TIL half-used hotel soap is sterilized, melted down, and reformed and sent to poorer countries with scarce hygiene resources

http://heelsfirsttravel.boardingarea.com/2013/08/11/what-does-happen-to-half-used-hotel-soap-and-shampoo/



Submitted April 20, 2015 at 03:56AM by Jeanne23x http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/336509/til_halfused_hotel_soap_is_sterilized_melted_down/

TIL Grand Central Station in NYC is radioactive due to the natural radioactive elements found in the granite used in its construction. If Grand Central Station were a nuclear power plant, it would be shut down for exceeding the maximum allowable annual dose of radiation for employees.

http://io9.com/grand-central-station-is-radioactive-1689028425



Submitted April 20, 2015 at 02:01AM by DEDson http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/335rmv/til_grand_central_station_in_nyc_is_radioactive/

TIL that MIT and CalTech maintain a "bitter" rivalry despite being 3,000 miles apart. Unlike most rivalries, it's based largely on pranks--including the theft and transport of an antique cannon from one campus to the other, and the appearance of a "TARDIS" on top of a student hall.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caltech%E2%80%93MIT_rivalry



Submitted April 19, 2015 at 06:02PM by Sanhael http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/334cyl/til_that_mit_and_caltech_maintain_a_bitter/

TIL that Alice Walton, heir to the Wal-Mart fortune and one of the richest people in the world, has had a history of reckless collisions. Her latest DWI arrest was expunged after the Texas trooper who arrested her was mysteriously suspended, and the statute of limitations was allowed to expire.

http://www.overtravel.net/the-untold-story-of-alice-waltons-dwi-incident/



Submitted April 20, 2015 at 01:42AM by mastercookie123 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/335paf/til_that_alice_walton_heir_to_the_walmart_fortune/

TIL a tomato plant was found on the 40 year old volcanic island, Surtsey. Scientists were boggled as to how it got there. Turns out, it was from a scientist taking a dump, subsequently growing the plant.

http://icelandreview.com/news/2015/02/12/dirty-secret-uncovered-doing-business-surtsey



Submitted April 19, 2015 at 11:56PM by Tru_Fakt http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/335cjn/til_a_tomato_plant_was_found_on_the_40_year_old/

TIL Mr. Rogers' mother knitted every sweater he wore on the show.

http://www.fredrogers.org/frc/news/mister-rogers-shares-how-his-mother-showed-love



Submitted April 19, 2015 at 07:17PM by pyperproblems http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/334ijb/til_mr_rogers_mother_knitted_every_sweater_he/

TIL when Scottish psychiatrist R.D. Laing faced a naked schizophrenic woman rocking silently to and fro in a padded cell, he took off his own clothes and sat next to her, rocking to the same rhythm until she spoke for the first time in months.

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2008/jun/01/mentalhealth.society/



Submitted April 19, 2015 at 10:03PM by garglemymarbles http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/334zhs/til_when_scottish_psychiatrist_rd_laing_faced_a/

TIL in 2005 the family of a missing farmer confessed to having killed the man, hacked the body into pieces and fed those to the family's animals. Four years later, his body was found intact in a river behind the wheels of his car.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/oct/20/rudolf-rupp-farmer-family-trial



Submitted April 19, 2015 at 06:26PM by Weepkay http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/334eoe/til_in_2005_the_family_of_a_missing_farmer/

TIL Walt Disney often acted out all the characters and stories at production meetings and "was just as great as Chaplin". His staff often thought that Disney could have been a great actor or comedian

https://books.google.ca/books?id=I6q6PinOBcQC&printsec=frontcover&dq=walt+disney+watts&hl=en&sa=X&ei=K00zVdikLYrzoATvnYDQDg&ved=0CCUQ6AEwAA#v=snippet&q=great%20actor&f=false



Submitted April 19, 2015 at 12:12PM by veryawesomeguy http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/333thn/til_walt_disney_often_acted_out_all_the/

TIL Hitler whistled Disney's "When You Wish Upon A Star" while overlooking the recently conquered city of Paris.

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=wKODfrwlc0gC&pg=PA347&dq=hitler+whistling+disney&hl=en&sa=X&ei=i2lqUqfHG4mjhgf6xoHoAw&ved=0CDcQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=hitler%20whistling%20disney&f=false



Submitted April 19, 2015 at 02:23PM by politicaldan http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/3340s9/til_hitler_whistled_disneys_when_you_wish_upon_a/

TIL that a bank mistakenly foreclosed on a family's house. The family showed up at the bank office with a court order, two deputies, and a moving truck to seize the banks assets.

http://www.overtravel.net/bank-of-america-cuts-check-for-estates-couple-in-mistaken-foreclosure-case/



Submitted April 19, 2015 at 05:28PM by JoyceDuato http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/334asp/til_that_a_bank_mistakenly_foreclosed_on_a/

TIL that British engineers laid a fuel pipeline under the English channel in a single night, under cover of darkness, to supply the Allied forces in Normandy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnCqL-bt_4U&spfreload=10



Submitted April 18, 2015 at 11:01PM by ReasonReader http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/331ntk/til_that_british_engineers_laid_a_fuel_pipeline/

TIL a high school senior named Gaby Rodriguez faked a pregnancy for 6 months as a part of her social experiment for her senior project.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/washington-teen-gaby-rodriguez-fakes-pregnancy-social-experiment/story?id=13434764



Submitted April 19, 2015 at 09:13AM by technicallydeficit http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/333f7u/til_a_high_school_senior_named_gaby_rodriguez/

TIL that in 2008 "Due to a technical error" wine replaced water in dozens of homes during the Italian grape festival in Marino, Italy.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7658808.stm



Submitted April 19, 2015 at 06:40AM by rideingpine http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/3330uv/til_that_in_2008_due_to_a_technical_error_wine/

TIL On April 18, 1930, the BBC announced, “There is no news today,” and played piano music instead.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidthier/2012/04/18/april-18-1930-a-day-with-no-news/



Submitted April 19, 2015 at 05:44PM by Banatepec http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/334bta/til_on_april_18_1930_the_bbc_announced_there_is/

TIL that the world's population went from 1.5 billion to 6.1 billion in only one century.

http://ourworldindata.org/data/population-growth-vital-statistics/world-population-growth/



Submitted April 19, 2015 at 03:06AM by LetsPlayKvetch http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/332er8/til_that_the_worlds_population_went_from_15/

TIL the stock deal which took place at the end of Trading Places was legal until 2010. It was outlawed under the Wall Street Transparency and Accountability Act, also known as "The Eddie Murphy Act".

http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2013/07/19/201430727/what-actually-happens-at-the-end-of-trading-places



Submitted April 19, 2015 at 08:48AM by pdmcmahon http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/333cyr/til_the_stock_deal_which_took_place_at_the_end_of/

TIL Betty Robinson, an Olympic runner, was involved in a plane crash in 1931 and was wrongly pronounced dead upon first being discovered. She spend 7 months in a coma and it took her 2 years to learn to walk normally again. In 1936, she returned to the US olympic team and won gold in the relay.

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2008/jul/31/olympicgames2008.athletics



Submitted April 19, 2015 at 08:14AM by garglemymarbles http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/3339vv/til_betty_robinson_an_olympic_runner_was_involved/

TIL your body paralyzes itself when you sleep to keep you from acting out your dreams. However, it is possible to wake up while still paralyzed; many people who have experienced this claim they felt a malevolent presence nearby.

http://www.livescience.com/27621-sleep-paralysis-scary.html



Submitted April 19, 2015 at 07:56AM by Refreshca http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/33387o/til_your_body_paralyzes_itself_when_you_sleep_to/

TIL It is estimated that in the last 3500 years, there has only been 230 years of peace in the civilized world.

http://www.overtravel.net/it-is-estimated-that-in-the-last-3500-years-there-has-only-been-230-years-of-peace/



Submitted April 19, 2015 at 01:31AM by JoyceDuato http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/3324d3/til_it_is_estimated_that_in_the_last_3500_years/

TIL In 2007 MSNBC reporter Mika Brzezinski refused to read a report about Paris Hilton's release from jail choosing instead to report on more important political news. When her producer tried to get her to push the story again she attempted to light the report on fire and had to be restrained.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mika_Brzezinski#Protesting_trivial_journalism



Submitted April 19, 2015 at 03:36AM by Vetranio http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/332huf/til_in_2007_msnbc_reporter_mika_brzezinski/

TIL Winston Churchill once said "You can always count on the Americans to do the right thing—after they have tried everything else."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paraprosdokian#Etymology



Submitted April 19, 2015 at 04:01AM by Vetranio http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/332kh0/til_winston_churchill_once_said_you_can_always/

TIL that hard partying may just be "masked depression," a clinical condition in which all the "fun" is just a way to conceal overall unhappiness and lowered self-esteem.

https://www.clarku.edu/faculty/addis/menswellbeing/pdfs/genderanddepressioninmen.pdf



Submitted April 19, 2015 at 01:55AM by mellowmonk http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/33275d/til_that_hard_partying_may_just_be_masked/

TIL: In Russia, if you are a citizen you can declare your own ethnicity real or not. Some people declare them selves Jedis or Hobbits

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_nationality_law



Submitted April 18, 2015 at 08:05PM by Dogecoin_ http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/3315j6/til_in_russia_if_you_are_a_citizen_you_can/

TIL that practically all animals make vitamin C in their bodies, so they don't have to eat it. The exceptions are guinea pigs, fruit eating bats, the red vented bulbul bird and primates, including man.

http://knowledgeofhealth.com/why-animals-age-they-produce-less-vitamin-c-same-for-humans/



Submitted April 18, 2015 at 08:35PM by bobbzombie http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/3318at/til_that_practically_all_animals_make_vitamin_c/

TIL L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology said, "You don't get rich writing science fiction. If you want to get rich, you start a religion."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology_controversies?repost#L._Ron_Hubbard_and_starting_a_religion_for_money



Submitted April 18, 2015 at 06:32PM by Brit_lobster http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/330xm2/til_l_ron_hubbard_the_founder_of_scientology_said/

TIL of Bill Morgan, who after having a near death experience buys a lottery ticket winning a car. His local news then asked him to do a reenactment for them and scratch another ticket, on which he won $250,000.

http://wimp.com/winslive/



Submitted April 18, 2015 at 08:02PM by grayfox2713 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/33159z/til_of_bill_morgan_who_after_having_a_near_death/

TIL when the Swedish secret police tried to quietly pressure an ISP to install its spying apparatus, the ISP secretly recorded the conversation and released it to the media instead of complying.

https://falkvinge.net/2015/03/03/why-ive-chosen-to-go-with-private-internet-access/



Submitted April 18, 2015 at 12:00PM by Copywrong2015 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/330ac4/til_when_the_swedish_secret_police_tried_to/

TIL The Gingko Biloba species of tree is 270 million years old. It rarely suffers disease or insect attack and was one of the only living things to survive the Hiroshima nuclear bombing. The trees healed quickly and are still alive today.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ginkgo_biloba#Cultivation_and_uses



Submitted April 18, 2015 at 03:25PM by KRISHNA53 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/330m68/til_the_gingko_biloba_species_of_tree_is_270/

TIL Street artist Banksy set up a stall in New York to sell authentic art without telling anyone. Only at $60 each, the pieces are estimated to be worth $250,000. Only 3 people bought them.

http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-24518315



Submitted April 18, 2015 at 06:05PM by iceberg7 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/330voo/til_street_artist_banksy_set_up_a_stall_in_new/

TIL that 3 men forced their way into a 67-year-old man's home with the intention of raping his granddaughter and stealing the money in his safe. He agreed to open the safe and take out the cash, but instead of taking out the money, he took out a gun and shot all of them.

http://www.opposingviews.com/i/society/crime/grandfather-shoots-3-men-who-broke-his-home-wanted-rape-his-granddaughter-police?cb=463829



Submitted April 18, 2015 at 08:50PM by KobeIsDone http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/3319uh/til_that_3_men_forced_their_way_into_a_67yearold/

TIL the world record for fastest 1-mile run by a 5-year-old is 6:33.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mile_run#Boys



Submitted April 18, 2015 at 04:09AM by goodtimes96 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32z2uj/til_the_world_record_for_fastest_1mile_run_by_a/

TIL that Neerja Bhanot, an Indian flight, attendant hid the passports of American passengers on board a hijacked flight to save them from the terrorits. She died while attempting to help passengers escape, shielding three children from a hail of bullets.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neerja_Bhanot#Her_killers



Submitted April 18, 2015 at 06:38PM by Nugatorysurplusage http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/330y2m/til_that_neerja_bhanot_an_indian_flight_attendant/

TIL that Dildo, Fucking, Anus, Condom, Nob End, Effin, Twatt, Intercourse, Bald Knob, Wankum, Moron and Swastika are all names of towns around the world.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dildo,_Newfoundland_and_Labrador



Submitted April 18, 2015 at 04:37AM by Crezarius http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32z5zi/til_that_dildo_fucking_anus_condom_nob_end_effin/

TIL that Leonardo Da Vinci said “I have offended God and mankind because my work did not reach the quality it should have.” just before dying.

http://www.xthinks.org/celebrities/what-famous-people-uttered-before-dying/



Submitted April 18, 2015 at 05:06AM by dourien http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32z93c/til_that_leonardo_da_vinci_said_i_have_offended/

TIL that in WWI even though the officers knew that at 11 am there was a cease fire areement, they kept on sending troops into no-mans land and shelling the enemy lines, right up to 10:59 am. About 2,000 people died with only hours left of fighting.

http://www.historyplace.com/worldhistory/firstworldwar/index-1918.html



Submitted April 17, 2015 at 11:46PM by Macaroni2552 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32y6yw/til_that_in_wwi_even_though_the_officers_knew/

TIL that a stray, junkyard dog named Lilica walks 8 miles every night through the streets of San Carlos, Brazil to collect a food parcel. Upon returning home, she shares the food with her ‘family’: a dog, a cat, some chickens and a mule.

http://www.candogseat-this.com/a-dog-travels-8-miles-every-night-to-feed-her-family/



Submitted April 18, 2015 at 05:24PM by Ruthjacobs http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/330sv8/til_that_a_stray_junkyard_dog_named_lilica_walks/

TIL- There is a Star Wars comic where Han Solo and Chewbacca crash into Earth after using Hyperspace blindly. Native American's kill Han and his body is discovered by Indiana Jones 126 years later while searching for Bigfoot, which turns out to be Chewbacca.

