If you’ve ever told someone that octopuses have three hearts or that honey never spoils, you’ve participated in one of humanity’s quietest hobbies—sharing trivia. These bits of knowledge may never help you survive, earn a living, or solve a crisis, yet they feel satisfying to collect. Some people stumble on facts by accident, others actively seek them out, whether through books, podcasts, or even games like crazy coin flip where randomness plays its own role in discovery.
What makes humans so eager to remember things that seem, at first glance, useless? And why do we enjoy dropping these nuggets into conversation?
A natural urge to gather information
Humans have always been gatherers—not just of food, but of information. Long before writing existed, people stored details in memory and passed them through stories. Knowing the location of a river or the habits of certain animals had survival value. Over time, this instinct for collecting information broadened. Not everything we remembered was useful in a survival sense, but it was still social currency.
Random facts often work the same way today. We don’t need to know the exact speed of the fastest bird, but remembering it can make us seem more interesting, knowledgeable, or just fun to talk to.
Trivia as a social tool
In casual conversation, trivia can break silence. Imagine sitting at a dinner table where no one knows each other well. Someone says, “Did you know bananas are berries?” Suddenly, people laugh, ask questions, or share their own random facts. The room feels lighter.
Trivia doesn’t just fill time—it builds connections. It’s a safe way to contribute to a group without diving into personal details. In that sense, “useless” facts aren’t useless at all. They’re tools for human bonding.
The reward loop in the brain
Psychologists suggest that learning a new fact, even a trivial one, triggers a small reward in the brain. Our curiosity gets satisfied, and the brain releases dopamine. That hit of pleasure reinforces the behavior, making us want to learn more.
This is similar to how people enjoy puzzles or guessing games. You don’t get a tangible reward for solving them, but your brain still reacts as if you achieved something meaningful.
Memory’s odd preferences
Not all facts stick equally well. People tend to remember unusual, surprising, or humorous details more than ordinary ones. This is why we remember that sloths can hold their breath longer than dolphins but forget our neighbor’s phone number.
Some researchers think this comes from how our brains evolved to notice anomalies in the environment. In nature, something unexpected might be important—a change in animal behavior, a new plant, or a strange sound. Today, the same mechanism makes us latch onto odd trivia.
Trivia and identity
For some, knowing unusual facts becomes part of their identity. They might be “the person who always knows weird stuff” in their social circle. This role can be rewarding because it gives them a place in group dynamics. They’re seen as a source of entertainment, information, or just a good conversation starter.
Trivia can also reflect a person’s interests. Someone who loves history might know obscure dates and events. A nature enthusiast might collect animal facts. Even though the knowledge is broad, it often reveals something personal about the collector.
The hidden educational side
While many trivia facts are indeed impractical, they can spark deeper learning. A small piece of information might lead someone to research a whole topic. Learning that ancient Romans used concrete underwater could prompt curiosity about engineering techniques. A fact about animal migration might lead to reading about climate change.
In this way, trivia can act as a doorway. It draws you in with something odd or fun, then pulls you toward bigger ideas.
Why “useless” doesn’t mean pointless
The label “useless” is misleading. Trivia might not have direct application, but it still plays a role in human interaction and mental stimulation. It entertains, teaches, and connects. It keeps our brains active, even in moments that seem idle.
In a world where conversation often competes with screens, a quick fact can bring people back into the moment. It might not change the course of history, but it might change the tone of a room.
Collecting random facts isn’t a modern quirk—it’s part of how humans have always shared, bonded, and learned. Whether they’re told in a pub quiz, whispered over coffee, or typed into a group chat, these scraps of knowledge have a way of sticking. They remind us that curiosity itself is worth nurturing, no matter how small the subject.
