10 Amazing Dream Facts You Never Knew: Science, Psychology, and Surprising Mysteries

1. Many important inventions were inspired by dreams.
Some of history’s greatest innovations came from dream imagery — including the sewing machine, the periodic table of chemical elements, and even… Google.

2. Most dreams don’t carry any special message, but some are documented as having predicted real events.
A number of well-known dreams fall into this rare category:

• Abraham Lincoln dreamt of his own assassination

• Mark Twain dreamt of his brother’s death

• Several Titanic passengers dreamt of the shipwreck beforehand

• Some victims of 9/11 reported warning dreams about imminent danger

3. People who sleepwalk experience extremely deep dream sleep.
They physically act out their dreams, embarking on nocturnal “adventures.” One famous case is Lee Hadwin — a nurse by profession, but in his sleep he becomes an artist. While asleep, he creates stunning portraits, yet when awake he has no idea how he produced them. Other documented cases include sleep-driving and even jumping out of windows — believing they were simply walking through a door in the dream.

4. The average person dreams between one and two hours each night, and may experience up to seven separate dreams in a single night.

5. Animals dream too.
If you have a dog or cat, watch them sleep — you’ll often see their paws move or hear small sounds. They’re likely dreaming about chasing something… perhaps a particularly juicy mouse.

6. People who say they never dream are mistaken.
Everyone dreams — but nearly 60% of people do not remember their dreams at all.

7. People who are blind from birth also dream.
Their dreams contain no images, but they involve all other senses — sound, touch, taste, and smell.

8. Research shows that every face you see in a dream is someone you’ve encountered in real life.
That witch who scared you last night? Relax — she probably just has the face of your most annoying neighbor.

9. For unknown reasons, nightmares are more common than pleasant dreams.
The three most frequently reported dream emotions are anger, sadness, and fear.

10. Believe it or not, not everyone dreams in color.
About 10% of people dream only in black and white.