach volleyball
Volleyball was first called “Mintonette” and meant as a gentler alternative to basketball. On the beach that’s still true.
🏐 The fact behind it: Volleyball was called "Mintonette" in 1895 and was a gentler game for businessmen View on Amazon - Great fit
Picture dictionary for kids
“Nice” meant “foolish” in the Middle Ages. Luckily kids learn the new meaning today.
🙃 The fact behind it: ‘Nice’ used to mean ‘foolish’ View on Amazon - Great fit
Glow-in-the-dark ceiling stars
On the space station the Sun rises 16 times a day. These stars at least glow all night.
🛰️ The fact behind it: On the ISS, the Sun rises 16 times a day View on Amazon - Great fit
Wildflower seed bombs
The seed vault on Svalbard keeps seeds for emergencies. These ones can go straight outside.
🌱 The fact behind it: The seed vault in the Arctic had to hand back seeds for the first time View on Amazon - Great fit
Magnet science kit
Even liquid oxygen sticks to a strong magnet. This kit lets you test what sticks in your home.
🧲 The fact behind it: Liquid oxygen is pale blue and sticks to magnets View on Amazon - Great fit
USB mug warmer
The world’s first webcam only showed whether there was coffee left in the pot. With this warmer yours at least stays hot.
☕ The fact behind it: The world's first webcam was pointed at a coffee pot View on Amazon - Great fit
Ice pop molds
Legend says an 11-year-old invented the ice pop by leaving his drink outside overnight. With molds it works on purpose.
🧊 The fact behind it: An 11-year-old accidentally invented the popsicle in 1905 View on Amazon - Great fit
Viking costume
Real Vikings never wore horned helmets. For a costume it is allowed.
⚔️ The fact behind it: Vikings in horned helmets? An opera costume designer made that up View on Amazon - Great fit
Escape room game for home
In the gorilla experiment half the viewers miss a gorilla. In escape games the answer is often right in front of you too.
🦍 The fact behind it: About half of viewers miss a gorilla walking right through a basketball video View on Amazon - Great fit
Giant guinea pig plush
In Switzerland it’s illegal to keep a guinea pig on its own. This plush one is the exception.
🐹 The fact behind it: In Switzerland, you can't keep just one guinea pig, so one woman rented them out View on Amazon - Great fit
Match-quality football
Of all people, a goalkeeper came up with the penalty kick. Whether he regretted it later isn’t recorded.
⚽ The fact behind it: The penalty kick was invented by a goalkeeper whose team lost all 14 games View on Amazon - Great fit
Secret code kit
The & used to come at the end of the English alphabet. With this kit you invent your own symbols.
🔤 The fact behind it: The & was once the 27th member of the alphabet View on Amazon - Great fit
Planisphere star finder
The star finder leads you to the Andromeda galaxy. It is six times as wide as the full moon, just very faint.
🌌 The fact behind it: The Andromeda Galaxy looks 6 times wider than the full Moon, you just can't see most of it View on Amazon - Great fit
Insect hotel
In experiments, bumblebees rolled little balls, apparently just for fun. An insect hotel gives their wild cousins a home.
🐝 The fact behind it: Bumblebees roll tiny balls around, apparently just for fun View on Amazon - Great fit
Lighted magnifying glass
A farmer took the first photo of a single snowflake in 1885. With this magnifier you can see the next one yourself.
View on Amazon - Great fit
Walkie-talkies for kids
Alexander Graham Bell wanted people to answer the phone with “Ahoy”. On a walkie-talkie it sounds even better.
☎️ The fact behind it: The inventor of the telephone wanted you to answer with ‘ahoy’ View on Amazon - Great fit
PEZ dispenser with refills
PEZ started out as a peppermint for smokers. Today the dispenser is full of fruit flavours.
🍬 The fact behind it: PEZ started in 1927 as a peppermint for adults trying to smoke less View on Amazon - Great fit
Page-a-day history calendar
In 1859 a border dispute started over a shot pig. This calendar has a story like that every day.
🐖 The fact behind it: In 1859, the US and Britain faced off over a shot pig View on Amazon - Great fit
Single-player logic game
People try less hard in groups, says the Ringelmann effect. This logic game is just you, so full effort.
🪢 The fact behind it: In a group of eight, each person put in just 49 percent: the Ringelmann effect View on Amazon - Great fit
Unicorn costume
Scotland’s national animal is a unicorn. In this costume you become an honorary Scot.
