Top 20 Sizzling Fun Facts About Summer You Never Knew!

1. Ice Cream Day: Thank you, President Reagan!

Next time you're screaming for ice cream, remember to raise a cone to the Commander in Chief of Cold Treats: National Ice Cream Day falls on every third Sunday of July in the United States! No, it's not a dairy god's prank: back in 1984, President Ronald Reagan signed a joint resolution by the US Senate and House of Representatives, declaring July as National Ice Cream Month and making National Ice Cream Day an actual thing. Since then, ice cream makers have been churning up excitement and flavors in celebration of this frosty phenomenon.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

2. Urban Heat Islands: City Sizzle

In the sweltering metropolis where concrete jungles replace rainforests and the asphalt runs hot enough to host a sunbather's dream barbecue, there exists a phenomenon known to meteorologists as "You Can't Beat the Heat 101": Urban heat islands can occur year-round, but they're particularly potent during summer due to factors like asphalt and concrete replacing vegetation, energy waste radiating extra heat, and heat getting trapped between tall buildings and narrow streets. This sizzling effect, coupled with the increase in greenhouse gases, contributes to our planet's rising global temperatures.
Source => scied.ucar.edu

Discover the ancient secret behind June's popularity for weddings, connected to the Roman goddess of marriage and childbirth, and debunk a common myth about its origin. Find out more fascinating facts about this beloved month!

=> Fun Facts about June

3. Brain Freeze: Beware the Slurp

Beware the summer menace that can fell an unsuspecting brain like a pea-brained Ice Age woolly mammoth: brain freeze isn't just a revenge for hastily slurped ice cream, but a chilly trick played by ice pops and icy drinks too! This cranium-chill occurs when the capillaries in the sinuses experience a rapid cooling (thanks to our fondness for frosty treats), causing a swift narrowing of blood vessels, and then an equally zippy rewarming from warm stimuli like gusts of balmy wind. These sudden changes near sensitive nerves in the palate prove a cold hard truth: summer isn't all sunshine and roses, but sometimes biting brain freeze. Fear not, for a swig of warm water or pressure from your tingly tongue on the roof of your mouth will soon thaw your fate.
Source => medicalnewstoday.com

4. Bikini Beginnings: Vive la France!

Who needs a sun-kissed tummy, anyway? Ladies in Saint Tropez decided to roll up their swimsuits and shed some modesty in their pursuit of the perfect tan, inspiring French engineer Louis Réard to create the belly-button-revealing bikini: First introduced in Paris in July 1946, the scandalous swimwear caused a splash but quickly gained popularity, especially among men, leading Réard to run a bikini shop for four decades.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

5. Eiffel Tower's Summery Growth Spurt

Who knew that the Eiffel Tower suffers from a summertime growth spurt? Giving a whole new meaning to the term "hot and bothered," this iconic giant has a unique way of flaunting its presence during those sunny French days: Due to thermal expansion in high temperatures, the puddled iron structure can increase a few centimeters in height, while subsequently shrinking back during the chillier winter months. But fear not, these minuscule changes in no way hamper the Tower's unyielding strength!
Source => toureiffel.paris

6. Ancient Egyptians' Golden Haircuts

Talk about a golden summer haircut: Ancient Egyptians shaved their bodies, particularly their heads, to maintain proper hygiene, believing that it prevented the spread of disease. They didn't rock the bald look in public, though, as it was considered impolite; instead, they wore wigs made of gold or silver to stay civilized and protect themselves from the scorching sun.
Source => blog.booksy.com

7. Before SPF, Rice Bran to the Rescue

Before the time of SPF and beach umbrellas, ancient Egyptians had their own sun-blocking beauty regimen on lock: As early as 13100-300 BC, they used a blend of rice bran, jasmine, and lupine to keep their skin safe from the sun's rays. Rice bran was found to absorb UV light, jasmine played DNA repair-crew, and lupine moonlighted as a skin lightener - making it one of the earliest known cosmetic sun protection methods!
Source => ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

8. Sunflowers: Sun-Worshipping Groupies

Did you know that sunflowers act like groupies following their favorite rock band across the sky? Yep, they're the original fans of the Sun: Sunflowers exhibit heliotropism, where young ones face east in the morning and follow the sun's movement throughout the day. As they age, they become less starstruck, slowing down this growth mechanism and ultimately facing east permanently. This eastward fixation helps the sunflower warm up faster, attracting pollinators for more efficient reproduction.
Source => spectrumlocalnews.com

9. Flea-topia: Summer Invasion!

Summer may feel like a paradise for humans, but it's also a flea-topia for our four-legged companions! Those pesky critters consider your pet's warm fur coat to be their personal beachfront resort — poolside dining included: To help your furry pals stay itch-free and fabulous this summer, it's essential to not only apply regular flea treatments but also treat your home to eliminate any unwanted flea eggs lounging in your pet's cozy "beachfront property."
Source => bluecross.org.uk

