The Sistine Chapel ceiling, painted by Michelangelo, took approximately four years to complete, from 1508 to 1512.

More people die each year from hunger than from all forms of violence combined.

BASE jumping stands for Buildings, Antennae, Spans (bridges), and Earth (cliffs).

The didgeridoo, played by Aboriginal Australians, may be the world's oldest wind instrument — over 40,000 years old.

Nearly half of adults worldwide have less than $10,000 in wealth.

The Vedas, sacred Hindu scriptures, were composed orally for centuries before being written down.

Mozart composed his first symphony at age 8 and had written over 600 works by the time he died at 35.

The Japanese sun goddess Amaterasu was so offended she hid in a cave, plunging the world into darkness until the other gods lured her out.

The fastest recorded serve in tennis by a woman is 220 km/h by Georgina Garcia Perez.