13 mind-blowing facts shared by people who just discovered them

The world is a wild and wonderful place, full of mind-blowing facts and unexpected discoveries. Just when you think you’ve got it all figured out, something new comes along to challenge your understanding. Recently, we asked our Upworthy Facebook audience, "What's something you learned recently that blew your mind?" The responses we received were nothing short of fascinating. From shocking historical revelations to deeply personal epiphanies, here are 13 of the most interesting, surprising, and funny things our audience discovered recently.

One of the more sobering realizations came from Diana M., who noted the importance of recognizing red flags in relationships. She advised taking a step back when you see them, whether they come from family, friends, or colleagues. It's a matter of self-respect and peace of mind. “Red flags are real,” she said, “Once you got a red flashing too, take 10 steps back from them. It's for your self-respect and peacefulness.” Sarah F. resonated with this sentiment, observing that red flags seem to be everywhere lately.

Jessica R. shared an eye-opening historical fact she learned from watching "The Watchmen" series: the Tulsa Race Massacre. She admitted, "I was baffled that this wasn't taught in schools or even really spoken about ever."

Another shocking revelation was shared by Shawna M., who learned that in the '60s and '70s, a study on the effects of estrogen on heart disease in post-menopausal women was conducted using only male participants. This glaring oversight in medical research left many women without the insights they needed for their health.

In the realm of science, Mary E. was blown away by the fact that our entire universe travels in a spiral corkscrew around the sun at thousands of miles per hour. This dizzying concept reshaped her understanding of our place in the cosmos.

On a lighter note, Kristie C. discovered the origin of the boy band *NSYNC's name. She writes: "I recently heard on the radio that the band *NSYNC got the name from using the members' initials."

Greg M. highlighted a stark contrast in societal values with his revelation about maternity leave. While 27 states have laws to protect puppies' bonding time with their mothers, the U.S. remains the only major developed country without mandated paid maternity leave for humans.

Don L. found a mind-blowing fact about geography: all of South America is east of Tampa, Florida. This surprising tidbit shifted his perspective on the world map.

Stephen S. shared a simple yet powerful realization: it's okay to love yourself. This epiphany resonated deeply with many, reminding us all of the importance of self-care and acceptance.

The topic of health also came up, with Daniel F., pointing out an interesting psychological fact: "The only innate fears we/babies are born with are the fear of loud noises and fear of falling down—all other fears are learned." This fascinating fact underscores the powerful influence of our experiences and environment.

In a poignant reflection, Jean M. learned about the enduring impact of childhood emotional damage, which can resurface with a vengeance later in life. This insight shed light on the importance of addressing and healing past traumas.

Michelle P. discovered the existence of iridescent clouds that look like puffy rainbows, a beautiful and awe-inspiring natural phenomenon she had never heard of before.

A surprising fact about language was shared by Olga C., who noted that the letter 'r' changes the sound of the vowel before it to one that is neither short nor long. This quirky detail highlighted the complexities of the English language.

Lastly, Drew H. blew everyone's minds with a cosmic revelation: there's no such thing as "nothing" or a complete void. The universe is filled with something called "quantum foam," a concept that challenges our understanding of emptiness and space.

These discoveries, ranging from the deeply personal to the universally significant, remind us that there's always something new to learn and marvel at in this ever-changing world. What have you learned recently that blew your mind?