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Into_the_Great_Unknown



Submitted April 18, 2015 at 02:13AM by Ryanisreallame http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32yq40/til_there_is_a_star_wars_comic_where_han_solo_and/

TIL that the rabbit used in Monty Python and the Holy Grail was a real rabbit. Also, the crew used a red dye which they thought was washable, but then had to halt shooting while they desperately attempted to wash the dye off before the owner arrived.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monty_Python_and_the_Holy_Grail#Production



Submitted April 18, 2015 at 04:27AM by Leumasperron http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32z4vp/til_that_the_rabbit_used_in_monty_python_and_the/

TIL Ants cannot be seriously injured from impact with the ground after being dropped from any height, because they don't have enough mass.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Square-cube_law



Submitted April 18, 2015 at 01:34AM by piethingey http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32yl2w/til_ants_cannot_be_seriously_injured_from_impact/

TIL Herodotus wrote about fuzzy, dog sized ants living in India which dug up gold to build ant hills. For centuries, people assumed it was made up. In the 1990s, scientist discovered a fuzzy marmot living in India that digs up gold whenever it burrows.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold-digging_ant



Submitted April 18, 2015 at 12:01AM by MyTILAccount http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32y8yp/til_herodotus_wrote_about_fuzzy_dog_sized_ants/

TIL an adopted man in Michigan searched for his birth mother for 4 years before finding out that she worked at the same Lowe's store that he worked at. Neither of them knew.

http://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/mans-journey-to-find-birth-mom-ends-8212-at-work



Submitted April 17, 2015 at 09:42PM by garglemymarbles http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32xqbc/til_an_adopted_man_in_michigan_searched_for_his/

TIL Quentin Tarantino approached Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love to play "Lance" and "Jody" in the movie Pulp Fiction but they declined

https://www.yahoo.com/movies/bp/kurt-cobain-pulp-fiction-story-resurfaces-again-132509084.html



Submitted April 17, 2015 at 07:04PM by blmar311 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32x65s/til_quentin_tarantino_approached_kurt_cobain_and/

TIL Colchicine, a Drug that's been used safely since 550 AD to treat Gout, has gone from 10 cents a pill to $5 a pill. The FDA decided to offer a monopoly to anyone that would do safety testing. URL Pharma was granted a monopoly after a 1 week trial involving 185 patients and a $45 million fee.

http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/medical_examiner/2011/03/a_giant_pain_in_the_wallet.html



Submitted April 17, 2015 at 09:18PM by Etopn23 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32xn7g/til_colchicine_a_drug_thats_been_used_safely/

TIL the term "nutritionist" is not legally protected nor regulated, so anyone can advertise themselves as a nutritionist regardless of education or credentials. But "dietitian" or specifically "registered dietitian" legally requires education via credited curriculum and passing a registration exam.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nutritionist



Submitted April 17, 2015 at 08:37PM by Waja_Wabit http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32xhnd/til_the_term_nutritionist_is_not_legally/

TIL that scientists constructed a totally enclosed, artificial environment called the Biosphere 2 and made a mistake that caused all the trees to collapse before reaching maturity: there was no wind so trees failed to develop stress wood, which is needed for them to stand

http://www.overtravel.net/the-necessity-of-stress/



Submitted April 17, 2015 at 02:01PM by mastercookie123 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32wjh2/til_that_scientists_constructed_a_totally/

TIL Sucking a king's nipples was a gesture of submission in ancient Ireland.

http://archive.archaeology.org/1005/bogbodies/clonycavan_croghan.html?TIL



Submitted April 17, 2015 at 05:44PM by LackingAHeart http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32wylp/til_sucking_a_kings_nipples_was_a_gesture_of/

TIL that during the 18th century, you could pay your admission to the zoo in London by bringing a cat or a dog to feed the lions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menagerie?a#Medieval_period_and_Renaissance



Submitted April 17, 2015 at 07:33PM by The_CT_Kid http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32x9ic/til_that_during_the_18th_century_you_could_pay/

TIL that Shakira was rejected from the school choir because her music teacher said that she sounded "like a goat."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakira?a#Early_life



Submitted April 17, 2015 at 06:45PM by The_CT_Kid http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32x49b/til_that_shakira_was_rejected_from_the_school/

TIL that a man named Aki Ra in Cambodia spent 22 years personally clearing over 50,000 land mines with no protective equipment, using a pocketknife, a pair of pliers and a stick.

http://www.sobify.com/cambodian-man-clears-fields-of-over-50000-land-mines-using-a-pocket-knife-a-stick/



Submitted April 17, 2015 at 05:21PM by tiptoptap35 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32wwmp/til_that_a_man_named_aki_ra_in_cambodia_spent_22/

TIL In a 1982 Saturday Night Live routine, Eddie Murphy had the audience call in to decide if 'Larry The Lobster' would live or be boiled on live TV.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_the_Lobster



Submitted April 17, 2015 at 05:53AM by LemonLolPie http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32va6d/til_in_a_1982_saturday_night_live_routine_eddie/

TIL the idea of direct-dialing a telephone number was invented by an undertaker who suspected the local switchboard operator was routing business to a competitor. Unable to prove the accusation, he decided to automate away the job of operator.

http://www.ospmag.com/issue/article/052008-Lies



Submitted April 16, 2015 at 11:13PM by Backstop http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32tu7c/til_the_idea_of_directdialing_a_telephone_number/

TIL a total of 56 crew members died in Star Trek's original 5 year voyage, only 26 of whom are seen to be wearing red.

http://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/database/redshirt_deaths.htm



Submitted April 17, 2015 at 06:18AM by fryslan0109 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32vd30/til_a_total_of_56_crew_members_died_in_star_treks/

TIL The Egyptians, not Julius Caesar, were the fathers of the modern calendar. The Roman calendar was lunar and had 355 days. Egyptians knew it was 365 days because the Nile would peak on the same day each year. Caesar learned this from his affair with Cleopatra and created the Julian calendar.

http://99percentinvisible.org/episode/the-calendar/



Submitted April 17, 2015 at 10:44AM by jimngo http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32w5di/til_the_egyptians_not_julius_caesar_were_the/

TIL There was a portuguese man that saved more jews during the WWII than Schindler. He saved 30 000 jews and was punished by his government for doing so. He died in misery, striped of all his titles and money.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristides_de_Sousa_Mendes



Submitted April 17, 2015 at 04:28PM by salmeida http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32wss0/til_there_was_a_portuguese_man_that_saved_more/

TIL that after enlisting in 1942, Audie Murphy was rejected by the Marines for being too short and the navy for being too skinny. The Army accepted him, but did not want to send him into combat because he looked so young. He went on to receive every military award for valor available from the Army.

http://mentalfloss.com/article/22570/amazing-life-audie-murphy



Submitted April 17, 2015 at 03:43AM by NineteenEighty9 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32uuwm/til_that_after_enlisting_in_1942_audie_murphy_was/

TIL that a Japanese survivor from the Titanic was ostracised by the Japanese public, press and government for not doing the honourable thing and drowning with everyone else

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masabumi_Hosono



Submitted April 16, 2015 at 09:51PM by Tails-92 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32tivw/til_that_a_japanese_survivor_from_the_titanic_was/

TIL Ten days after the Chernobyl disaster, further risk of massive thermal explosion was identified, then three men known as "The Chernobyl divers" volunteered to swim through pooled water under leaked reactor to find and release the safety valves. They died few days later due to radiation exposure

http://www.foccwestlothian.com/chernobyl.html



Submitted April 17, 2015 at 10:10AM by HelotechNet http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32w2e5/til_ten_days_after_the_chernobyl_disaster_further/

TIL that using astronomical data it has been determined that on this day, 16 Apr, Odysseus finally returned to Ithaca 3,192 years ago

http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/abstract/0803317105v1



Submitted April 16, 2015 at 06:15PM by ZhouLe http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32ss94/til_that_using_astronomical_data_it_has_been/

TIL Navy SEALs began as a Naval Combat Demolition Unit eliminating obstacles on enemy-held beaches at Normandy prior to invasion. The NCDUs at Omaha Beach blew 8 complete gaps and 2 partial gaps in the German defenses by clearing 700 yds of beach in 2 hours, another 900 yds by the afternoon.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Navy_SEALs#Scouts_and_Raiders



Submitted April 16, 2015 at 08:22PM by gnarledout http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32t6rh/til_navy_seals_began_as_a_naval_combat_demolition/

TIL of Rat Park. When given the choice between normal water and morphine water, the rats always chose the drugged water and died. When in Rat Park where they had space, friends and games, they rarely took the drug water and never became addicted or overdosed despite many attempts to trick them

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rat_Park



Submitted April 17, 2015 at 03:26AM by Fenixx117 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32usnn/til_of_rat_park_when_given_the_choice_between/

TIL: In 2004, a white, African-born Omaha student was suspended for seeking his school's "Distinguished African-American Student” award

http://www.wnd.com/2004/01/22929/



Submitted April 17, 2015 at 04:10AM by sdfser http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32uxzx/til_in_2004_a_white_africanborn_omaha_student_was/

TIL Actor Alan Cumming has his own fragrance, shower gel, moisturizer, and candle called; Cumming, Cumming Clean, Cumming All Over and Cumming in the Air, respectively.

http://youtu.be/qe-h53u5UeM#t=11m40s



Submitted April 16, 2015 at 11:13PM by MartinVan_Nostrand http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32tu37/til_actor_alan_cumming_has_his_own_fragrance/

TIL that in order to get your pirate certificate at MIT, you must complete courses in archery, pistol shooting, sailing, and fencing.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/2012/03/03/mit-awards-pirate-certificates-undergraduates/7bevphhaZi94oVMvctNslL/story.html



Submitted April 17, 2015 at 01:03AM by Donkey_-_Dong http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32u9l7/til_that_in_order_to_get_your_pirate_certificate/

TIL that the Sahara desert is vastly expanding. 12 African nations have banded together pledging to build a 9 mile wide band of trees, that will stretch across Africa (4,750 miles), called “the Green Wall,” to halt its expansion.

http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-great-green-wall-of-africa



Submitted April 16, 2015 at 07:19PM by Nugatorysurplusage http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32sz7r/til_that_the_sahara_desert_is_vastly_expanding_12/

TIL that Liechtenstein has an incarceration rate of 19 per 100,000. With a population of just 37,000 this means there are approximately 7 people in prison.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_incarceration_rate



Submitted April 16, 2015 at 08:50PM by mbeaumont1 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32tagb/til_that_liechtenstein_has_an_incarceration_rate/

TIL the sand cat can survive in temperatures ranging from −5 °C (23 °F) to 52 °C (126 °F) and Although they will drink when water is available, they are able to survive for months on the water in their food

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sand_cat#Distribution_and_habitat



Submitted April 16, 2015 at 03:04PM by _Perfectionist http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32sdqm/til_the_sand_cat_can_survive_in_temperatures/

TIL that a robot with pool noodle limbs and a computerized brain hitchhiked across Canada last summer.

http://www.vocativ.com/culture/fun/theres-helpless-robot-hitchhiking-across-canada-right-now/



Submitted April 16, 2015 at 07:40PM by Lee_Stanford_Stamper http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32t1p0/til_that_a_robot_with_pool_noodle_limbs_and_a/

TIL that in preparing for "Tootsie," Dustin Hoffman had an epiphany when he realized that although he found his female character interesting, he would not have spoken to her at a party because she was not beautiful and that as a result he had missed out on many conversations with interesting women.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tootsie



Submitted April 16, 2015 at 07:33PM by Meunderwears http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32t0uk/til_that_in_preparing_for_tootsie_dustin_hoffman/

TIL Alan Rickman almost turned down his first film role - Hans Gruber in Die Hard; changed his mind and suggested wearing a suit and pretending to be a hostage

http://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/apr/16/alan-rickman-nearly-turned-down-villain-in-die-hard



Submitted April 16, 2015 at 07:28PM by leeringHobbit http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32t07a/til_alan_rickman_almost_turned_down_his_first/

TIL that a woman driving to a Dave Matthews concert stopped to help a motorcyclist with a flat tire, who turned out to be Dave Matthews. She and her boyfriend got front row seats, backstage passes, and Matthews took them to dinner afterwords.