🦄 The fact behind it: Scotland's national animal is a unicorn View on Amazon - Great fit
Speedminton set with night birdies
Yellow tennis balls only arrived in 1972 because they look better on TV. Speedminton birdies even glow at night.
🎾 The fact behind it: Tennis balls only turned yellow in 1972, and Wimbledon held out until 1986 View on Amazon - Great fit
Scrabble
Webster’s dictionary listed the word “dord” for years, and it never existed. Luckily it doesn’t count in Scrabble.
📖 The fact behind it: The word ‘dord’ never existed, yet it sat in the dictionary for years View on Amazon - Great fit
Solar system mug
Saturn is so light it would float in a giant bathtub. In this mug only the coffee floats.
🪐 The fact behind it: Saturn is about 30 percent less dense than water View on Amazon - Great fit
Ant farm
The Saharan silver ant runs 108 body lengths per second. Things are calmer in an ant farm.
🐜 The fact behind it: The Sahara silver ant sprints 108 body lengths per second across scorching sand View on Amazon - Great fit
Periodic table mug
Bismuth was long thought stable, until 2003 showed it decays extremely slowly. On the mug it sits perfectly still.
⚛️ The fact behind it: Bismuth is radioactive. Its half-life is over a billion times the age of the universe View on Amazon - Great fit
Mini Bluetooth speaker
Bluetooth is named after a Viking king nicknamed “Bluetooth”. The speaker still plays modern music.
🦷 The fact behind it: Bluetooth is named after a Viking king and was only meant as a placeholder View on Amazon - Great fit
Make-your-own gummy kit
Haribo started in 1920 with a sack of sugar and a copper kettle. This kit only needs a saucepan.
🐻 The fact behind it: Haribo started in 1920 with a sack of sugar, a copper pot and a bicycle View on Amazon - Great fit
Genuine Roman coin
Emperor Vespasian taxed urine from public latrines. This is the kind of money it was paid with.
🏛️ The fact behind it: Ancient Romans washed their clothes with urine View on Amazon - Great fit
Maze ball puzzle
Each eye has a blind spot your brain simply fills in. Sadly that doesn’t help in a maze ball.
👀 The fact behind it: Each of your eyes has a blind spot, and your brain paints over it View on Amazon - Great fit
Prank kit
In 1876 chunks of meat fell from a clear sky in Kentucky. This kit gets you similarly confused faces.
🥩 The fact behind it: In 1876, chunks of meat fell from a clear sky in Kentucky View on Amazon - Great fit
Fitness tracker
The marathon is 42.195 km because the 1908 course started at Windsor Castle. A tracker counts odd distances too.
🏃 The fact behind it: A marathon is 26.2 miles because of how London ran it in 1908 View on Amazon - Great fit
Language learning game for kids
“Muscle” comes from the Latin for “little mouse”. Words with a story are easier to remember.
💪 The fact behind it: ‘Muscle’ literally means ‘little mouse’ View on Amazon - Great fit
Space photography book
Since its discovery in 1846, Neptune has completed just one lap around the Sun. This book travels faster.
🪐 The fact behind it: Neptune has circled the Sun only once since we discovered it in 1846 View on Amazon - Great fit
Kids’ binoculars
Owls turn their heads up to 270 degrees to look around. With binoculars a small turn is enough.
🦉 The fact behind it: Owls turn their heads up to 270 degrees without cutting off their blood supply View on Amazon - Great fit
Newton’s cradle
A teaspoon of neutron star would weigh a billion tonnes. These balls luckily weigh just a few grams.
⭐ The fact behind it: A teaspoon of neutron star would weigh about a billion tons View on Amazon - Great fit
Super Mario figure
Mario was named after the landlord of a Nintendo warehouse. As a figure he lives with you rent-free.
🍄 The fact behind it: Super Mario is named after Nintendo's landlord in the US View on Amazon - Great fit
Real vanilla pods
A 12-year-old worked out how to pollinate vanilla by hand in 1841. It is still done that way today.
🌼 The fact behind it: In 1841, a 12-year-old figured out how to grow vanilla outside Mexico View on Amazon - Great fit
Pyramid building kit
Tomb builders in ancient Egypt staged the first known strike in history. This pyramid hopefully goes up without one.
🪧 The fact behind it: The first documented strike in history was staged by pharaoh's tomb builders View on Amazon - Great fit
Beginner magic kit
In the McGurk effect you hear something different because your eyes join in. Magic tricks work the same way.
