An online experiment regarding online dating profiles found an unexpected result. Instead of the most attractive pictures getting the most matches, it was the ones with a genuine smile. Profiles with pictures showing a natural and warm smile received far more interaction, which was not what the researchers initially thought would be the main draw.
There was an experiment on the spread of information online. The researchers expected that the most popular news sources would have the highest rate of information diffusion. However, it turned out that personal blogs and niche social media groups sometimes spread information more quickly, especially when the content was very specialized or relevant to a particular community. This was quite unexpected as big news platforms were thought to have the edge in spreading information.
For example, a person wished to be the most beautiful in the world. As a result, they became so beautiful that everyone was intimidated by them. People were too shy or in awe to approach them, and they ended up feeling isolated.
Sure. There was a family that invested a large sum in a so - called 'hot' new technology company. They were promised high returns. However, the company failed to deliver on its promises due to mismanagement and competition. The family lost a significant amount of money, which was very unexpected as they had high hopes initially.
Sure. There was a locker search in a middle school due to reports of stolen test papers. But instead of finding the papers, they found a beautiful handmade journal in one locker. It turned out that a student was writing a fictional story about the school in secret. The school then encouraged students to share their creative writing.
Another story involves an online learning experiment. A platform tested two different teaching methods for a new course. One was a more traditional lecture - based approach with pre - recorded videos, and the other was an interactive, project - based approach. The students in the interactive group showed higher levels of engagement and retention of the knowledge, indicating that hands - on learning works well even in an online setting.
Sure. Some people have found out through home DNA tests that they are at a much higher risk for certain cancers than they thought. And they get this information without any support on how to deal with it. It's just a big shock.
In a slime experiment, a scientist tried to make slime that could bounce really high. After many tries, they finally found the right combination of polymers and chemicals. The resulting slime could bounce several feet in the air, which was quite amazing.
Another example is the study of animal behavior in mazes. Mice are often used in these experiments. Scientists create mazes to study how mice learn and remember routes. They can change variables like the complexity of the maze or the presence of rewards at the end. These stories help us understand not only the animals' cognitive abilities but also how to apply the knowledge in fields like neuroscience and psychology.
One unexpected story is that a man went on an online date. He showed up at the meeting place, and the woman he was supposed to meet had brought her pet snake along. She expected him to be okay with it, but he was terrified of snakes. Another is when a couple met online and during their first date, the girl started speaking in a completely different language that she had never mentioned before. It was really strange.
I know of a story where a young artist was painting in a park. A famous art collector happened to pass by and was so impressed by the young artist's work that he immediately offered to sponsor the artist's further studies and exhibitions. It was a completely unexpected turn of events for the young artist.
The story of WhatsApp is quite unexpected. It was founded by a few guys who just wanted to create a simple messaging app. They didn't expect it to be acquired by Facebook for a huge amount. Also, Crocs shoes had an unexpected rise. They were initially seen as a bit of a novelty or an unfashionable item, but they became extremely popular, especially among certain demographics like healthcare workers who value their comfort. And let's not forget about Slack. It started as an internal tool for a small team and then became a widely - used communication platform in workplaces all over the world.