http://www.today.com/popculture/dave-matthews-breaks-down-bicycle-gets-ride-his-concert-fan-6C10636134



Submitted April 16, 2015 at 09:47PM by herovillainous http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32ti9p/til_that_a_woman_driving_to_a_dave_matthews/

TIL that the founder of the modern frozen food industry, Clarence Birdseye, was inspired when ice fishing in Labrador, Canada, in -40°C weather. He discovered that the fish he caught froze almost instantly and tasted fresh afterwards unlike the slowly frozen seafood sold in New York.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarence_Birdseye



Submitted April 16, 2015 at 08:00AM by piponwa http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32rdll/til_that_the_founder_of_the_modern_frozen_food/

TIL: Norway's prisons are made to help you readjust to society. They don't have barred windows, and have sharp knives in the kitchen. Norway believes that you shouldn't have your freedom taken away in prison.

http://www.businessinsider.com/why-norways-prison-system-is-so-successful-2014-12



Submitted April 16, 2015 at 03:38PM by mazidul101 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32sfx1/til_norways_prisons_are_made_to_help_you_readjust/

TIL A 20 year old spent six months looking for the person who killed his online character in a virtual knife fight, found him living a few miles away, and stabbed him in the chest.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/video-gamer-hunts-stabs-man-killed-online-counter-strike-character-article-1.447608



Submitted April 16, 2015 at 05:37PM by LackingAHeart http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32sor7/til_a_20_year_old_spent_six_months_looking_for/

TIL a U.S Judge launched a $67 million dollar lawsuit against a Dry Cleaners for losing his pants. He cried during his testimony.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hlbNfU4n3g&t=0m55s



Submitted April 15, 2015 at 10:36PM by anon2292 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32pckr/til_a_us_judge_launched_a_67_million_dollar/

TIL in 2009 two Northwest Airlines pilots lost their licenses when they overshot their planned destination by 150 miles, only realizing their mistake when a flight attendant asked about landing. The pilots were both on their personal laptops and ignored inquiries from flight control for 90 minutes.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/27/AR2009102703821.html



Submitted April 16, 2015 at 02:15AM by Meunderwears http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32q6fq/til_in_2009_two_northwest_airlines_pilots_lost/

TIL 30% of the world population cannot drink wine – they get severe headaches

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health-and-fitness/health/beer-before-liquor-never-been-sicker-busting-5-alcohol-myths/article19374599/?service=mobile



Submitted April 16, 2015 at 02:25AM by iam4real http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32q7s3/til_30_of_the_world_population_cannot_drink_wine/

TIL There was an octopus in an aquarium that juggled its tankmates, smashed aquarium glass by throwing rocks, and caused short circuits by shooting a jet of water at a lamp.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cephalopod_intelligence#Dexterity



Submitted April 16, 2015 at 08:05AM by renegadecoaster http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32re7s/til_there_was_an_octopus_in_an_aquarium_that/

TIL the JWST telescope is launching in 2018, is 100X more powerful than Hubble, and will be able to see the edge of the observable universe.

http://jwst.nasa.gov/faq_tweetchat4.html



Submitted April 15, 2015 at 09:21PM by intelligent_redesign http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32p2kh/til_the_jwst_telescope_is_launching_in_2018_is/

TIL There are 92 known cases of nuclear bombs lost at sea.

http://didyouknow.org/nuclear/



Submitted April 15, 2015 at 07:13PM by fatalbeatingsr http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32om7r/til_there_are_92_known_cases_of_nuclear_bombs/

TIL that due to name confusion, staff at Slovakia and Slovenia meet once a month to exchange wrongly addressed mail

http://www.slovak-republic.org/slovenia/



Submitted April 16, 2015 at 03:43AM by Windows7Guy100 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32qi9t/til_that_due_to_name_confusion_staff_at_slovakia/

TIL Marlon Brando was in an acting class that was told to act like chickens and that a nuclear bomb was about to fall on them. Most of the class clucked wildly, but Brando sat calmly and pretended to lay an egg. When Stella Adler asked why he said, "I'm a chicken, What do I know about bombs?"

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marlon_Brando#New_York_and_acting



Submitted April 16, 2015 at 08:42AM by Speed33m3 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32rinm/til_marlon_brando_was_in_an_acting_class_that_was/

TIL The jungle in Disneyland's Jungle Cruise is now it's own fully functioning ecosystem and no longer requires landscaping.

http://www.dorkly.com/post/71462/disney-is-always-watching



Submitted April 16, 2015 at 01:36AM by RemyLeBlue http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32q11c/til_the_jungle_in_disneylands_jungle_cruise_is/

TIL in 1962 a Montreal Canadiens fan tried to steal the Stanley Cup from a display case in Chicago. He was arrested and reportedly told the judge he was trying to bring it back to Montreal "where it belonged." He was fined $10.

http://www.greatesthockeylegends.com/2007/04/stanley-cup-lost-and-stolen.html?m=1



Submitted April 15, 2015 at 11:04PM by uninnocent http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32pgdz/til_in_1962_a_montreal_canadiens_fan_tried_to/

TIL a husband mercy shoots his wife (who was on life support because her initial suicide attempt was interrupted) then commits suicide next to her in the hospital so that their organs could be harvested to save other people.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/n-h-man-shoots-wife-hospital-article-1.2060770



Submitted April 15, 2015 at 11:23PM by ringingbells http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32pj3l/til_a_husband_mercy_shoots_his_wife_who_was_on/

TIL of Hercules, a bear that went missing for 24 days and lost 15 stone (95 kg) because he didn't like the taste of raw flesh.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hercules_%28bear%29



Submitted April 15, 2015 at 06:11PM by QuiteOpinionated http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32ofqc/til_of_hercules_a_bear_that_went_missing_for_24/

TIL that Anna Jarvis, the woman who founded Mother's Day, tried to get the holiday revoked when companies began to commercialize it for profits.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother%27s_Day#Founding_.28United_States.29



Submitted April 15, 2015 at 07:11PM by hailmary2pac http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32olxa/til_that_anna_jarvis_the_woman_who_founded/

TIL in 2013 a Chicago man told police who pulled him over "I'm gonna be real with you, I have a gun in my ass." The cops then found a gun in his ass.

http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20130808/little-village/man-hides-gun-buttocks-held-on-20k-bail



Submitted April 15, 2015 at 10:28PM by AmericanPortions http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32pbhk/til_in_2013_a_chicago_man_told_police_who_pulled/

TIL the villain Sarris in Galaxy Quest was named after film critic Andrew Sarris; upon learning this, Sarris said "It probably won’t make enough money for me to sue for $10 million"

http://www.ew.com/article/1999/08/06/this-week-hollywood



Submitted April 15, 2015 at 04:52AM by holyfruits http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32merp/til_the_villain_sarris_in_galaxy_quest_was_named/

TIL that in 1740, Christina Johansdotter, a suicidal Swedish woman, exploited a loophole in dogmas. Suicide leading to Hell and infanticides being punishable by death, she decided to kill a child since repenting for a crime granted forgiveness, thus leading her to Heaven after her execution.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christina_Johansdotter



Submitted April 15, 2015 at 07:58AM by piponwa http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32n1ex/til_that_in_1740_christina_johansdotter_a/

TIL Abraham Lincoln’s sole guard at Ford’s Theater on April 14, 1865 was an unreliable cop who walked to the saloon next door to get drunk during the fateful play. Ironically, John Wilkes Booth was at the same saloon working up courage before walking next door to assassinate the unguarded President.

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/lincolns-missing-bodyguard-12932069/?page=1



Submitted April 15, 2015 at 12:33AM by VCULax http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32lfzd/til_abraham_lincolns_sole_guard_at_fords_theater/

TIL Kars4Kids, the car donation non-profit famous for its radio jingle, donates 100% of its proceeds exclusively to Jewish causes, including Jewish education and summer camps. It has been repeatedly fined for hiding this fact and for misleading its donors.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kars4Kids#Disclosure_concerns



Submitted April 15, 2015 at 06:18PM by WhirledWorld http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32ogdo/til_kars4kids_the_car_donation_nonprofit_famous/

TIL that in the islands of Tanna there is a "cargo cult" that worships the U.S. army and a Jesus-like WWII soldier named John Frum. The natives dress in American military uniforms and build fake airplane runways, believing John will return to bring trucks, Coca-Cola, radios, and other riches.

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/people-places/in-john-they-trust-109294882/?no-ist



Submitted April 15, 2015 at 06:46AM by SteveTheViking http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32msoe/til_that_in_the_islands_of_tanna_there_is_a_cargo/

TIL: The New Zealand government agreed to remove the right of workers to organise trade unions in the film production industry, and to give money to big budget films made in New Zealand in return for Warner Bros making The Hobbit films in New Zealand.

http://www.theguardian.com/business/2010/oct/31/warner-bros-new-zealand-hobbit-film



Submitted April 15, 2015 at 03:23AM by ledgendary http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32m3gq/til_the_new_zealand_government_agreed_to_remove/

TIL; Only 2.84% of deaths are intentional (war, suicide etc) while 3.15% are caused by diarrhoea.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_causes_of_death_by_rate



Submitted April 14, 2015 at 09:49PM by Sugar_Free_ http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32ksya/til_only_284_of_deaths_are_intentional_war/

TIL download.com infects at least 113 million visitors with malware annually.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Download.com



Submitted April 15, 2015 at 01:00PM by sittingdoingnothing http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32ntoy/til_downloadcom_infects_at_least_113_million/

TIL after Hurricane Ike in 2008, Comcast customers were billed for unreturned equipment that had been destroyed by the hurricane. Customers were charged as much as $1000 for failing to return modems, DVRs, and other equipment that had been lost or destroyed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Comcast#Customer_service_after_Hurricane_Ike



Submitted April 14, 2015 at 11:32PM by tosper http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32l7lj/til_after_hurricane_ike_in_2008_comcast_customers/

TIL actor Peter Butterworth was a POW who took part in the actual "Great Escape," but was rejected for the film for not looking "convincingly heroic or athletic."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Butterworth#Early_life_and_war_service



Submitted April 14, 2015 at 11:08PM by police-ical http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32l46o/til_actor_peter_butterworth_was_a_pow_who_took/

TIL Ewen MacDonald was hanged in 1752 but regained consciousness after being taken to the dissection theatre. When the surgeon who was meant to dissect his body discovered the supposedly dead man sitting upright on the operating table, he promptly bludgeoned MacDonald to death with a mallet.

http://books.google.co.uk/books?output=text&id=YbDQAAAAMAAJ&q=188#v=onepage&q&f=false



Submitted April 15, 2015 at 03:41AM by GuidedBySteven http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32m5t5/til_ewen_macdonald_was_hanged_in_1752_but/

TIL that Google prefers dogs to cats. Their official code of conduct specifically states they are a dog company.

http://investor.google.com/corporate/code-of-conduct.html?a#toc-dogs



Submitted April 15, 2015 at 12:57AM by The_CT_Kid http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32ljf8/til_that_google_prefers_dogs_to_cats_their/

TIL the 2011 earthquake near Japan shortened the days by 1.8 microseconds.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_tsunami



Submitted April 14, 2015 at 05:23PM by loslappy http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32jxq7/til_the_2011_earthquake_near_japan_shortened_the/

TIL that famous paparazzo Ron Galella was once punched in the face so hard by Marlon Brando that his jaw broke and he lost five teeth. The next time he took Brando's picture, he wore a football helmet.

http://content.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,2008078_2171516,00.html



Submitted April 14, 2015 at 07:54PM by lightlycrisped http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32kdg8/til_that_famous_paparazzo_ron_galella_was_once/

TIL the wheel was invented thousands of years after boats, woven cloth, rope, sewing needles, baskets and even the flute.

