Middle names once were illegal in England.

Can you name 50 movies with some animal identified in the title? Many can. Start with “The Lion King.”

Starlings in a loose flight close into tight formation when they see a falcon. You’d think that might make it easier for the attacker. Evidently not. Experts say a raptor avoids diving into crowded clutter. How do the starlings know?

Experts on facial characteristics studied identification photos of numerous professional people. One pattern appeared too consistent for coincidence, they said. You and I don’t have to believe this, but their claim is this: The eyes of successful bankers are closer set than average eyes, and the lips of those bankers are thinner than average lips.

First of the narrative historians, the Greek Herodotus, said ancient Babylonian medics posted sick people in the street so passers-by could offer medical advice.

Report is cigarette sales rose 41 percent in China from 1992 to 1996.

Ask 10 grown Americans in the street whether they’d ever played an instrument in a band, and if the odds hold up, two out of five will say yes. I’d say yes. Tried out with a violin, so was assigned to a tuba.