👄 The fact behind it: Your eyes can change what you hear: the McGurk effect View on Amazon - Great fit
Party game for weird nights
At Finland’s wife-carrying championship, the winning pair gets the partner’s weight in beer. This party game only offers glory.
🏃 The fact behind it: Finland's wife-carrying world champions win the wife's weight in beer View on Amazon - Great fit
Garden goal target
The stolen 1966 World Cup trophy was found by a dog called Pickles. You’ll hopefully find the balls that miss faster.
🐕 The fact behind it: A dog named Pickles found the stolen World Cup trophy in 1966 View on Amazon - Great fit
Dr. Seuss book collection
The word “nerd” first appeared in a Dr. Seuss picture book. The rhymes make reading practice easy.
🤓 The fact behind it: The oldest known printed ‘nerd’ is an imaginary zoo creature from a 1950 Dr. Seuss book View on Amazon - Great fit
Space book for kids
The first living things to fly around the Moon were two tortoises in 1968. This book explains who else has been to space.
🐢 The fact behind it: The first Earthlings to circle the Moon were 2 tortoises View on Amazon - Great fit
Bonsai tree
Some bamboo grows 91 centimetres in a day. A bonsai takes decades instead.
🎋 The fact behind it: Some bamboo grows up to 91 centimeters in a single day View on Amazon - Great fit
Book of home experiments
Bananas are berries, strawberries are not. This experiment book is full of surprises like that.
🍌 The fact behind it: Bananas are berries, but strawberries aren't View on Amazon - Great fit
Wireless charger
“Wi-Fi” doesn’t stand for anything, a branding agency made it up. Wireless charging still works.
📶 The fact behind it: Wi-Fi doesn't stand for anything, not even wireless fidelity View on Amazon - Great fit
Kids’ baking set
German chocolate cake has nothing to do with Germany, it is named after a Mr German. With this set kids bake their own invention.
🍫 The fact behind it: German chocolate cake isn't German. It's named after a Mr. German View on Amazon - Great fit
Eiffel Tower 3D model kit
The Eiffel Tower was only meant to stand for 20 years. Its radio antenna saved it. Your model can just stay.
📻 The fact behind it: The Eiffel Tower was only meant to stand for 20 years. Radio saved it View on Amazon - Great fit
Wooden chess set
Listening to Mozart doesn’t make you smarter, that’s a myth. Chess definitely makes you better at chess.
🎹 The fact behind it: The Mozart effect was a myth, but Georgia still handed out classical CDs to newborns View on Amazon - Great fit
Atlas of curious places
Pheasant Island switches countries every six months. This atlas is full of places like that.
🏝️ The fact behind it: This island switches countries every six months View on Amazon - Great fit
Table football
East Germany’s national team won its very last match in 1990, 2–0. At the foosball table there’s always a rematch.
⚽ The fact behind it: East Germany won its last international football match with just 14 players in the squad View on Amazon - Great fit
Calligraphy set
The dot on an i is called a tittle. With a calligraphy set you can make it beautiful.
✏️ The fact behind it: The dot on your i has its own name: tittle View on Amazon - Great fit
Build-your-own solar system model
Uranus lies almost on its side and rolls around the Sun. In the model you can tilt it just like that.
🪐 The fact behind it: Uranus rolls around the Sun on its side: 42 years of day, 42 years of night View on Amazon - Great fit
Moss terrarium kit
Pando in Utah is a whole forest made of one single plant. In a jar, a mini garden is enough.
🌳 The fact behind it: This Utah forest is a single tree weighing about 6,000 metric tons View on Amazon - Great fit
Slime lab kit
A hagfish makes a litre of slime in a tenth of a second. This lab takes a bit longer.
🐟 The fact behind it: Hagfish turn water into slime in a split second View on Amazon - Great fit
Wireless game controller
The prize at the first video game tournament in 1972 was a magazine subscription. With this controller you’re ready for the next one.
🕹️ The fact behind it: The first esports tournament happened in 1972, and the top prize was a magazine subscription View on Amazon - Great fit
Pizza stone
Hawaiian pizza was invented in Canada by a Greek. So anything goes on this pizza stone.
🍍 The fact behind it: Hawaiian pizza isn't from Hawaii. It's from Canada View on Amazon - Great fit
Original newspaper from a birthday
A misprint in a 1955 newspaper ad had kids calling US air defence. Read what the papers said on the big day.
