20 Amazing Rare Things People Can Do

Everyone wishes they had a unique talent or skill that separates them from the rest of the pack. Most people live an ordinary life involving going to work, dropping the kids at school, paying the bills, and going on vacations. Most of us leave the extraordinary stuff to world-famous movie stars, unstoppable athletes, and kind-hearted humanitarians. Well, it turns out that you might be much more special than you realize. In fact, there’s probably a talent that seems boring to you but actually makes you unique and is one of many rare things people can do. There’s a good chance you don’t consider it a talent at all.

Maybe you’ve been able to curl your tongue since you were a kid. Perhaps, music and colors have a strange effect on your senses. Some people are born with rare conditions that allow them to see things differently than the average person. It turns out that touching your tongue to your nose doesn’t make you a weird kid after all. There are all kinds of amazing things people can do. Humans haven’t evolved into superpowers, but they’re getting close to it. These rare amazing things people do will blow your mind. Here’s a look at 20 rare things people can do. 

20 Amazing Rare Things People Can Do

1. Synesthesia 

Humans use their senses all day, but a few people’s senses get crossed. A rare condition known as synesthesia allows affected individuals to taste music and hear colors.

It’s an extraordinary talent the human body possesses, although very rare, with only 1 in 2,000 people having the condition. Furthermore, it’s a more common condition among left-handed people and women. 

2. Goosebumps

It’s common to feel goosebumps when watching a scary movie, listening to an emotional song, or when it’s cold outside. It’s an involuntary sensation everyone gets to experience. However, some people can give themselves goosebumps like it’s a superpower.

According to research from James Heathers, about 200 people can give themselves that feeling of goosebumps at will. 

3. Gorlin’s Sign

Everyone knew that kid who could touch his tongue to his nose in school. He was also known as the cool kid. Only about 8% to 10% of humans can make their tongue touch their nose.

It seems like an ordinary skill, but most people can’t pull it off. Also called Gorlin’s Sign, it’s a unique talent only the coolest people have. 

4. No Headaches

It’s common for people to suffer from severe, throbbing headaches. Sometimes, headaches occur in the middle of the night when trying to sleep or during the day and can impact your mental health.

About roughly 5% of the population never experiences a mind-numbing headache. As a matter of fact, a select few have never experienced a headache in their life. 

5. Women Can See 99 Million More Colors

A scientist in England discovered a woman with a rare condition that allows her to see 99 million more colors than the average person. About 12% of women have a fourth retina cone, known as tetrachromacy.

Most people have three retina cones, while a person that’s color blind has two. Women with tetrachromacy can see colors the average person can’t even imagine. 

6. Cilantro Tastes Like Soap

Cilantro is a popular vegetable that adds a little flavor to every meal. However, to some people, that flavor is soap. Cilantro contains a chemical that’s a by-product of soap that gives it a bitter taste.

Roughly 4% to 14% of the population can detect this chemical when eating cilantro. This is a very strange disorder to have. 

7. Photic Sneeze Reflex

For most people, a sneeze comes out of nowhere. However, that’s not the case for about 18 to 35% of the population with Photic Sneeze Reflex. People with this rare condition begin sneezing because of triggers like bright lights.

8. Chip Feet

Monkeys are one of the most fascinating animals on Earth. They can swing from tree to tree using their hands and feet. Well, it turns out that a small group of humans in rare cases have similar feet.

In fact, close to 8% of the adult population have monkey-like feet. It’s one of the rarest skills out there. 

9. Raise an Eyebrow

Movie star Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is famous for his unique charm and charisma. However, his most unique talent is his ability to raise one eyebrow. It’s so rare that a majority of the population can’t raise one eyebrow.

Less than a quarter of the population can raise an eyebrow, according to a University of Sydney study. And it doesn’t matter if you have blue eyes or brown eyes, only a select few can do this strange eye movement. 

10. Clasping Hands

We all have a preference when we clasp our hands together. Most people prefer to have their left or right thumb on top. It might seem pointless, but all humans have a preference for hand clasping.

Well, not everyone, apparently, with about 1% of the population having no preference for which thumb is on top. 

11. Hitting the Perfect Pitch

Singers like Mariah Carey and Ariana Grande often try to hit the perfect pitch. Don’t feel bad if you can’t reach that high note. Most people can’t. Only 14% of Americans can sing any musical note. Additionally, speaking Mandarin helps with singing the perfect pitch.

Experts believe the Mandarin language’s use of tone is related to their ability to sing the perfect pitch. 60% of Chinese people who speak Mandarin can easily sing the perfect pitch. 

12. Total Recall

People with hyperthymesia have an incredible memory. Also known as highly superior autobiographical memory, they can remember every single detail about the day before. They can even recall specific dates and what they were doing that day.

Author Jill Price was the first person diagnosed with hyperthymesia and even wrote a book about the topic.

13. Reverse-Slope Hearing Loss

While hearing loss isn’t uncommon, this form of hearing loss is unique. Many rare conditions are hereditary, such as reverse-slope hearing loss. Those with reverse-slope hearing loss have one main symptom; they can’t hear low-frequency sounds.

For instance, they won’t be able to hear the low hum of a refrigerator or thunder. Most people don’t even realize they have reverse-slope hearing loss. 

14. Thumbs Up

Hitchhiker’s thumb is a rare genetic condition where a person can bend their thumb backward. It’s a remarkable skill that only a handful of people have.

Roughly one-third of people can bend their thumb backward. Even though the thumb can go all the way back, it’s completely painless and there is no risk factor. 

15. Moving Ears

While ears are usually just for listening, others can do far more than the average person. People who can move their ears inherited weak ear muscles from the ancestors of both humans and cats.

It’s such a rare talent that only one-fifth of the population can move their ears. Additionally, about 18% of the population can move both ears simultaneously, while 22% can move one at a time. 

16. Ambidextrous

The average person is either right-handed or left-handed. However, a few people are ambidextrous and can do tasks such as writing with both hands.

It might not seem like a big deal, but ambidextrous people are rare. Only about 1% of the population has that unique ability to use both hands. Anyone that can is a truly remarkable person. 

17. Swimming Underwater

Swimming underwater is not easy, with most people requiring goggles for protection. However, children in Thailand who are part of the Moken tribe have the remarkable ability to swim underwater with their eyes open.

While the kids of the Moken tribe learn a specific way to swim, any child can learn it. Nonetheless, their eyes would become irritated due to the water. For unexplainable reasons, kids of the Moken tribe can swim underwater without any side effects.

18. Tongue Twister

Everyone has that one weird talent they think is meaningless. Of course, no skill is pointless, not even being able to twist your tongue. Some people have the rare skill of curling their tongue to resemble a cloverleaf. It’s such a rare talent that only 11 out of 164 American women can twist their tongues like a cloverleaf.

A similar study conducted in China with 429 students discovered that none of them could curl their tongue like a cloverleaf. It’s easily one of the rarest skills in the world. 

19. Hearing Your Eyes

All kinds of people have hidden talents they didn’t even know were talents. For instance, individuals can do all sorts of odd things with their eyes. A rare eye condition allows some people to make a unique sound with their eye sockets.

Also known as superior canal dehiscence syndrome, people with this rare condition can rub their eyeballs against the muscle of their sockets when looking around. It’s such a rare skill that almost nobody can do it. 

20. Voice In My Head

We all have the little voice in our head that tries to keep us out of trouble. It might be easy not to listen to that little voice, but it’s not easy to ignore a roar. By tensing their jaws, some people can make a roaring sound in their heads.

The tensor tympani is a small muscle in the ear that dulls the sound of chewing. Some people can flex that muscle which makes that loud roaring sound.