Wild Statistics That Change The Way We See The World
How likely are you to die in a shark attack? How much of the world’s oceans are still unexplored? How many millions of times a year do we blink? If, like us, you need to know the answers to these questions, read on. We’ve searched far and wide and gathered the most mind-blowing facts and stats we could find. We can’t believe we hated statistics in school because these numerical nuggets of wisdom are seriously cool.
1. You're more likely to become a movie star than win the Powerball Jackpot
There’s just something so tantalizing about playing the lottery. With a huge stroke of luck, your life could change forever. Yet to win a jackpot totaling in the hundreds of millions, the odds aren’t really in your favor.
When the Powerball prize sat at $700 million in August 2017, experts noted people had a one in 292.2 million chance of taking it home. Now, if you compare that to the stats listed in The Book of Odds, you’ll see that you’d have a much better shot at becoming a Hollywood megastar instead. That’s about 500 times more likely!
2. You're twice as likely to be killed by a vending machine than a shark
We don’t blame you if you’re afraid of sharks. The Jaws movie saga has traumatized a lot of people over the years! But is that fear justified? Are shark attacks as deadly as they appear? Well, this stat might surprise you.
According to the Slate website, only one person in America lost their life to the finned predator in 2021. Remarkably, you’re twice as likely to be killed by a falling vending machine: at least two individuals per year have suffered that fate in the last 40 years or so.
3. Thousands of left-handed people lose their lives using right-handed items
Attention all left-handed readers: You’ll definitely want to take note of this next statistic, it’s a real eye-opener. Whenever you’re offered the chance to use a product specifically designed for your needs, don’t ignore it. That decision could actually kill you!
Yes, as per British newspaper The Guardian, close to 2,500 lefties lose their lives each year by utilizing items designed for right-handed folks. Apparently, power saws top this hazardous list. Oh, to be ambidextrous!
4. Airplane travel is safer than riding in a car
While it might seem pretty rational to be afraid of air travel, we’ve got some news for you. The stats strongly suggest that it’s the safest form of transport you could ever wish to use. As per a study from Harvard University, the chances of being involved in a plane crash are one in 1.2 million.
And the odds are even more distant that it would kill you: they’re one in 11 million. By comparison, you’ve got a one in 5,000 shot of losing your life in an automobile wreck.