View on Amazon - Great fit
Mechanical wooden model kit
We value things more when we build them ourselves, says the IKEA effect. That’s why this kit becomes a favourite.
🔧 The fact behind it: People bid 63 percent more for an IKEA box just because they had built it themselves View on Amazon - Great fit
Pizza blanket
Hawaiian pizza comes from Canada. This pizza is round, inedible and keeps you warm.
🍍 The fact behind it: Hawaiian pizza isn't from Hawaii. It's from Canada View on Amazon - Great fit
Table curling
Olympic curling stones are made of granite from an uninhabited Scottish island. Table curling fits on any dining table.
🥌 The fact behind it: Olympic curling stones come from a single uninhabited island View on Amazon - Great fit
Language course with audio
At Vatican cash machines you can choose Latin. A language course starts you on an easier one.
🏧 The fact behind it: In the Vatican, even the ATM speaks Latin View on Amazon - Great fit
Stargazing binoculars
On average Mercury is our closest neighbour, not Venus. With binoculars you can spot it low on the horizon at dusk.
🪐 The fact behind it: Not Venus: on average, Mercury is the planet closest to Earth View on Amazon - Great fit
Indoor herb garden with light
Stressed tomato plants click in ultrasound. With light and water from this garden your herbs hopefully stay quiet.
🍅 The fact behind it: Thirsty tomato plants click dozens of times an hour, just too high for you to hear View on Amazon - Great fit
Lava lamp
Old window glass never flowed downwards, that is a myth. In a lava lamp something really does flow.
🪟 The fact behind it: No, glass isn't a liquid slowly dripping down your windows View on Amazon - Great fit
Kids’ instant print camera
The very first YouTube video is 19 seconds long and shows two elephants. This camera prints its pictures straight away.
🐘 The fact behind it: The first YouTube video is 19 seconds long and all about elephant trunks View on Amazon - Great fit
World spice gift set
In 1667 England gave the Dutch a nutmeg island and kept Manhattan. This set gets you nutmeg for less.
🏝️ The fact behind it: In 1667, England traded a nutmeg island for Manhattan View on Amazon - Great fit
LEGO ancient landmark
Roman vomitoria weren’t rooms for throwing up but exits for the crowd. You’ll find them in the LEGO Colosseum.
🏟️ The fact behind it: The Roman vomitorium wasn't a room for throwing up. It was a stadium exit View on Amazon - Great fit
Take-apart brain model
Your brain is about 2 percent of your body weight but uses 20 percent of its energy. The model shows which parts are so hungry.
🧠 The fact behind it: Your brain is 2 percent of your weight but burns about 20 percent of your energy View on Amazon - Great fit
Karaoke machine
“Last Christmas” took 36 years to reach number one in the UK. At a karaoke party it’s quicker.
View on Amazon - Great fit
Tennis racket
The longest tennis match lasted 11 hours and 5 minutes over three days. A good racket helps you last.
🎾 The fact behind it: A Wimbledon match lasted three days, and the final set ended 70-68 View on Amazon - Great fit
Talking globe with pen
Speakers of Guugu Yimithirr always know where north is. With a talking globe you will too.
🧭 The fact behind it: This language has no left and right, only north, south, east and west View on Amazon - Great fit
NASA hoodie
The ISS crew sees 16 sunrises every day. This hoodie is dressed for every one of them.
🛰️ The fact behind it: On the ISS, the Sun rises 16 times a day View on Amazon - Great fit
Trail camera
The sailing stones of Death Valley were only explained by cameras: thin ice sheets push them. A trail camera shows who wanders through your garden at night.
🪨 The fact behind it: Death Valley's rocks wander across a dry lake, and researchers first caught them moving in 2013 View on Amazon - Great fit
Storm glass
Crystals in a storm glass change with the temperature. The first snowflake photographer showed in 1885 how different crystals can be.
View on Amazon - Great fit
Instant camera
Toy Story 2 was almost deleted and was saved by a copy on a home computer. No command can delete an instant photo.
🤠 The fact behind it: Toy Story 2 was almost completely deleted, and a computer in someone's home saved it View on Amazon - Great fit
Portable smoothie blender
Botanically, bananas are berries and strawberries are not. In a smoothie it doesn’t matter.
🍌 The fact behind it: Bananas are berries, but strawberries aren't View on Amazon - Great fit
Playmobil pyramid
More than 2,500 years lie between the pyramids and Cleopatra. In a kids’ room both fit into one afternoon.