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/a-salute-to-the-wheel-31805121/?wheel=round%3Fno-ist/



Submitted April 14, 2015 at 08:49PM by garglemymarbles http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32kklk/til_the_wheel_was_invented_thousands_of_years/

TIL that the last car to have a cassette deck come standard was the Lexus SC430, in 2010.

https://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/06/automobiles/06AUDIO.html



Submitted April 14, 2015 at 06:01PM by thitmeo http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32k11r/til_that_the_last_car_to_have_a_cassette_deck/

TIL that in 2001, while making Queen Elizabeth's new Jaguar bomb-proof, pornography and a swastika were found under a seat panel. This was done to cars at the company commonly as tradition, because they were never meant to actually be found.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2001-06-14/news/0106140205_1_jaguar-swastika-coventry



Submitted April 14, 2015 at 08:30PM by JonesySteelblade http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32ki3u/til_that_in_2001_while_making_queen_elizabeths/

TIL Dubai is building the world's first indoor city which will be 48 million sq ft (4.5 million sq m)

http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/architecture-design-blog/2014/jul/09/worlds-first-indoor-city-dubai-mall-of-the-world



Submitted April 14, 2015 at 06:12PM by TechTac http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32k24f/til_dubai_is_building_the_worlds_first_indoor/

TIL A set of British twins separated at birth and raised by different adopted parents, fell in love and got married only to realise that they were brother and sister

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/twin-brother-sister-marry-article-1.343118



Submitted April 14, 2015 at 05:22PM by internet-junkie http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32jxlu/til_a_set_of_british_twins_separated_at_birth_and/

TIL that unable to find jobs due to their impairments, a blind man and a man with no arms joined forces to help each other. Over the last decade they have planted 10,000 trees in China; thus helping the environment while also earning enough money to survive.

http://www.sobify.com/a-blind-man-and-a-double-amputee-join-forces-to-survive/



Submitted April 14, 2015 at 04:29PM by Ruthjacobs http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32jtk1/til_that_unable_to_find_jobs_due_to_their/

TIL Before Darrell Dimebag Abbott was murdered on stage, Eddie Van Halen had agreed to make him a copy of his original 1979 Bumblebee guitar but never got around to it. Upon hearing of his tragic death, Eddie placed his actual Bumblebee guitar inside his casket.

http://vhnd.com/old/articles/041215-01.shtml



Submitted April 14, 2015 at 07:28PM by weber76 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32kaae/til_before_darrell_dimebag_abbott_was_murdered_on/

TIL that Stockholm, capital of Sweden, is built on 14 islands, and that the city centre is "virtually situated on the water".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Stockholm



Submitted April 14, 2015 at 05:59PM by ThePolarbjorn http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32k0vx/til_that_stockholm_capital_of_sweden_is_built_on/

TIL that Clearwater, Florida holds the record for most consecutive days of sunshine in a single year, with 361 days.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clearwater,_Florida



Submitted April 14, 2015 at 07:36PM by onewideworld http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32kba6/til_that_clearwater_florida_holds_the_record_for/

TIL Tesla Motors never spent any money on advertising. They put all their money into R+D, manufacturing and design to make the car as good as possible.

http://www.simplethingcalledlife.com/2015/elon-musk-usc-success-speech/



Submitted April 14, 2015 at 08:48PM by meowser33 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32kkia/til_tesla_motors_never_spent_any_money_on/

TIL: In Mexico If you escape from prison and do not break any laws, you will not be charged for anything and if you are caught time will not be added to your sentence... escaping is in human nature and there not only legal but considered to be the right thing to do.

http://www.phaseloop.com/foreignprisoners/prison-mexico.html



Submitted April 14, 2015 at 08:02PM by 1x10_-24 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32keh3/til_in_mexico_if_you_escape_from_prison_and_do/

TIL of Central American Stingless Bees that have been cultivated by Mayans for thousands of years. The bees are regarded as pets and their hives hung in and around the home. Some hives have been recorded as lasting over 80 years, being passed down through generations.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stingless_bee#Mayan_stingless_bees_of_Central_America



Submitted April 14, 2015 at 02:57PM by HootLifeAllNight http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32jn61/til_of_central_american_stingless_bees_that_have/

TIL that there are only 4,748 African American people living in the entire state of Wyoming

https://suburbanstats.org/population/how-many-people-live-in-wyoming



Submitted April 14, 2015 at 03:24AM by KirbyKoll123 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32homh/til_that_there_are_only_4748_african_american/

TIL that a band, Vulfpeck, raised 20,000$ for a tour by streaming an album called "Sleepify" on Spotify. The album consisted of 10 tracks of nothing, for a total of 5 minutes of silence. Fans were urged to play this when they went to bed, and after 5.5 million streams the album was taken down.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2014/07/28/how-a-band-made-20000-on-spotify-from-5-minutes-of-silence/



Submitted April 14, 2015 at 04:25AM by whymauri http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32hwz0/til_that_a_band_vulfpeck_raised_20000_for_a_tour/

TIL that during WWII the Army Corps of Engineers concealed entire factories as small towns to confuse enemy bombers. Here is one example.

http://www.sonnyradio.com/airfactory.htm



Submitted April 14, 2015 at 03:46AM by Ruhal_ http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32hrko/til_that_during_wwii_the_army_corps_of_engineers/

TIL that during the Rape of Nanking, the Japanese took several thousand wounded and sick soldiers, as well as old and feeble refugees whom they had captured, tied them up, and pushed them into a river. They then threw straw doused with kerosene into the river and burned them all to death.

http://www.cnd.org/njmassacre/njm-tran/njm-ch4.htm



Submitted April 14, 2015 at 02:20AM by Cmyers1980 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32hfxx/til_that_during_the_rape_of_nanking_the_japanese/

TIL Amazon owns IMDb

http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=176060&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=502989



Submitted April 13, 2015 at 09:14PM by acesofspade16 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32gai6/til_amazon_owns_imdb/

TIL Tsar Simeon II of Bulgaria was 9 when Bulgaria deposed of the monarchy in 1946. In 2001, after years in exile, he was elected Prime Minister, becoming the only European monarch to be democratically elected head of state.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simeon_Saxe-Coburg-Gotha



Submitted April 14, 2015 at 05:13AM by Melkor_The_Morgoth http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32i3dx/til_tsar_simeon_ii_of_bulgaria_was_9_when/

TIL Ubisoft fixed their game by using a cracked executable made by the warez group Reloaded to pirate their game. The signature of the Reloaded group was still in the patch when it was cracked open.

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/gaming/2008/07/21/ubisoft-uses-reloaded-crack-as-patch/1



Submitted April 13, 2015 at 08:55PM by GodIsASerb http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32g80a/til_ubisoft_fixed_their_game_by_using_a_cracked/

TIL: Double stuffed oreos only have 1.86x the cream that regular oreos have, not double.

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/3767983



Submitted April 14, 2015 at 09:34AM by Holy__guacamole http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32iyj6/til_double_stuffed_oreos_only_have_186x_the_cream/

TIL Iceland's slogan "Come Find Yourself" came around after a tourist joined her own search party throughout a weekend. She finally realized they where searching for her and informed authorities she was safe.

http://toostupid.org/missing-woman-unknowingly-joins-search-for-herself/



Submitted April 14, 2015 at 03:21AM by DoinMyThngBoss http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32hobo/til_icelands_slogan_come_find_yourself_came/

TIL a Chinese restaurant owner confessed to poisoning a competitor's food killing 42 people in 2002.

http://murderpedia.org/male.Z/z/zhengping-cheng.htm



Submitted April 13, 2015 at 06:42PM by TheGreatAte http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32fs17/til_a_chinese_restaurant_owner_confessed_to/

TIL that during filming of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back the actor playing Darth Vader was instructed to say "Obi-Wan killed your father" instead of "I am your father" in order to hide the secret twist from even the actors until the final movie

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Empire_Strikes_Back



Submitted April 13, 2015 at 10:31PM by Whisperdeer3 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32gkry/til_that_during_filming_of_star_wars_the_empire/

TIL that less than 1% of Sweden's trash ends up in landfills

http://www.iflscience.com/environment/less-1-swedens-trash-ends-landfills



Submitted April 13, 2015 at 07:27PM by HeartsickShoe86 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32fx0c/til_that_less_than_1_of_swedens_trash_ends_up_in/

TIL that in 13 states. if you're arrested for public urination, you must register as a sex offender.

http://www.hrw.org/node/10685/section/6#_ftn109



Submitted April 14, 2015 at 01:06AM by PooPatrol http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32h5mf/til_that_in_13_states_if_youre_arrested_for/

TIL Bare knuckle boxing is bloodier and looks more violent but is actually far safer than boxing using gloves. Gloves were introduced to increase the number of knockouts by adding weight and protecting fighters hands, this has resulted in a dramatic increase in fatalities caused by the sport.

http://twentytwowords.com/bare-knuckled-boxing-is-safer-than-boxing-with-gloves/



Submitted April 14, 2015 at 01:11AM by jorio http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32h6af/til_bare_knuckle_boxing_is_bloodier_and_looks/

TIL only one person has ever been executed by the state of Wisconsin. The public execution was so graphic and horrible that Wisconsin abolished the death penalty two years later.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McCaffary



Submitted April 13, 2015 at 07:22PM by NotAfraidOfFire http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32fwg6/til_only_one_person_has_ever_been_executed_by_the/

TIL the plastic used to make Legos is the same type of plastic used to make hard hats

http://www.silive.com/relationships/index.ssf/2013/11/all_you_ever_wanted_to_know_about_legos.html



Submitted April 13, 2015 at 09:22PM by brohammer32 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32gblp/til_the_plastic_used_to_make_legos_is_the_same/

TIL that Twenty Five percent of Spongebob Squarepants viewers are adults with no children. The show originally aired in 1999 and will have a new season in summer 2015

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-01-29/spongebob-new-movie-12-billion-in-endorsement-deals



Submitted April 13, 2015 at 09:32PM by reavelyn http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32gcwq/til_that_twenty_five_percent_of_spongebob/

TIL MIT admitted its first female student in the 1870s as an experiment and allowed her to attend free of charge. Faculty members were against it, but were forced to comply because they forgot to add a "no women" clause to the bylaws.

https://soundcloud.com/mitalumni/mits-first-alumna-a-new-biography



Submitted April 13, 2015 at 08:26PM by NLM12 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32g473/til_mit_admitted_its_first_female_student_in_the/

TIL that in 2012, Neil Armstrong's widow Carol Armstrong found a hidden stash of moon landing artifacts inside his closet - and the hoard included the famed 16 mm camera that captured Apollo 11 crew's planting of the US flag on moon's surface.

http://www.hexapolis.com/2015/02/09/hidden-stash-moon-landing-artifacts-found-inside-neil-armstrongs-closet/



Submitted April 13, 2015 at 06:50PM by Dattatreya87 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32fsv2/til_that_in_2012_neil_armstrongs_widow_carol/

TIL that Julius Caesar's body was the subject of the earliest known recorded autopsy. Of the 23 stab wounds recorded, only one was potentially fatal on its own; the physician ruled his death due "mostly to blood loss."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_Julius_Caesar



Submitted April 13, 2015 at 04:48PM by Sanhael http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32fi3k/til_that_julius_caesars_body_was_the_subject_of/

TIL The photographer who took the picture of the starving African child with a vulture waiting for her death committed suicide after 3 months. His suicide note said “I am haunted by the vivid memories of killings and corpses and anger and pain.“

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Carter#Prize-winning_photograph_in_Sudan



Submitted April 13, 2015 at 06:40PM by skidhs http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32frs2/til_the_photographer_who_took_the_picture_of_the/

TIL Fred Phelps (pastor of Westboro Baptist Church) was once a civil rights attorney who fought for the rights of blacks

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/05/05/hate.preacher/



Submitted April 13, 2015 at 04:49AM by Defiledxhalo http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32drjp/til_fred_phelps_pastor_of_westboro_baptist_church/

TIL as a struggling young writer, Harper Lee received a gift of a years wages from a friend with a note saying "you have a year off your job to write whatever you want. Merry Christmas" she wrote 'To Kill A Mockingbird'

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Harper_Lee&mobileaction=toggle_view_desktop



Submitted April 13, 2015 at 11:12AM by RedDress88 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32evn3/til_as_a_struggling_young_writer_harper_lee/

TIL that the Japanese will repair broken pottery with powder gold lacquer to highlight imperfections, not hide them. The process is called Kintsugi.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kintsugi



Submitted April 13, 2015 at 06:52PM by welcomechallenge http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32ft32/til_that_the_japanese_will_repair_broken_pottery/

TIL That scientists have discovered how to temporarily induce Rain-Man like skills in normal people by stimulating parts of the brain with magnetic pulses.

http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1522/1399.long



Submitted April 13, 2015 at 06:48AM by khghgfkhgfjf876978 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32e4wp/til_that_scientists_have_discovered_how_to/

TIL There is a glacier in Montana that is named after the tens of millions of now extinct grasshoppers that can be found trapped within the ice.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grasshopper_Glacier_(Montana)



Submitted April 13, 2015 at 02:18AM by taninecz http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32d9n3/til_there_is_a_glacier_in_montana_that_is_named/

TIL a Chinese gymnastics champion was abandoned after breaking his Achilles tendon and announcing his intentions to go to school, forcing him to become a homeless beggar. He was arrested for stealing on multiple occasions, rejected by several aid organizations and struggled as a street performer.

http://www.chinasmack.com/2011/stories/former-chinese-gymnastics-champion-now-homeless-beggar.html



Submitted April 13, 2015 at 04:36AM by darknyan http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32dq4d/til_a_chinese_gymnastics_champion_was_abandoned/

TIL that Sunandha Kumariratana, queen of Thailand, drowned as her subjects looked on, because they were forbidden to touch her.

http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunandha_Kumariratana



Submitted April 12, 2015 at 08:59PM by hombre8 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32c7r8/til_that_sunandha_kumariratana_queen_of_thailand/

TIL Asphalt pavement is not only America’s most recycled and reused material, it now is being recycled and reused at a rate over 99 percent.

http://www.asphaltpavement.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=25&Itemid=45



Submitted April 12, 2015 at 10:52PM by Schmidtzy http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32ckf3/til_asphalt_pavement_is_not_only_americas_most/

TIL Ducks penises explode outward, have spikes on them, shapeshift, fall off after every mating season, and can grow back longer if there are more males around

https://youtu.be/6k01DIVDJlY



Submitted April 12, 2015 at 08:38PM by htallen http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32c5n1/til_ducks_penises_explode_outward_have_spikes_on/

TIL a polio victim was kept alive in a metal tube for nearly 60 years only to die when a power outage shut her iron lung down.

