1 March: 60

1 March is the 60^th day of any non-leap year. Here are 10 fun facts about the number 60.

1. The ancient Babylonian number system had a base of 60 inherited from the Sumerian and Akkadian civilizations. It’s speculated that part of the reason for that is 60 has a lot of divisors.

2. This is the reason why there are 60 minutes in an hour and 60 seconds in a minute.

3. The same is true of angles: there are 60 seconds in a minute, and 60 minutes in a degree.

4. In older literature, 60 may be called threescore, meaning three times 20 (a score).

5. It’s the atomic number of Neodymium, a chemical element with the symbol Nd. It is the fourth member of the lanthanide series and is considered to be one of the rare-earth metals.

6. A Hindu man who turns 60 celebrates a ceremony called Sashti (60) Abda (years) Poorthi (completed) in Sanskrit.

7. In the west, a couple who have been married for 60 years celebrate their Diamond wedding anniversary.

8. Gone in 60 Seconds is a 2000 film starring Nicolas Cage and Angelina Jolie, in which a reformed car thief has to steal 50 supercars in less than three days in order to save his brother’s life.

9. Talking of cars, the number of miles per hour a car can accelerate to from rest (0-60) is one of the standard measurements of performance.

10. London bus 60 runs from Oasis Academy to Streatham Station.

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