A list of curious facts
One: Accusing someone of having an ‘active imagination’ is usually a polite way of calling someone a liar. But did you know it’s also a medical condition called hyperphantasia. The most famous person to suffer from an “intense and detailed imagination” was poet William Blake.
William Blake’s imagination is thought to have burned with such intensity that, when creating his great artworks, he needed little reference to the physical world. While drawing historical or mythical figures, for instance, he would wait until the “spirit” appeared in his mind’s eye. The visions were apparently so detailed that Blake could sketch as if a real person were sitting before him.
Like human models, these imaginary figures could sometimes act temperamentally… the artist could become frustrated when the object of his inner gaze casually changed posture or left the scene entirely. “I can’t go on, it is gone! I must wait till it returns,” Blake would declaim.
Ok, he sounds a bit like a drama queen—but the condition has a very real neurological basis. FYI: the condition isn’t all that rare either—one in 30 has some form of hyperphantasia. FWIW, as Blake’s paintings show, a hyperactive imagination isn’t such a bad thing (see: lead image). The Observer has loads more on the condition.
Two: Young people in China have discovered an amusing way to make a statement about their working lives—“gross work outfits”! They wear the worst possible clothes to the office—the more awful, the better:
Defying expectations for proper work attire reflects a growing aversion among China’s youth to a life of ambition and striving that marked the past few decades. As the country’s growth slows and promising opportunities recede, many young people are choosing instead to “lie flat,”
a countercultural approach to seeking an easy and uncomplicated life.
And now even those with steady jobs are staging a quiet protest.
It all started with a video posted by a woman—who said her supervisor had told her that “her outfits were ‘gross’ and that she needed to wear better clothes ‘to mind the image of the company’.” So she dressed like this:
The video received more than 735,000 likes and a trend was born. What’s interesting—most of these social media posts were shared by women—who are just sick of working so hard to dress “appropriately.” Our fave below is an interior designer who went to work in her pajamas—declaring, “I just want to wear whatever I want.” You go, girl! (CNN)
Three: When the world ends in a giant flood, one insect will be just fine. Nope, not the cockroach, but the bumblebee! Queen bees are especially adept at surviving underwater—and can keep it together for up to a week. The reason for this unexpected skill:
[O]ne theory suggesting the species can enter diapause - a state of suspended growth through reduced oxygen intake. During diapause, respiratory openings known as spiracles can close for extended periods
and stop water from entering the body, and submerged bumblebee queens may also breathe through their skin, the researchers said. “These bees are effectively on energy-saver mode,” said Dr Raine, who added that they most likely wouldn’t survive underwater if they were active.
That’s pretty cool, right? Science Alert and Independent UK have more on the study.