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/24859306/ns/health-health_care/t/us-woman-dies-iron-lung-after-power-failure



Submitted April 13, 2015 at 07:41AM by garglemymarbles http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32eawq/til_a_polio_victim_was_kept_alive_in_a_metal_tube/

TIL a woman tried to use a fake million dollar bill to buy $1,675 worth of merchandise at Wal-Mart and expected $998,325 in change

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/offbeat/2004-03-11-million-dollar_x.htm



Submitted April 13, 2015 at 09:33AM by BACON_BATTLE http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32emnb/til_a_woman_tried_to_use_a_fake_million_dollar/

TIL if an odd number of golfers make the cut at the Masters, they have a member named Jeff Knox fill in, who has bet against and beaten some of the best golfers in the world

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2013/apr/14/the-masters-jeff-knox



Submitted April 13, 2015 at 03:39AM by razorsheldon http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32djgz/til_if_an_odd_number_of_golfers_make_the_cut_at/

TIL Iran has one of the largest rates of brain drain in the world. It's estimated that 150,000-180,000 specialists leave the country every year, costing the country at least $50 billion in human capital annually.

http://www.payvand.com/news/12/may/1297.html



Submitted April 13, 2015 at 02:44AM by Shady_As_Fudge http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32dcrg/til_iran_has_one_of_the_largest_rates_of_brain/

TIL that a New Zealand father was arrested and taken from his children for 8 months because people at a park mistook him kissing his daughter as indecent assault.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/7903165/Loving-dads-year-of-torment



Submitted April 12, 2015 at 10:49PM by mechakreidler http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32ck5i/til_that_a_new_zealand_father_was_arrested_and/

TIL Travis Kalanick, billionaire founder and CEO of Uber, is the #2 ranked Wii Tennis player in the world

http://pando.com/2015/02/05/my-dad-kicked-ass-at-wii-bowling-or-why-its-okay-to-compete-with-travis-kalanick/



Submitted April 12, 2015 at 11:12PM by asusa52f http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32cmwb/til_travis_kalanick_billionaire_founder_and_ceo/

TIL that there is only one city in Canada's Yukon Territory.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_municipalities_in_Yukon



Submitted April 12, 2015 at 06:46PM by her_butt_ http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32bve9/til_that_there_is_only_one_city_in_canadas_yukon/

TIL that Axl Rose, the lead singer of Guns N' Roses, has/had a vocal range of over 5 octaves. He also has a lower baritone that Barry White, and can reach notes higher than Tina Turner and Beyoncé.

http://www.concerthotels.com/worlds-greatest-vocal-ranges?repost#



Submitted April 13, 2015 at 12:06AM by MarkNuttsLeftNut http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32ctcw/til_that_axl_rose_the_lead_singer_of_guns_n_roses/

TIL a 2013 study found that the artificial sweetener sucralose (aka Splenda) appears to trigger an insulin response, despite not having any calories.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/03/splenda-blood-sugar-sucralose-insulin_n_3362122.html



Submitted April 12, 2015 at 07:10PM by 9999monkeys http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32bx6y/til_a_2013_study_found_that_the_artificial/

TIL the oldest known socks were intended to be worn with sandals

http://www.richmondsocks.com/blogs/news/7266828-ancient-socks



Submitted April 12, 2015 at 06:23PM by tegu5309 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32btlg/til_the_oldest_known_socks_were_intended_to_be/

TIL male ants do not have fathers because unfertilized eggs become males while fertilized eggs become females

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ant#Development_and_reproduction



Submitted April 12, 2015 at 07:14PM by aardvarkin http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32bxj6/til_male_ants_do_not_have_fathers_because/

TIL- In 1872, Victoria Woodhull became the first woman to run for President. She did it almost 50 years before the ratification of the 19th Amendment and on Election Day, November 5, 1872, she couldn’t even vote for herself

http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/04/victoria-woodhull-first-woman-presidential-candidate-116828.html#.VSfsiJNRLwA



Submitted April 12, 2015 at 06:28PM by westmontblvd http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32btzr/til_in_1872_victoria_woodhull_became_the_first/

TIL In 1970 the Oregon Highway Division attempted to blow up a washed ashore dead sperm whale, using half a ton of dynamite, to dispose of its rotting carcass. The explosion threw whale flesh over 800 feet away, crushing cars and almost killing bystanders.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_t44siFyb4



Submitted April 12, 2015 at 04:27PM by Ryvai http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32bmhb/til_in_1970_the_oregon_highway_division_attempted/

TIL that planetary scientist Eugene Shoemaker is the only human in history to have their ashes buried on the moon

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_Merle_Shoemaker#Death



Submitted April 12, 2015 at 07:54PM by noonewillreadthis_1 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32c17m/til_that_planetary_scientist_eugene_shoemaker_is/

TIL after professional golfer Ben Hogan threw himself across his car to cover his wife during a head-on collision with a bus, the doctors told him he might never walk again, let alone play golf. He went on to win the US Open the following year.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Hogan#Career-threatening_accident



Submitted April 11, 2015 at 11:34PM by Gridelin http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32929z/til_after_professional_golfer_ben_hogan_threw/

TIL the line "Ideas are peaceful, history is violent" in Fury was ad-libbed by Brad Pitt.

http://www.esquire.com/entertainment/movies/interviews/a30434/david-ayer-shia-labeouf/



Submitted April 12, 2015 at 03:34PM by moebius1991 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32bjqa/til_the_line_ideas_are_peaceful_history_is/

TIL that Marie Curie, who discovered polonium and radium, used to carry it around in her pocket, and even admired the glow of it at night, which ultimately led to her death.

http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/themes/physics/curie/



Submitted April 11, 2015 at 10:42PM by mazidul101 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/328vyn/til_that_marie_curie_who_discovered_polonium_and/

TIL the oldest unbroken alliance in the world is between England and Portugal dating back to 1373

http://bpea.co.uk/blog/the-anglo-portuguese-alliance



Submitted April 12, 2015 at 04:45AM by Ameobi1 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32a1uy/til_the_oldest_unbroken_alliance_in_the_world_is/

TIL Sperm whales only have one blow hole which evolved from the left nostril. The right nostril is located inside the front of the whale's head and has evolved into a pair of lips used for echolocation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sperm_whale#Mechanism



Submitted April 11, 2015 at 10:08PM by xenomorphs_sombrero http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/328s1e/til_sperm_whales_only_have_one_blow_hole_which/

TIL that velociraptors were really only the size of an average dog and had feathers. The Jurassic Park movies took the name and applied it to another dinosaur from the raptor family.

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Velociraptor&mobileaction=toggle_view_desktop



Submitted April 12, 2015 at 08:32AM by iowamoviefan http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32apzu/til_that_velociraptors_were_really_only_the_size/

TIL that Ernst Kaltbrunner, a Nazi War Criminal living under a false name, was caught because his mistress saw him by chance and called out his name and ran to hug him

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernst_Kaltenbrunner



Submitted April 11, 2015 at 09:06PM by danceswithwool http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/328l8m/til_that_ernst_kaltbrunner_a_nazi_war_criminal/

TIL crows recognize individual human faces and hold grudges.

http://www.livescience.com/23090-crows-grudges-brains.html



Submitted April 12, 2015 at 02:55AM by Porch_Dick http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/329pj6/til_crows_recognize_individual_human_faces_and/

TIL the winner of the $1,000,000 in Mcdonald's Monopoly doesn't recieve it as a lump sum; they get an annual cheque for $50,000 for 20 years

http://mentalfloss.com/article/59302/13-things-you-might-not-know-about-mcdonalds-monopoly



Submitted April 12, 2015 at 04:04AM by IAMAWalrus_AMA http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/329xc3/til_the_winner_of_the_1000000_in_mcdonalds/

TIL that when Fiat workers discovered that a Google's street view car was mapping Södertälje, Sweden, they sent a Fiat to tail it for 45 minutes, and have it captured on street view in front of Volkswagen's headquarters.

http://www.technobuffalo.com/2013/05/21/fiat500-photobombs-vw-on-google-street-view/



Submitted April 12, 2015 at 05:46AM by Donkey_-_Dong http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32a8bh/til_that_when_fiat_workers_discovered_that_a/

TIL the BTK Killer sent a letter to the police asking if his writings could be traced to him if they were put on a floppy disk. The police answered that they wouldn't be able to trace it. He later sent a floppy disk to Fox Tv, who gave it to the police and had it traced to him.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Rader#2001-2005



Submitted April 12, 2015 at 02:05AM by Keyakz http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/329jx5/til_the_btk_killer_sent_a_letter_to_the_police/

TIL Agatha Christie’s novel “Elephants Can Remember” reveals distinct signs of Alzheimer’s onset, e.g., 20% fewer words or ⅕ of her vocabulary lost; 6 times more use of nonspecific words such as “thing”, and a sharp drop in “idea density”. That novel's last line is “Maybe it’s OK not to remember.”.

http://www.radiolab.org/story/91960-vanishing-words



Submitted April 11, 2015 at 11:40PM by Captain-Janeway http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32931k/til_agatha_christies_novel_elephants_can_remember/

TIL The video Ipod single-handedly saved "The Office". The show was about to get canceled but NBC struck a deal with Apple in which all new Ipods came pre-loaded with the Christmas Special episode. Resulting in The Office shooting to the top of the Itunes charts and ultimately running for 9 seasons.

https://youtu.be/HIAKBrMfWt8?t=43m28s



Submitted April 12, 2015 at 12:01AM by jpatton89 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/3295id/til_the_video_ipod_singlehandedly_saved_the/

TIL shooting point blank mean shooting in a range where you don't have to account for gravity

http://mentalfloss.com/article/30158/what-point-blank-range



Submitted April 11, 2015 at 07:48PM by ratpoisonfordinner http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/328cky/til_shooting_point_blank_mean_shooting_in_a_range/

TIL that Alaska experienced two Fridays in a row on the day that ownership transferred from Russia to the USA due to the change from Julian to Gregorian calendar systems

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Department_of_Alaska



Submitted April 11, 2015 at 07:50PM by shokk http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/328cts/til_that_alaska_experienced_two_fridays_in_a_row/

TIL a 87 year old Baltimore woman locked a police officer in her basement when he tried searching her home without a warrant. She sued and won a $95,000 settlement.

http://www.wbaltv.com/i-team/Woman-90-locked-officer-in-basement-settles-with-police/11028044#ixzz3FHgr3Tb1



Submitted April 11, 2015 at 10:16PM by alifeiliMD http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/328szq/til_a_87_year_old_baltimore_woman_locked_a_police/

TIL, for over 20 years, Cuba has been aiding and treating more than 18,000 children affected by the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, for free.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/jul/02/cuba-chernobyl-health-children



Submitted April 11, 2015 at 08:38PM by ThePis7olStar http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/328i5s/til_for_over_20_years_cuba_has_been_aiding_and/

TIL if you have no debts and have $10 in your pocket you have more wealth than 25% of Americans

http://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2011/12/14/six-waltons-have-more-wealth-than-the-bottom-30-of-americans/



Submitted April 11, 2015 at 09:28PM by magenta_placenta http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/328nig/til_if_you_have_no_debts_and_have_10_in_your/

TIL that the Pyrenean Ibex, which went extinct in 2000, was resurrected in 2009. For 7 minutes, the species was no longer extinct, but the baby died of a lung defect shortly after birth.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrenean_ibex



Submitted April 11, 2015 at 09:08AM by MrPaleontologist http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/3273al/til_that_the_pyrenean_ibex_which_went_extinct_in/

TIL After Rat-Packer Sammy Davis Jr died in 1990, his Widow soon discovered that he was nearly broke and owed back taxes. She then had his body exhumed to strip him of the $70,000 worth of jewelry he had been buried with.

http://morbid-curiosity.com/id170.htm



Submitted April 11, 2015 at 06:19PM by TheCannon http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/3284tp/til_after_ratpacker_sammy_davis_jr_died_in_1990/

TIL that the first ever modern commercial refrigerator was built in Australia in 1856 to keep beer cold.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Harrison_(engineer)#Ice-making_operation_and_later_life



Submitted April 11, 2015 at 05:33PM by datums http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/3281kp/til_that_the_first_ever_modern_commercial/

TIL a pigeon was held in India and kept under police guard on allegation of spying for Pakistan

http://nypost.com/2010/05/28/pigeon-held-in-india-on-suspicion-of-spying-for-pakistan/



Submitted April 10, 2015 at 10:35PM by bulubaba http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32509q/til_a_pigeon_was_held_in_india_and_kept_under/

TIL In China, women who remain unmarried in their late 20s and beyond are called "Sheng nu" which means "leftover women."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheng_nu?TIL



Submitted April 11, 2015 at 12:38AM by LackingAHeart http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/325grz/til_in_china_women_who_remain_unmarried_in_their/

TIL every resident of Alaska gets an annual "oil royalty check"--a payment representing their share of revenue from Alaskan oil. In 2008 the payout reached a high of $2,069, or $8,276 for a family of four.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/09/17/us-usa-dividend-alaska-idUSKBN0HC2E320140917



Submitted April 11, 2015 at 01:09PM by mellowmonk http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/327mjm/til_every_resident_of_alaska_gets_an_annual_oil/

TIL there was a briefly popular social movement in the early 1930s called the "Technocracy Movement." Technocrats proposed replacing politicians and businessmen with scientists and engineers who had the expertise to manage the economy.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technocracy_movement



