Fascinating Misconceptions and Fun Facts about Everyday Objects

💡The term 'penny' for one cent in the US is a misnomer; in reality, there is no legal currency called a penny in the country.

📕SOS, often assumed to stand for 'Save Our Ship' or 'Save Our Souls', is actually an abbreviation for nothing and was chosen as a maritime distress signal for its simplicity in Morse code.

🎾What is commonly referred to as 'ping pong' is officially known as 'table tennis', although the term 'ping pong' was originally used before being trademarked by a company.

🧔Sideburns are named after Civil War general Ambrose E. Burnside, whose distinctive facial hair style led to the adoption of the term 'sideburns'.

🍌Bananas are scientifically classified as berries, and they grow on large herbaceous plants rather than trees.

Why is the term 'penny' used if there is no currency called a penny in the US?

—The term 'penny' is a misnomer that originated from the British coin 1p or 1 penny. Although the correct monetary plural term is 'pence', this terminology hasn't become common in the United States.

Why was SOS chosen as a maritime distress signal if it doesn't stand for anything?

—SOS was selected as a maritime distress signal because of its simplicity in Morse code. It consists of three dots, three dashes, and three dots, making it easy to remember and transmit.

Why is 'ping pong' sometimes used instead of 'table tennis'?

—The game commonly known as 'ping pong' is officially called 'table tennis'. However, the term 'ping pong' was originally used before it was trademarked by a company, leading to its continued use.

Who are sideburns named after?

—Sideburns are named after Civil War general Ambrose E. Burnside, known for his distinct facial hair style that featured prominent sideburns.

Why are bananas considered berries if they grow on herbaceous plants?

—Bananas are classified as berries botanically. Despite growing on large herbaceous plants, they are scientifically categorized as berries due to their characteristic structure.

00:08In the United States, the term 'penny' is used for one cent, even though there is no legal currency called a penny.

01:22SOS, commonly thought to stand for 'Save Our Ship' or 'Save Our Souls', is actually an abbreviation for nothing and was chosen as a maritime distress signal because of its simplicity in Morse code.

02:17The game referred to as 'ping pong' is officially known as 'table tennis', but the term 'ping pong' was used originally before being trademarked.

03:30Sideburns are named after Civil War general Ambrose E. Burnside, known for his distinct facial hair style.

04:18Bananas, classified as berries, grow on large herbaceous plants instead of trees.