We at Bored Panda passionately promote curiosity and discovering novel things, regardless of age. Therefore, we present you with a fresh list of fun facts and diverse and intriguing tidbits of knowledge courtesy of the Facebook page “Interesting Facts.” Scroll down to find them, and don’t forget to stay curious, people!
While you’re at it, make sure to check out a conversation with neuroscientist and author from Denmark Emma Louise Louth, who kindly agreed to answer a few questions about curiosity.
Curiosity is the result of many breakthrough discoveries and inventions throughout human history, like the stone wheel or self-driving vehicles. It’s a basic human impulse and has many benefits for our well-being, including bettering brain health, improving intelligence, problem-solving, and fighting boredom.
However, with age, it seems that we ask fewer questions and start to be more content with the way things are. Whereas, children, on average, produce around 100 inquiries a day. “However, by the time they are ten to 11 years of age, they’ve pretty much stopped asking,” noted Robert Stokoe, director of the Jumeirah English-Speaking Schools in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
“Of even greater concern is that by the age of 25, only two percent can think outside the box. Curiosity seldom survives childhood. Adult creativity is still powerful, but there is just not enough of it. It can be said that the creative adult is the curious child who survived,” he said.
The curiosity of a child is often encouraged and led by their caregiver. If they feel safe in their environment, they are more likely to explore new surroundings. In fact, parents are the ones responsible for instilling growth or a fixed mindset in their children. Something that encourages the former is using phrases such as “Let’s find out,” “I wonder,” and “What if?”
But between ages 8 and 10, the passion for discovering and learning declines. Some attribute this to finding interest in video games, sports, and other after-school activities. Others say the education system is at fault, overwhelming them with various assessments, which leads to burnout.
And this is just a sneak peek into what awaits them in the future. One study found that the first signs of cognitive decline began around the ripe age of 24, as we start to rely more on our experiences than our intelligence.
However, the good news was that curiosity levels remain intact and might actually increase, especially concerning topics we might have no interest in as children. With time, history museums have become a beloved attraction among adults even though they wouldn't be caught walking into it as a kid.
