Halloween is just around the corner! Check out these facts to get you in the spirit.
Numbers in the News: Spooky Science
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550
The number of human brains in a collection at Yale University’s medical library.
30,000
The estimated number of “vampire” animal species that feed on blood, including insects, arachnids, worms, snails, fish, birds, and mammals.
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12 INCHES
The length of the biggest spider in the world: the goliath birdeater. Thankfully, this spider’s venom isn’t harmful to humans!
48,500 YEARS
The age of the oldest “zombie” virus that still functioned after scientists thawed it from frozen soil in the Arctic.
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870
The approximate number of bones in a snake’s skeleton—the most of any animal!
TAKE IT FURTHER: About 14,000 insect species feed on blood. What percentage of all blood-sucking species are insects?
SOURCES: JOHN HAY WHITNEY MEDICAL LIBRARY, CURRENT GENOMICS (2012), VIRUSES (2023)
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