Section 1.1: The Victorian Photo Tradition

In the present day, we all say "cheese" when preparing for a photo op. This tradition, believed to elicit smiles, has become a staple in photography. However, in the 1840s, it was common for people to say "prunes" instead. This peculiar choice aimed to create a small, tight-lipped expression, as smiling wasn't the trend of the time. Ironically, such expressions are back in vogue, reminiscent of the "fish face" selfies that took over social media.

Section 1.2: The Surprising Hair Color of Elvis

Elvis Presley is often associated with his iconic black hair, but did you know that he was originally a blonde? As he transitioned into his late teens, his hair naturally darkened to a sandy brown. However, he opted to dye it for a more edgy appearance, initially choosing dark brown before settling on black—reportedly using shoe polish for the latter. Interestingly, during his army service, Elvis returned to his natural hair color, a fact well-documented in various photographs.

Section 1.3: Birds: The Modern Dinosaurs

It’s well-known that reptiles are descendants of dinosaurs, but what if I told you that birds also belong to this ancient lineage? For years, researchers have sought to establish a connection between birds and dinosaurs, finding commonalities in their bone structures. A breakthrough came in 1996 when a farmer in China discovered a fossil with feather-like imprints. This fossil was identified as a dinosaur, named Sinosauropteryx, and confirmed that modern birds are indeed descended from dinosaurs, particularly from a group called Maniraptorans.

Section 1.4: The Immortal Jellyfish

Meet the remarkable Turritopsis dohrnii, often referred to as the "immortal jellyfish." This extraordinary creature can essentially live forever! To understand this, we must look at its life cycle. Jellyfish begin as larvae, attaching to surfaces and transforming into polyps, which then clone themselves. Once conditions are right, these polyps bloom into baby jellyfish. When a jellyfish dies and sinks, it begins to decay; however, Turritopsis dohrnii has the unique ability to revert back to a polyp stage, thus regenerating and continuing its life cycle indefinitely.

Section 1.5: The Last Letter of the Alphabet

To grasp why "J" is the final letter in the alphabet, we need to delve into the Roman alphabet, which preceded the English alphabet we use today. Initially, the Romans did not have a "J"; instead, "J" served as a stylized version of "I." They often used "J" in Roman numerals to indicate the last instance of "I," such as “XIIJ” for thirteen. It wasn’t until 1524, thanks to Gian Giorgio Trissino's essay, that "J" and "I" were officially differentiated, granting "J" its rightful place in the alphabet.

I hope you found today’s trivia enjoyable! I’m curious to hear which fact resonated with you the most—personally, I’m fascinated by the concept of the immortal jellyfish. Thank you for reading!