10. Splash Safety: Lessons Save Lives

Making a splash in summer safety: Did you know that formal swimming lessons can actually cut the risk of drowning for toddlers by a whopping 88%? So get those floaties, goggles, and swim diapers ready, and dive into life-saving summer fun for your little ones!
Source => ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

11. Spielberg's Summer Blockbuster Legacy

Before Spielberg took a bite out of summer: In 1975, the movie "Jaws" chomped its way into Hollywood history by launching the modern summer blockbuster trend and reigning as the highest-grossing summer movie with an original worldwide gross of $471.2 million. Surfs up for Spielberg ever since as he continued to dominate the summer movie scene with spectacular hits like "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and "Jurassic Park," until the "Star Wars" franchise ventured to a galaxy far, far away to acquire a December release in 2015 with "The Force Awakens."
Source => businessinsider.com

12. Lake Champlain: Monster & Mystery Central

Legend has it that somewhere in Lake Champlain lurks a watery leviathan, who occasionally surfaces to partake in the various fishy delights and admire the scores of humans frolicking away their summer: A sheer indulgence of rich history, exceptional biodiversity, and recreational experiences await at this magnificent destination which was once home to mysteries, monsters, and even a chance encounter by famed French explorer Samuel de Champlain himself, with an elusive fish species locals now believe to be a garfish.
Source => lakechamplainregion.com

13. Summer Lovin': Sun-Soaked Romance

Sizzling summer days: perfect for beach outings, popsicle consumption, and apparently, becoming amorous extraverts in record time! According to a 2004 study at the University of Michigan, just 30 minutes of basking in sunny delight can lift spirits and open hearts to new acquaintances, paving the way for flirtatious encounters and short-lived romances – though Cupid's summer influence on long-lasting love still remains in scientific limbo.
Source => elitedaily.com

14. Perseid Meteor Shower: Celestial Rave

Hold on to your shooting stars, space cowboys: The Perseid meteor shower is set to put on an out-of-this-world show in 2023, with over 50 meteors per hour at its peak between the late midnight of August 11 and the dawn of August 13. Known for its bright lights and cosmic bounty, this annual celestial rave from July 23 to August 22 will dazzle stargazers even in less than perfect viewing conditions.
Source => almanac.com

15. Popsicle: A Frozen Accident

Here's a cold, hard fact to break the ice: once upon a chilly summer night, a young lad's forgetfulness and frosty porch conspired to create the world's coolest summer snack. Pop goes the Fudgsicle: In 1905, 11-year-old Frank Epperson unwittingly invented the Popsicle® by leaving a cup of soda with a stirring stick on his porch overnight, resulting in a delightful ice-cold treat. Originally dubbed the "Epsicle," Frank's kids soon renamed it Popsicle® in honor of their dear pops, and cherry-flavored happiness was sold to the masses at a refreshing nickel per pop.
Source => popsicle.com

16. Alice Cooper: Summer Anthem Maestro

Ah, the sweet symphony of children's voices gleefully reminding us that "school's out for summer!" - a tune that ignites a fire of nostalgia for the golden days of youth and makes us want to tell our bosses to "No More Mr. Nice Guy." The secret recipe behind these summer anthems? Alice Cooper and his trusty guitarist, Michael Bruce, who penned these classics, and the mad-scientist-producer Bob Ezrin, who concocted the signature children's chorus, also heard in Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall (part II)", thus becoming the Maestro of our cherished summer soundtrack.
Source => songfacts.com

17. Curly Leaves: Plant Protection

Mother Nature's sunscreen for plants: During the summer, plant leaves curl up not just to reduce water loss but also as a defense mechanism against extreme temperatures. This curly strategy creates a micro-climate within a cylindrical shape, reducing direct sunlight exposure and shading the stomata, ultimately protecting the leaf from excessive water evaporation and damage.
Source => plantophiles.com

18. BBQ for a Cause: Paraguay's World Record

Meat lovers, brace your arteries: In 2008, Paraguay hosted the world's largest open-air barbecue where a smokin' 30,000 participants devoured 28 kilo tons of meat in just six hours – all while supporting the ASOLEU Children's Leukemia Foundation!
Source => en.mercopress.com

19. Entopia: Malaysia's Butterfly Wonderland

If the butterfly effect teaches us anything, it's that a single flap of a wing can cause a hurricane on the other side of the world or be the reason you suddenly crave a vacation to a butterfly paradise: Entopia in Penang, Malaysia is bursting with over 150 species of fauna, 200 species of flora, and a living garden flaunting more than 15,000 free-flying butterflies comprising up to 60 species, solidifying its reputation as one of Malaysia's largest butterfly utopias.
Source => entopia.com

20. Stink Bugs: Summer's Unwanted Guests

Summer: the season of sun, sand, and... stink bugs? That's right, these foul-smelling fiends don't just crash our outdoor barbeques for the free snacks, they're practically the uninvited plus one at every summer soirée: In reality, stink bugs emerge from hibernation as temperatures rise in spring and persistently linger throughout the summer, with their activity levels closely tied to warming weather rather than just the season itself.
Source => usatoday.com