Submitted April 11, 2015 at 06:13PM by Nugatorysurplusage http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/3284f0/til_there_was_a_briefly_popular_social_movement/

TIL before becoming an actor, Jason Statham competed for Great Britain at the 1990 Commonwealth Games

https://youtu.be/vWrINMm1aCI



Submitted April 11, 2015 at 12:13AM by mrcchapman http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/325dcv/til_before_becoming_an_actor_jason_statham/

TIL that during the summer of 2017, a total eclipse will sweep across America, turning day into night for over 2 full minutes for millions of people

http://www.greatamericaneclipse.com/nation/



Submitted April 11, 2015 at 02:32AM by ThatGuyinaHat http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/325vkj/til_that_during_the_summer_of_2017_a_total/

TIL that purple is known as a ‘royal’ color because back when they relied only on natural dyes, purple came from sea snails and was the hardest dye to extract and produce so only royals could afford it.

http://humantouchofchemistry.com/tyrian-purple-the-colour-of-kings.htm



Submitted April 11, 2015 at 06:15AM by stuffedrhinoceros http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/326lqs/til_that_purple_is_known_as_a_royal_color_because/

TIL Speedo was the only sponsor to retain Greg Louganis after his announcement of being gay and HIV positive.

http://espn.go.com/classic/s/add_louganis_greg.html



Submitted April 11, 2015 at 08:36AM by nearlyadoc http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32707q/til_speedo_was_the_only_sponsor_to_retain_greg/

TIL PETA euthanize 86% of the animals that they rescue.

https://www.petakillsanimals.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/PetaKillsAnimals.pdf



Submitted April 11, 2015 at 07:27AM by FIleCorrupted http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/326tb8/til_peta_euthanize_86_of_the_animals_that_they/

TIL of a Californian care home that went bankrupt. About 16 elderly residents were abandoned, most staff left but the janitor and the cook stayed behind to care for the residents at their own expense

http://www.npr.org/2014/11/21/365433685/if-we-left-they-wouldnt-have-nobody



Submitted April 11, 2015 at 03:40AM by CoolStoryBrotha http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/3264db/til_of_a_californian_care_home_that_went_bankrupt/

TIL That the person who came up with the Big Bang Theory was a Catholic priest named Georges Lemaître.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georges_Lema%C3%AEtre



Submitted April 10, 2015 at 09:21PM by blueflame97 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/324qfh/til_that_the_person_who_came_up_with_the_big_bang/

TIL A man who survived the sinking of a ship in 1871 was finally able to overcome his fears and decided to sail again in 1911: he died in the sinking of the Titanic.

http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-victim/ramon-artagaveytia.html



Submitted April 10, 2015 at 08:34PM by piethingey http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/324kf5/til_a_man_who_survived_the_sinking_of_a_ship_in/

TIL Easter will be on April Fool's Day in 2018

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter#Table_of_the_dates_of_Easter



Submitted April 10, 2015 at 10:28PM by smileylich http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/324zd2/til_easter_will_be_on_april_fools_day_in_2018/

TIL that the "cost per GFLOPS" (the cost for a computer that would operate at one billion floating-point operations per second) in 1961 was of $1,100,000,000,000 ($1.1 trillion), while nowadays it is of merely $0.08.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FLOPS#Hardware_costs



Submitted April 10, 2015 at 03:56PM by sprremix http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/323tmw/til_that_the_cost_per_gflops_the_cost_for_a/

TIL That there was an actual "Super Hero Movement" in Seattle led by a mixed martial artist who went by the name, Phoenix Jones. They stopped multiple assaults and robberies, and disbanded in 2014.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_Jones



Submitted April 10, 2015 at 08:00PM by EthanHawking http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/324g2x/til_that_there_was_an_actual_super_hero_movement/

TIL that in 1980 John Gotti's son was hit by a car and died, and Gotti had the driver abducted and killed

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/favara-son-dad-accidentally-killed-gotti-boy-no-grave-visit-father-day-article-1.127324



Submitted April 10, 2015 at 02:57AM by snortingking http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/321o4s/til_that_in_1980_john_gottis_son_was_hit_by_a_car/

TIL of a Dutch nursing home which provides free housing to college students in return for being good neighbors, interacting with older residents, attending parties, etc to ward off loneliness and depression common in the elderly.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/dutch-retirement-home-offers-rent-free-housing-students-one-condition/



Submitted April 10, 2015 at 10:09PM by thomfountain http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/324wth/til_of_a_dutch_nursing_home_which_provides_free/

TIL the tallest structure in the western hemisphere is a TV Tower in Blanchard, North Dakota.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KVLY-TV_mast



Submitted April 10, 2015 at 06:50PM by ThePlayfulPython http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/3247zj/til_the_tallest_structure_in_the_western/

TIL: George Lucas said Star Wars movies are "for children," and that his fan base just doesn't want to admit it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jar_Jar_Binks



Submitted April 10, 2015 at 06:17AM by pricerangeisrover http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/322djx/til_george_lucas_said_star_wars_movies_are_for/

TIL feeding bread to ducks actually causes many health problems for them

http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7001.html



Submitted April 10, 2015 at 05:56PM by fuckswithducks http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/3242th/til_feeding_bread_to_ducks_actually_causes_many/

TIL that adult diaper sales are about to eclipse baby diaper sales in Japan

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/business/AJ201312230005



Submitted April 10, 2015 at 02:36AM by cmrnwllsbrn http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/321lez/til_that_adult_diaper_sales_are_about_to_eclipse/

TIL in 1951, MGM owed the dog that played Lassie $40,000 in back pay. Planning on ending the franchise and in lieu of payment MGM gave full rights to the Lassie trademark to the dog's trainer, who then spun it off into a TV show that ran for 571 episodes.

http://www.candogseat-this.com/celebrity-dog-focus/



Submitted April 10, 2015 at 04:57PM by Ruthjacobs http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/323xqa/til_in_1951_mgm_owed_the_dog_that_played_lassie/

TIL The original Girl with the Dragon Tattoo DVD was designed to look like a pirated disc which convinced many purchasers that they bought an illegitimate copy

http://www.digital-digest.com/news-63307-Confused-Users-Say-Sony-Selling-Pirated-Girl-with-the-Dragon-Tattoo-DVDs.html



Submitted April 10, 2015 at 11:43AM by lifesnotperfect http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/323c78/til_the_original_girl_with_the_dragon_tattoo_dvd/

TIL that in WWI, the Germans converted liner SMS Cap Trafalgar into an armed merchant cruiser, which they then disguised as the British liner HMS Carmania. Off the coast of Brazil, Trafalgar was attacked and sunk by a British ship. That ship was also an armed merchant cruiser; the real HMS Carmania.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMS_Cap_Trafalgar#World_War_I_battle_with_Carmania



Submitted April 09, 2015 at 07:21PM by Exceon http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31zxf7/til_that_in_wwi_the_germans_converted_liner_sms/

TIL the largest cashew tree in the world was planted by a fisherman in Brazil, genetic anomalies made the branches grow sideways, it now spans 7500 square meters and financially supports upwards of 1500 people.

http://www.natal-brazil.com/entertainment/cashew-tree.html



Submitted April 10, 2015 at 01:14AM by LouieKablooie http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/3219z5/til_the_largest_cashew_tree_in_the_world_was/

TIL when the first US ship arrived in China in 1785, the Chinese loved the American flag, calling it "as beautiful as a flower". Since then, an informal Chinese name for the United States has been the "flower flag country".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_the_United_States?z#The_.22Flower_Flag.22_arrives_in_Asia



Submitted April 09, 2015 at 09:50PM by AirborneRodent http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/320gzg/til_when_the_first_us_ship_arrived_in_china_in/

TIL Einstein considered himself an agnostic, not an atheist: "You may call me an agnostic, but I do not share the crusading spirit of the professional atheist whose fervor is mostly due to a painful act of liberation from the fetters of religious indoctrination received in youth."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_views_of_Albert_Einstein



Submitted April 10, 2015 at 12:32AM by lackpie http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/3213we/til_einstein_considered_himself_an_agnostic_not/

TIL Pope Paul VI spent the night of July 20,21 1969 watching the moon through a telescope of the Vatican Observatory during the first moon landing. Afterward, he praised the achievement by writing at length about the event

http://spectator.org/articles/41194/pope-and-astronauts



Submitted April 10, 2015 at 12:35AM by veryawesomeguy http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/3214fl/til_pope_paul_vi_spent_the_night_of_july_2021/

TIL - To demonstrate the sharpness of stone tools, Archaeologist Dr. Adrien Hannus elected to have major surgery done with obsidian blades rather than surgical steel scalpels. Obsidian is the sharpest substance known to mankind.

http://www.pbs.org/time-team/experience-archaeology/stone-blade-surgery/



Submitted April 10, 2015 at 12:46AM by duncanjchalmers http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/3215zg/til_to_demonstrate_the_sharpness_of_stone_tools/

TIL that when Bono was 14, his mother died at her father's funeral

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bono#Early_life



Submitted April 09, 2015 at 11:01PM by incurablehippy http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/320r22/til_that_when_bono_was_14_his_mother_died_at_her/

TIL The man who wrote the documents of surrender signed by Confederate general Robert E. Lee at Appomattox Courthouse on this day in 1865 was a Seneca Indian named Ely Parker( born Hasanoanda). Upon meeting him Lee extended his hand and said, "I am glad to see one real American here."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ely_S._Parker?re



Submitted April 10, 2015 at 12:26AM by jorio http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32134l/til_the_man_who_wrote_the_documents_of_surrender/

TIL in 1987, a man convicted of raping and murdering both a 10-year-boy, and an 8-year-old girl, was released from prison after only 12 years served for "good behavior". He went on to commit 12 more murders.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Shawcross



Submitted April 10, 2015 at 01:42AM by EDIT-WowThisBlewUp http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/321dtv/til_in_1987_a_man_convicted_of_raping_and/

TIL during WWII the Federal Reserve printed special money for Hawaii to make it easy to render the bills useless if the Japanese overtook Hawaii.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaii_overprint_note



Submitted April 09, 2015 at 02:34PM by olagon http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31z9em/til_during_wwii_the_federal_reserve_printed/

TIL there's a mystery soda machine in Seattle that no one knows who stocks and sells them for 75¢ a pop. And it also has a mystery button that dispenses random and sometimes obscure sodas.

http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/mystery-soda-machine



Submitted April 09, 2015 at 11:22PM by forgetnot http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/320u5h/til_theres_a_mystery_soda_machine_in_seattle_that/

TIL that Katherine Switzer was the first woman to complete the Boston Marathon in 1967 despite race organizers physically trying to stop her during the race

http://espn.go.com/espnw/news-commentary/article/7803502/2012-boston-marathon-how-kathrine-switzer-paved-way-female-runners



Submitted April 09, 2015 at 06:16PM by sevpay http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31zq8m/til_that_katherine_switzer_was_the_first_woman_to/

TIL That Evel Knievel started his motorbiking career after being fired from a mining company for making a large earth mover do a wheelie and running over a main power line, which left his hometown without power for several hours.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evel_Knievel#Early_life



Submitted April 09, 2015 at 05:33AM by jfrizz http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31xs6a/til_that_evel_knievel_started_his_motorbiking/

TIL Wal-Mart closed in Germany after citizens didn't like the American supermarket experience; people didn't like baggers handling their food and men frequently thought smiling cashiers were flirting.

http://www.bloomberg.com/bw/articles/2013-10-10/where-walmart-isnt-four-countries-the-retailer-cant-conquer



Submitted April 09, 2015 at 09:51AM by Hipolit0 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31yn1l/til_walmart_closed_in_germany_after_citizens/

TIL that a father and son farmer duo from China, ditched the fields in 2007 to start building giant Transformer models the size of 2-storey houses. Made from scrap metal and used car parts, their creations now net them over million yuan a year.

http://www.sobify.com/enterprising-chinese-farmers-build-giant-transformer-robots/



Submitted April 09, 2015 at 04:34PM by tiptoptap35 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31zhon/til_that_a_father_and_son_farmer_duo_from_china/

TIL that a physicist made his cat the co-author of his scientific paper to avoid replacing "we" with "I" throughout his paper.

