More interesting facts from QI: The Book of General Ignorance

‘Something’s “poisonous” when you bite it, but it’s “venomous” when it bites you.’ – Hence a “poisonous” snake would be a grass snake, although vipers and cobras are “venomous”.

Nero couldn’t have been playing the fiddle while Rome burned, as the fiddle wasn’t invented till the 15th century. In fact, Nero was more than 56km away at his seaside holiday home, and raced back to Rome upon nearing the news to take charge of the fire-fighting efforts.

Underwired bras act as portable lightning conductors in a storm.

There is no such thing as Tutankhamun’s curse.