🏺 The fact behind it: Cleopatra lived closer to the Moon landing than to the building of the Great Pyramid View on Amazon - Great fit
VR headset
A brush and a rubber hand are enough to make your brain adopt a fake hand. A VR headset fools your whole body.
✋ The fact behind it: Two paintbrushes can trick your brain into adopting a rubber hand View on Amazon - Great fit
Fog machine with party lights
A supposedly haunted lab turned out to be a humming fan. At your party the haunting comes from fog and lights.
👻 The fact behind it: The lab ghost was a 19 hertz fan View on Amazon - Great fit
Garden trampoline
In space astronauts grow up to 3 percent taller without gravity. On a trampoline it is gone for a moment at least.
🧑🚀 The fact behind it: Astronauts get up to 3 percent taller in space View on Amazon - Great fit
Language translator device
The made-up language Toki Pona gets by with about 120 words. For every other language there’s this device.
💬 The fact behind it: This language gets by with about 120 words View on Amazon - Great fit
Genuine meteorite with certificate
Most shooting stars are the size of a grain of sand and burn up. This one made it all the way to the ground.
🌠 The fact behind it: The Perseids are sand grains moving at 59 kilometers per second View on Amazon - Great fit
Nano aquarium kit
Many parrotfish sleep in a cocoon of slime. Smaller roommates move into a nano aquarium.
🐠 The fact behind it: Parrotfish sleep in a sleeping bag made of their own mucus View on Amazon - Great fit
Digital microscope with screen
Velcro exists because someone put burrs from his dog’s fur under a microscope in 1941. Look closely and you might invent something too.
🐕 The fact behind it: Velcro was invented after a trip with a dog in 1941 View on Amazon - Great fit
E-reader
Early reCAPTCHAs had internet users help digitise old books. On an e-reader you just read them.
🤖 The fact behind it: Solving old CAPTCHAs quietly turned people into book scanners View on Amazon - Great fit
Home beer brewing kit
The Oktoberfest tapping with “O’zapft is!” only began in 1950. With this kit you tap your own beer.
🍺 The fact behind it: The Oktoberfest keg tapping only started in 1950 View on Amazon - Great fit
Wooden knights’ castle
Lord Byron kept a bear at college because dogs were banned. This castle has room for every animal.
🐻 The fact behind it: Lord Byron's college banned dogs. So he kept a bear View on Amazon - Great fit
Marble run system
Self-built is worth more, says the IKEA effect. With this marble run you build something new every time.
🔧 The fact behind it: People bid 63 percent more for an IKEA box just because they had built it themselves View on Amazon - Great fit
Giant plush giraffe
Giraffes have as many neck bones as you, just huge ones. This one has none and is still over a metre tall.
🦒 The fact behind it: A giraffe has exactly as many neck vertebrae as you: 7 View on Amazon - Great fit
Typewriter
“OK” started in 1839 as a joke about bad spelling. On a typewriter you can type your own.
👌 The fact behind it: ‘OK’ started in 1839 as a joke about bad spelling View on Amazon - Great fit
Star map of a special day
Sunlight takes 8 minutes to reach us, but the energy behind it takes millennia. This map shows the sky on your special day.
☀️ The fact behind it: Sunlight takes 8 minutes to reach you, but millennia to get out of the Sun View on Amazon - Great fit
Raised garden bed
The first cultivated carrots were purple and yellow. In your own raised bed you can grow the old varieties again.
🥕 The fact behind it: Carrots used to be purple and yellow, not orange View on Amazon - Great fit
Weather station with outdoor sensor
Lightning is hotter than the surface of the Sun. This weather station just measures how warm your balcony is.
⚡ The fact behind it: Lightning is hotter than the surface of the sun View on Amazon - Great fit
LEGO Technic model with motor
LEGO comes from the Danish “leg godt”, meaning “play well”. With Technic you can add “build for ages”.
🧱 The fact behind it: LEGO means ‘play well’, and the first LEGO toys were made of wood View on Amazon - Great fit
Ice cream maker
Without a 12-year-old in 1841 there would be hardly any vanilla ice cream: he worked out how to pollinate vanilla by hand.
🌼 The fact behind it: In 1841, a 12-year-old figured out how to grow vanilla outside Mexico View on Amazon - Great fit
LEGO Viking ship
Luckily the Vikings on this ship have no horns. The real ones didn’t either.
