Did you know you could travel on a spacecraft through an asteroid belt without ever actually seeing an asteroid? You might be surprised by how many facts sound totally bogus, but are really true.
That's why Redditors compiled some truly bizarre-sounding facts. Here are three good examples of truth being stranger than fiction:
1. Gin and tonics were originally meant to cure malaria
A key component of tonic water is quinine, an antimalarial medicine that comes from the cinchona tree in South America.
One Redditor said:
"Gin tonic was a cocktail invented by British colonists to protect themselves from malaria.
To clarify, the relevant molecule, called "quinine" was bitter and they put it in the mixture now known as a tonic. And since it mixed well with their Gin, might as well enjoy some alcohol with it."
They ain't lying.
Gin and tonic, which even has its own anthem, was originally used by European colonizers to fight malaria during the 17th century after Spain colonized several parts of South America.
2. You can't turn off your phone's shutter sound in Japan
3. Nintendo is 127 years old
Sorry, '80s babies, but Nintendo was about 100 years old by the time you came along.
Founded in 1889, Nintendo is now technically 127 years old. One Redditor said, "Also, it first started out as a playing card company. At various points in time, Nintendo was in the businesses of love hotels and taxi services."
This strange fact is absolutely true.
According to Nintendo, Fusajiro Yamauchi began manufacturing Japanese playing cards in Kyoto in 1889.
In 1950, his grandson Hiroshi Yamauchi became president and the next year, changed the company's name to Nintendo Playing Card Co. Ltd. Two years later, the company said it "became the first to succeed in manufacturing mass-produced plastic playing cards in Japan."
The company then changed its name to Nintendo Co., Ltd. and began manufacturing games in 1963. The rest is history.
These facts might leave you questioning everything you thought you knew, but at least you've got some great small talk for your next party.
