* A tarantula discovered in 2015 near Folsom Prison, California, was given the scientific name “Aphonopelma johnnycashi” after Johnny Cash, in honor of his song “Folsom Prison Blues.”

* For that matter, “The Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin had a snail named after him, the “Crikey steveirwini,” a rare species of tree snail with a khaki-colored shell discovered in 2009.

* Some 60% of human DNA is identical to that of a banana.

* The maddening but addictive Rubik’s Cube was created by accident. Professor of architecture Erno Rubik built a twistable box with colorful rows of...