⚔️ The fact behind it: Vikings in horned helmets? An opera costume designer made that up View on Amazon - Great fit
Kids’ night vision goggles
Reindeer change the colour behind their retina in winter to see better in the dark. Night vision does it without the remodel.
🦌 The fact behind it: Reindeer eyes turn from gold to blue in winter View on Amazon - Great fit
Big dress-up box
Santa wore red long before the Coca-Cola ads. With this dress-up box anyone can be anything.
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Audio player for kids
“O Christmas Tree” started out as a sad love song. This audio box plays happier stories.
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Home planetarium
Earth has more trees than the Milky Way has stars. A few thousand stars still fit on your ceiling.
🌳 The fact behind it: There are more trees on Earth than stars in the Milky Way View on Amazon - Great fit
Big science lab kit
WD-40 is called that because the 40th attempt worked. This kit usually needs fewer tries.
🛢️ The fact behind it: WD-40 is named after attempt number 40, and it started out on missiles View on Amazon - Great fit
Colourful LED string lights
The first electric Christmas tree in 1882 had 80 hand-wired bulbs. This string just plugs in.
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Chocolate fountain
A melted chocolate bar led to the invention of the microwave. In a chocolate fountain it is supposed to melt.
🍫 The fact behind it: The microwave oven began with a melted chocolate bar in an engineer's pocket View on Amazon - Great fit
Civilization board game
Oxford was teaching before the Aztecs founded their capital. In this game you build your own civilisation.
🎓 The fact behind it: The University of Oxford is older than the Aztec Empire View on Amazon - Great fit
Big magic set
Half of people miss a gorilla when they focus on the wrong thing. Every magic trick lives on that.
🦍 The fact behind it: About half of viewers miss a gorilla walking right through a basketball video View on Amazon - Great fit
Caga Tió, the Catalan Christmas log
In Catalonia families feed a log and beat it on Christmas Eve until it drops presents. This one is ready for duty.
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Reading pen with books
On La Gomera kids learn a whistled language at school. This pen speaks normally.
🎵 The fact behind it: On La Gomera, kids learn to talk in whistles at school View on Amazon - Great fit
Physics kit with motor
The microwave was invented because a chocolate bar melted in a pocket. Big discoveries often start by accident.
🍫 The fact behind it: The microwave oven began with a melted chocolate bar in an engineer's pocket View on Amazon - Great fit
Retro popcorn machine
After the melted chocolate bar, the microwave’s inventor tried popcorn next. This machine only does popcorn, but properly.
🍫 The fact behind it: The microwave oven began with a melted chocolate bar in an engineer's pocket View on Amazon - Great fit
Retro suitcase record player
The Voyager probes carry a golden record with Chuck Berry into space. This record player stays on Earth.
📀 The fact behind it: Leaving the solar system: Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode" View on Amazon - Great fit
Sunrise alarm clock
In sleep paralysis the brain is awake before the body. A sunrise alarm wakes you gently and gradually.
🌙 The fact behind it: Why sleep paralysis can feel like something is sitting on your chest View on Amazon - Great fit
Illuminated globe
The word “dollar” comes from the German “Taler”. The globe shows how far it travelled.
💵 The fact behind it: The word dollar comes from a 1519 coin named after a valley View on Amazon - Great fit
Periodic table with real elements
Even bismuth, long the heaviest stable element, actually decays, just unimaginably slowly. Here the elements sit safely in acrylic.
⚛️ The fact behind it: Bismuth is radioactive. Its half-life is over a billion times the age of the universe View on Amazon - Great fit
Pasta machine
In 1834 ketchup was sold as medicine. Fresh pasta still goes better with tomato sauce.
🍅 The fact behind it: Ketchup as medicine? In the 1830s, tomatoes were sold as a cure-all View on Amazon - Great fit
Lauscha glass ornaments
The first glass tree ornaments were made in Lauscha in 1847 and looked like fruit. Glassblowers there still make them.
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A book and chocolate for Christmas Eve
In Iceland people give books on Christmas Eve and read all night. Chocolate is part of it.
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Champagne gift box
Dom Pérignon is often called the inventor of champagne, yet in his day bubbles were seen as a flaw.
🍾 The fact behind it: Dom Pérignon didn't invent the bubbles in champagne. He tried to get rid of them View on Amazon - Great fit
Dresden Christstollen
Butter in stollen was banned during Advent until a pope’s “butter letter” in 1491. Today it’s simply in there.
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