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=1jb9BAAAQBAJ&pg=PA6&dq=F.D.C.+Willard&hl=en&sa=X&ei=uFwmVdbRKI32aMT8gXA&ved=0CE8Q6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=F.D.C.%20Willard&f=false



Submitted April 09, 2015 at 05:32PM by Tentinator http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31zm96/til_that_a_physicist_made_his_cat_the_coauthor_of/

TIL-Alan Rickman has been with his first girlfriend since 1965 - when he was 19 years old

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Rickman#Personal_life



Submitted April 09, 2015 at 07:54PM by kessdawg http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/3201pl/tilalan_rickman_has_been_with_his_first/

TIL: Hawk moths can jam a bat's echolocation by rubbing their genitals together to create ultrasound disruption, throwing the bat off.

http://www.nature.com/news/hawkmoths-zap-bats-with-sonic-blasts-from-their-genitals-1.13333



Submitted April 09, 2015 at 12:29AM by TheEmbernova http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31wmg0/til_hawk_moths_can_jam_a_bats_echolocation_by/

TIL A Chicago couple won $30 million in the state lottery and didn't tell anyone. Not even their kids.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-11-06/news/ct-met-anonymous-lottery-20111106_1_lottery-winners-illinois-lottery-lottery-jackpot



Submitted April 08, 2015 at 11:00PM by notaflower1029 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31w9hb/til_a_chicago_couple_won_30_million_in_the_state/

TIL Stephen Colbert exists in the Marvel Universe. He ran for president and he helped Spider-Man defeat a villain

http://marvel.wikia.com/Stephen_Colbert_(Earth-616)



Submitted April 09, 2015 at 04:40PM by GalaxyGuardian http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31zi4r/til_stephen_colbert_exists_in_the_marvel_universe/

TIL Demand for quinoa in Western nations has pushed up prices to such an extent that poorer people in Peru and Bolivia, where quinoa is from, can no longer afford their staple crop

http://www.businessinsider.com/western-quinoa-demand-raises-prices-in-bolivia-2013-1



Submitted April 09, 2015 at 12:46AM by chipkellyeagles http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31wovp/til_demand_for_quinoa_in_western_nations_has/

TIL that there is no reason to expect a supervolcanic eruption at Yellowstone in the near future. Such events are 'neither regular nor predictable'.

http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2005/3024/



Submitted April 08, 2015 at 10:25PM by johnmuirsghost http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31w4ts/til_that_there_is_no_reason_to_expect_a/

TIL a man once received a heart transplant from a suicide victim, married the donor's widow, then killed himself four years later in the same manner as the donor.

http://www.islandpacket.com/2008/04/05/272035_suicide-claims-two-men-who-shared.html?rh=1



Submitted April 09, 2015 at 01:45AM by elpesce http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31wxet/til_a_man_once_received_a_heart_transplant_from_a/

TIL for the film Dogma, Kevin Smith warned Jason Mewes that he needed to be on point due to the involvement of "real actors," such as Alan Rickman. As a result, Mewes memorized his, and every other character’s dialogue in the screenplay because he "didn't want to piss off that Rickman dude".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dogma_(film)#Production



Submitted April 09, 2015 at 07:02AM by arice72391 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31y33d/til_for_the_film_dogma_kevin_smith_warned_jason/

TIL in 1944 a sixteen-year-old black student in Columbus, Ohio, won an essay contest on the theme ‘What to Do with Hitler after the War’ by submitting the single sentence, "Put him in a black skin and let him live the rest of his life in America."

https://books.google.com/books?id=SgI3AwAAQBAJ&pg=PA112&lpg=PA112&dq=1944+put+him+in+black+skin+and+let&source=bl&ots=4mcXT1nyPy&sig=-c5T88e36wuZHLJ8zWbfebThPso&hl=en&sa=X&ei=hrAlVYGDLMLPsAW0l4S4Bg&ved=0CCAQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=1944%20put%20him%20in%20black%20skin%20and%20let&f=false



Submitted April 09, 2015 at 04:22AM by cybersmith7 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31xizm/til_in_1944_a_sixteenyearold_black_student_in/

TIL car tires are black because one manufacturer wanted "more distinguished looking" tires and had carbon black added to the white rubber; the result lasted 4-5 times as long

http://www.bntraaca.org/index.php/misc/2013-07-03-16-49-12/why-are-tires-black



Submitted April 08, 2015 at 11:22PM by inexplorata http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31wct2/til_car_tires_are_black_because_one_manufacturer/

TIL The creator of Cowboy Bebop was told to make a show to sell spaceship toys, with the instructions, "So long as there's a spaceship in it, you can do whatever you want."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cowboy_Bebop#Development



Submitted April 09, 2015 at 12:14AM by DoctorWho1111 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31wk97/til_the_creator_of_cowboy_bebop_was_told_to_make/

TIL that in the first "real-world transaction with bitcoin" a programmer paid 10,000 bitcoins for 2 large Papa John's pizzas. 4 years later, those bitcoins were worth 5.12 million dollars.

http://www.coindesk.com/bitcoin-pizza-day-celebrating-pizza-bought-10000-btc/



Submitted April 09, 2015 at 12:53AM by Cupcake-Warrior http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31wpv1/til_that_in_the_first_realworld_transaction_with/

TIL that if you watched an object slip into a black hole, no matter how long you watched, you would never actually see the object enter it due to time dilation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Event_horizon



Submitted April 08, 2015 at 09:00PM by jtizzle77 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31vsq3/til_that_if_you_watched_an_object_slip_into_a/

TIL a man revived 5 rivers and brought water back to 1000 villages in India using native water-preservation techniques

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajendra_Singh



Submitted April 08, 2015 at 09:02PM by Supermousedog http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31vsza/til_a_man_revived_5_rivers_and_brought_water_back/

TIL that in 2007 Leonardo DiCaprio/Warner Bros. won a bidding war against Brad Pitt/Paramount Pictures for the rights to Jordan Belfort's memoir The Wolf of Wall Street.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/wolf-wall-street-scorsese-dicaprio-661503



Submitted April 08, 2015 at 10:18PM by JSwaggiee http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31w3vv/til_that_in_2007_leonardo_dicapriowarner_bros_won/

TIL if you buy a Toshiba laptop and it breaks, UPS will send you a return-shipping box, repair the laptop and ship the laptop back to you. Everyone who handles your laptop works for UPS, not Toshiba.

http://money.howstuffworks.com/ups3.htm



Submitted April 08, 2015 at 02:34PM by TrollingMcDerps http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31urzk/til_if_you_buy_a_toshiba_laptop_and_it_breaks_ups/

TIL of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in 1919 where over 1500 peaceful protestors were shot dead in 10 minutes by the British in India

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jallianwala_Bagh_massacre#The_massacre



Submitted April 08, 2015 at 06:28AM by IIN_IIPM http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31tgwl/til_of_the_jallianwala_bagh_massacre_in_1919/

TIL that Pakistan is one of the top gay porn watching countries despite having a very homophobic society.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/pakistan-homophobic-country-googles-gay-porn-report-article-1.1374422



Submitted April 08, 2015 at 11:49AM by Evangelion6789 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31ugqr/til_that_pakistan_is_one_of_the_top_gay_porn/

TIL The Dalai Lama eats meat, for health reasons and out of respect for his hosts on his travels

http://tovarcerulli.com/2010/10/the-dalai-lama-on-meat-and-moral-gymnastics/



Submitted April 08, 2015 at 02:33PM by TriplicateSpirits http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31urvk/til_the_dalai_lama_eats_meat_for_health_reasons/

TIL that in 1944, a 14-year-old boy was executed in the U.S. after a 2-hour trial with no physical evidence.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Stinney?a



Submitted April 08, 2015 at 04:30PM by The_CT_Kid http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31uzln/til_that_in_1944_a_14yearold_boy_was_executed_in/

TIL after the defeat of Nazi Germany, German civilians were sometimes forced to tour concentration camps and in some cases to exhume mass graves of Nazi victims.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denazification#Responsibility_and_collective_guilt



Submitted April 08, 2015 at 04:13AM by garamond89 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31sz6c/til_after_the_defeat_of_nazi_germany_german/

TIL that in 2006, CNN included Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, and Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer on their "10 People Who Don't Matter" list.

http://money.cnn.com/2006/06/21/technology/10dontmatter.biz2/index.htm



Submitted April 08, 2015 at 12:05AM by morethanagame03 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31s09k/til_that_in_2006_cnn_included_facebook_founder/

TIL Spider Silk is so strong it has been theorized by scientists that a single strand the width of a pencil could stop a Boeing 747 in mid flight

http://www.chm.bris.ac.uk/motm/spider/page2.htm



Submitted April 08, 2015 at 08:01AM by BoredBlocks http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31tstb/til_spider_silk_is_so_strong_it_has_been/

TIL that according to Mormonism, after being expelled from the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve went to live in Missouri.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam-ondi-Ahman?a



Submitted April 08, 2015 at 04:06PM by The_CT_Kid http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31uxu5/til_that_according_to_mormonism_after_being/

TIL Uzbekistan executed two men by boiling them alive... in 2002

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_Karimov#Human_rights_and_press_freedom



Submitted April 07, 2015 at 11:23PM by ZWass777 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31ru4o/til_uzbekistan_executed_two_men_by_boiling_them/

TIL: Thomas Jefferson argued that because no generation has a right to bind subsequent generations, the Constitution should expire every 19 years.

http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/document/letter-to-james-madison-17/



Submitted April 08, 2015 at 03:10PM by OvidPerl http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31uu5s/til_thomas_jefferson_argued_that_because_no/

TIL Quentin Tarantino offered to direct 'Casino Royale' with the film set it in the 50's, make it in black and white and retain Pierce Brosnan as Bond

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casino_Royale_%282006_film%29#Production



Submitted April 07, 2015 at 09:10PM by pa_one http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31rbb9/til_quentin_tarantino_offered_to_direct_casino/

TIL that a medical device company illegally tested a bone cement on patients killing at least 5 when the cement was injected into their spines and leaked into blood vessels causing massive clots in their hearts and lungs. Company executives received prison sentences of less than a year each.

http://fortune.com/2012/09/18/bad-to-the-bone-a-medical-horror-story/



Submitted April 08, 2015 at 12:32AM by Meunderwears http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31s41h/til_that_a_medical_device_company_illegally/

TIL people in the other states use the phrase "Thank God for Mississippi" when referring to embarrassing statewide statistics

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thank_God_for_Mississippi



Submitted April 08, 2015 at 01:02AM by coffeemakesyoupoop http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31s8dz/til_people_in_the_other_states_use_the_phrase/

TIL the Padres have signed the same handicapped ball player 20 years in row so he doesn't lose his health insurance.

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/lachappa-98759-says-padres.html



Submitted April 08, 2015 at 06:27AM by Rick_Rubin http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31tgr5/til_the_padres_have_signed_the_same_handicapped/

TIL Starbucks spends more on health insurance for its employees than on coffee.

http://archive.fortune.com/2010/06/07/news/companies/starbucks_schultz_healthcare.fortune/index.htm



Submitted April 07, 2015 at 09:06PM by garglemymarbles http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31rato/til_starbucks_spends_more_on_health_insurance_for/

TIL At 11AM every morning, a group of five ducks (led by a Duckmaster) descend from their penthouse suite to the lobby of the Peabody hotel in Memphis. After playing in the fountain, at 5PM they leave and return to their rooms. This has been going on for over 70 years.

http://www.peabodymemphis.com/peabody-ducks/



Submitted April 07, 2015 at 09:36PM by elsybelsy http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31rez6/til_at_11am_every_morning_a_group_of_five_ducks/

TIL that Morgan Freeman has been nominated for and won more awards than the total number of movies he's starred in.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000151/awards



Submitted April 07, 2015 at 06:59PM by jakealc1 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31quui/til_that_morgan_freeman_has_been_nominated_for/

TIL that the 'heroic,' 11-year-old girl who supposedly shot and killed a cougar stalking her younger brother last year comes from a family of convicted poachers

https://www.vocativ.com/underworld/crime/clan-cougar-slayers-young-girls-family-secret/



Submitted April 07, 2015 at 09:29PM by Lee_Stanford_Stamper http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31rdxo/til_that_the_heroic_11yearold_girl_who_supposedly/

TIL Social Media Has Overtaken Porn As The #1 Online Activity

http://www.businessinsider.com/online-porn-social-media-2011-6



Submitted April 07, 2015 at 09:02PM by cowzilla3 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31ra8p/til_social_media_has_overtaken_porn_as_the_1/

TIL there is a highway in space called The Interplanetary Superhighway. It was mapped out by NASA scientists to send probes around the solar system with the least resistance using gravity.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/genesis/media/jpl-release-071702.html



Submitted April 07, 2015 at 09:39AM by optemoz http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31pmyo/til_there_is_a_highway_in_space_called_the/

TIL the Outer Space Treaty, signed by all major space faring nations, prohibits claiming territory in space or on celestial bodies. Space is considered "the shared heritage of mankind"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outer_Space_Treaty#Key_points



Submitted April 07, 2015 at 02:40PM by gimmesomespace http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31qadm/til_the_outer_space_treaty_signed_by_all_major/

TIL that English is Louis C.K.'s second language. He was raised in Mexico and exclusively spoke Spanish until age seven.

