Did you know? This is something we say or hear often. In a conversation with our family or friends someone may say, “Did you know…”, followed by some bits of trivia that can at times boggle the mind. Over the last four years, here at Smartypants, we have run across thousands of these bits of information and we would like to share some of our favorites with you.

Did you know that the human eye can see up to 10,000,000 colors? The mantis shrimp can see 10 times as many colors as humans. The animal with the best eyesight is the eagle. It can see a mouse two miles away. Oh, and did you know that an Ostrich’s eye is bigger than its brain?

Did you know that time travel is possible? The international date line is an imaginary line that goes from north to south halfway around the world. It cuts right down the middle of the Pacific Ocean. In the South Pacific there is a country called Fiji. Fiji is made up of a group of islands. If you go to the third largest of the Fiji Islands named Taveuni you can stand with half of your body in two different days. You can stand with one foot in today and one foot in tomorrow.

Did you know that there was a pet alligator that used to live in the White House? President John Quincy Adams was given the alligator as a pet. It lived in its own bathroom for a little while and there is a sculpture of it in the White House. Were there other strange pets owned by presidents and their families?

The largest living thing on Earth is 2,100 years old. What?? Not only that it weighs 2,700,000 pounds. That is two million by the way. Its name is General Sherman and it is a Giant Sequoia. This tree is 100 feet around at ground level and it is 275 feet tall. If you want to see the General you have to visit California.