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/louis-c-k-im-an-accidental-white-person-20130411



Submitted April 07, 2015 at 07:45PM by jakealc1 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31r0a3/til_that_english_is_louis_cks_second_language_he/

TIL that according to Tolkien, Sam Gamgee is the "chief hero" of the Lord of the Rings. The quest to destroy the Ring only succeeds because of Sam, who repeatedly saves Frodo from disaster, and he is the only character strong enough to surrender the Ring voluntarily and easily.

http://lotr.wikia.com/wiki/Samwise_Gamgee#endnote_letters



Submitted April 07, 2015 at 07:24PM by Nugatorysurplusage http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31qxrd/til_that_according_to_tolkien_sam_gamgee_is_the/

TIL that most senior animators at Disney chose to work on Pocahontas rather than the Lion King as many at Disney had little faith in the project, leaving mostly first time animators to work on the Lion King.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lion_King#Animation



Submitted April 07, 2015 at 03:02PM by higgins091 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31qbr9/til_that_most_senior_animators_at_disney_chose_to/

TIL Quentin Tarantino considered 'The Matrix' the second best movie since he started directing, but he considered the sequels so bad that he had to downgrade it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zv0WlHbBhdc



Submitted April 07, 2015 at 01:26AM by goldenfanginc http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31nxqa/til_quentin_tarantino_considered_the_matrix_the/

TIL the organisers of the 2012 London Olympics contacted The Who's manager to ask if Keith Moon would play at the opening ceremony. He died in 1978.

http://www.theguardian.com/music/us-news-blog/2012/apr/13/keith-moon-london-olympics-organisers



Submitted April 07, 2015 at 03:40AM by TheFinnDatWontGiveIn http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31og0k/til_the_organisers_of_the_2012_london_olympics/

TIL that as their senior prank, a group of 90 students walked (between two buildings) across the same street continuously for 15 minutes, using an underground tunnel that connected the two buildings. They continue long enough to cause a traffic jam, and the line of cars extended far down the road.

http://www.businessinsider.com/this-is-still-one-of-the-greatest-senior-pranks-ever-2014-6



Submitted April 07, 2015 at 07:45AM by treemone http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31pa5m/til_that_as_their_senior_prank_a_group_of_90/

TIL that street dogs in Moscow have learnt to take the trains from the suburbs into the city for food during the day, then return to the safer, more comfortable suburbs to sleep at night

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Street_dogs_in_Moscow



Submitted April 07, 2015 at 06:23AM by TranshumansFTW http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31p0sp/til_that_street_dogs_in_moscow_have_learnt_to/

TIL in 2012, the parents of a teenage girl found out that their daughter was pregnant because Target's internal computers had tracked their daughter's purchases, concluded that she was pregnant and began sending her coupons geared towards pregnancy items

http://techland.time.com/2012/02/17/how-target-knew-a-high-school-girl-was-pregnant-before-her-parents/



Submitted April 07, 2015 at 06:15AM by crgnam http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31ozss/til_in_2012_the_parents_of_a_teenage_girl_found/

TIL the actor who played Gunther of Friends was hired because he was the only extra who knew how to work an espresso machine.

http://friends.wikia.com/wiki/Gunther



Submitted April 07, 2015 at 08:00AM by lightningpatrol http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31pbl7/til_the_actor_who_played_gunther_of_friends_was/

TIL that butterflies remember their days as a caterpillar. Despite going into a completely liquified state during metamorphosis, the neurons for their brain stay arranged as such to allow for the memories to stay intact.

http://theconversation.com/despite-metamorphosis-moths-hold-on-to-memories-from-their-days-as-a-caterpillar-29859



Submitted April 07, 2015 at 03:36AM by koulnis http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31ofgp/til_that_butterflies_remember_their_days_as_a/

TIL figs aren't always considered vegetarian. This is because when a wasp pollinates them, the fig's inward facing flowers often trap the wasp and absorb her into the fig.

http://animals.howstuffworks.com/insects/fig-wasp2.html



Submitted April 07, 2015 at 03:44AM by Tsukamori http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31oghm/til_figs_arent_always_considered_vegetarian_this/

TIL that the creator of the Nintendo Game Boy was originally hired by Nintendo as a maintenance man.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunpei_Yokoi?a#Career



Submitted April 06, 2015 at 09:22PM by The_CT_Kid http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31mzvz/til_that_the_creator_of_the_nintendo_game_boy_was/

TIL in 1996, a black teenager, while marching to protest a KKK rally in Michigan, protected a white man, who had an "SS" tattoo and and a confederate flag shirt, from the attacks of a crowd. She threw herself on him to deflect the mob's strikes, due to her belief that "nobody deserves to be hurt."

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-24653643



Submitted April 07, 2015 at 02:34AM by Meunderwears http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31o73u/til_in_1996_a_black_teenager_while_marching_to/

TIL Teddy Roosevelt was an avid boxer and became the first American ever to receive a brown belt in Judo. He lined the White House basement with training mats and sparred with anyone that was willing including boxing champion John Sullivan, his wife, and a Swiss minister.

http://mentalfloss.com/article/18438/theodore-roosevelt-mojo-dojo?re



Submitted April 07, 2015 at 12:40AM by jorio http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31nr7b/til_teddy_roosevelt_was_an_avid_boxer_and_became/

TIL that Fox originally wanted to make Matt Groening's "Life in Hell" into an animated series, but Groening didn't want to lose his rights to it, so he said he had "this other family, called the Simpsons," and then he proceeded to draw figures on a napkin that he made up on the spot.

http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2007/08/simpsons200708?printable=true



Submitted April 06, 2015 at 06:18PM by Meunderwears http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31mf0s/til_that_fox_originally_wanted_to_make_matt/

TIL that when the first iPod prototype was shown to Steve Jobs, he dropped it in an aquarium and used the air bubbles to prove there was empty space and it could be made smaller.

http://www.businessinsider.com.au/steve-jobs-threw-ipod-prototype-into-an-aquarium-to-prove-a-point-2014-11?a



Submitted April 06, 2015 at 10:08PM by The_CT_Kid http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31n63k/til_that_when_the_first_ipod_prototype_was_shown/

TIL that 84% of vegetarians go back to eating meat or other animal products.

http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2014/12/05/study-vegetarians-usually-revert-to-eating-meat/?a



Submitted April 06, 2015 at 10:29PM by The_CT_Kid http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31n8ye/til_that_84_of_vegetarians_go_back_to_eating_meat/

TIL that Count Bernadotte, the famous Swedish diplomat who saved tens of thousands of Jews from concentration camps during WW2, was murdered in 1948 by militant Zionists (approved by a future Prime Minister) while serving as UN peace mediator in the Holy Land.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folke_Bernadotte



Submitted April 06, 2015 at 12:39PM by _Perfectionist http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31lsv0/til_that_count_bernadotte_the_famous_swedish/

TIL that medieval peasants received more vacation time than the average American. Their workdays also included time for leisurely meals and an afternoon nap.

http://blogs.reuters.com/great-debate/2013/08/29/why-a-medieval-peasant-got-more-vacation-time-than-you/



Submitted April 06, 2015 at 01:55PM by 1015192122 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31lxi7/til_that_medieval_peasants_received_more_vacation/

TIL the river Congo is at one point 8 MILES wide

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/132484/Congo-River



Submitted April 06, 2015 at 04:11AM by cosmic_punk http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31kclk/til_the_river_congo_is_at_one_point_8_miles_wide/

TIL in 1998, a woman disappeared while awaiting trial after she had drunkenly killed a woman in a fatal car crash. In 2013, she was arrested in Manitoba, Canada after bragging in a bar about having gotten away with the crime.

http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2013/07/milwaukie_woman_who_ran_15_yea.html



Submitted April 06, 2015 at 05:07PM by TheCannon http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31m9dy/til_in_1998_a_woman_disappeared_while_awaiting/

TIL Leonardo Da Vinci was almost put to death for sodomy. When no witnesses came forward, his case was dismissed.

http://www.livescience.com/49193-facts-about-leonardo-da-vinci.html?TIL



Submitted April 06, 2015 at 04:26PM by LackingAHeart http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31m6l5/til_leonardo_da_vinci_was_almost_put_to_death_for/

TIL that due to a clerical error, the state of Missouri assumed that a man named Mike Anderson was in prison, serving his 13-year sentence for armed robbery. It's only when they began preparing for his release did they realise that law-enforcement had forgotten to take him to jail.

http://www.thisamericanlife.org/blog/2014/05/update-mike-anderson-released



Submitted April 06, 2015 at 06:52PM by sludj5 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31miev/til_that_due_to_a_clerical_error_the_state_of/

TIL The RIAA Tried To Outlaw MP3 Players In 1998.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rio_PMP300



Submitted April 06, 2015 at 01:25AM by iTelekom http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31jte9/til_the_riaa_tried_to_outlaw_mp3_players_in_1998/

TIL JPMorgan Chase CEO, Jaime Dimon, paid a $9 billion fine to prevent a whistle-blower from testifying in one of the biggest white-collar crimes in American History.

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-9-billion-witness-20141106



Submitted April 06, 2015 at 07:55AM by gtfooh1011 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31l2sc/til_jpmorgan_chase_ceo_jaime_dimon_paid_a_9/

TIL that the city of Huescar forgot they were at war with Denmark until a local historian found the declaration 172 years later. No shots were fired during the war.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hu%C3%A9scar



Submitted April 06, 2015 at 01:59PM by Donkey_-_Dong http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31lxro/til_that_the_city_of_huescar_forgot_they_were_at/

TIL that Norway, Sweden, and Finland together are NOT Scandinavia, but are Fennoscandia; Scandinavia actually comprises Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, NOT Finland

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fennoscandia



Submitted April 06, 2015 at 05:51AM by OnARoadLessTaken http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31knwx/til_that_norway_sweden_and_finland_together_are/

TIL that Warheads candy has a pH of 1.6, compared to battery acid's pH of 1.0

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warheads_(candy)#Formulation



Submitted April 06, 2015 at 08:59AM by dorian_the_gray http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31l9u3/til_that_warheads_candy_has_a_ph_of_16_compared/

TIL that McDonalds in Hong Kong will host a cheap McWedding for couples around $1200 and will provide food and drink for 50 people and an apple pie cake

http://www.mcdonalds.com.hk/en/parties/wedding-party.html



Submitted April 06, 2015 at 06:36AM by Kaley3612 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31kte5/til_that_mcdonalds_in_hong_kong_will_host_a_cheap/

TIL of The Hole. A facility owned and operated by the Church of Scientology that held executives against their will for months at a time. Abuse and humiliation tactics were used to force confessions from members who were believed to have counter intentions from the church and its leader

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hole_(Scientology)



Submitted April 06, 2015 at 06:54AM by PTbruiser http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31kvk8/til_of_the_hole_a_facility_owned_and_operated_by/

TIL that John Hamm (Don Draper of Mad Men) was Ellie Kemper's (Kimmy Schmidt and Erin from The Office) High School acting teacher.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2015/03/20/how_ellie_kemper_became_one_of_2015_s_most_beloved_stars.html



Submitted April 06, 2015 at 06:26AM by RemedialChaosTheory http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31ks3g/til_that_john_hamm_don_draper_of_mad_men_was/

TIL: woman who had won a lottery, filed for divorce in hurry and at the end lost all of her lottery money to her ex husband as a result of violating disclosure laws (he sued her after he learned about the money)

http://articles.latimes.com/1999/nov/17/news/mn-34537



Submitted April 06, 2015 at 12:45AM by Adakam8323 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31jor6/til_woman_who_had_won_a_lottery_filed_for_divorce/

TIL that the Swiss civil war lasted only one month and ended with only 100 casualties, most of which were the result of friendly fire.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switzerland#Federal_state



Submitted April 05, 2015 at 09:39PM by cheesehead144 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31j34b/til_that_the_swiss_civil_war_lasted_only_one/

TIL the Amazon river discharges more water into the ocean than the next 7 largest rivers combined.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_River



Submitted April 05, 2015 at 09:31PM by Cradd710 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31j25k/til_the_amazon_river_discharges_more_water_into/

TIL multiplayer mode in GoldenEye was added last minute, without the knowledge of Rare and Nintendo

http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/14/goldeneye-007s-multiplayer-was-added-last-minute-unknown-to-ra/



Submitted April 06, 2015 at 12:35AM by timdual http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31jnmg/til_multiplayer_mode_in_goldeneye_was_added_last/

TIL that even with SATA 3.0, that SSDs only transfer data at a fraction of their speed due to the fact that SATA can't keep up with the drive.

http://www.overclock.net/t/1489684/ssd-interface-comparison-pci-express-vs-sata



Submitted April 05, 2015 at 10:52PM by duckandcover http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31jbj6/til_that_even_with_sata_30_that_ssds_only/

TIL Jonah Hill was only paid 60k for The Wolf Of Wall Street due to "wanting the role so bad".

https://www.yahoo.com/movies/bp/jonah-hill-60k-payday-wolf-wall-street-181050126.html



Submitted April 05, 2015 at 04:49PM by XtremeRed http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31iere/til_jonah_hill_was_only_paid_60k_for_the_wolf_of/

TIL Gin and Tonic were originally created by the British East India Company as a way to get soldiers to have quinine to prevent and treat malaria. Quinine (in tonic) was too bitter. In order to get them to drink the tonic officers added the solders' gin rations with sugar, lime and water.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gin_and_tonic



Submitted April 05, 2015 at 09:10PM by Son_of_America http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31izve/til_gin_and_tonic_were_originally_created_by_the/

TIL Charles Manson took a few scientology courses and they influenced parts of his brainwashing technique

http://www.laweekly.com/news/10-chilling-new-things-about-charles-manson-detailed-in-his-new-biography-4175174



Submitted April 05, 2015 at 11:10PM by YourMomDisapproves http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31jdnh/til_charles_manson_took_a_few_scientology_courses/

TIL the Bible contains a passage where it says it became dark in daytime during the crucifixion of Jesus. NASA discovered a total eclipse did actually occur in Jerusalem on 24 November 29 CE at around 11AM. This fact got dismissed by the Church because the date is not in accordance with Easter.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crucifixion_darkness



Submitted April 06, 2015 at 03:40AM by Tsukamori http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31k8ye/til_the_bible_contains_a_passage_where_it_says_it/

TIL that Bill Murray was only paid $9,000 for his role in Rushmore, he also gave Wes Anderson a cheque for $25,000 when Disney wouldn’t pay for a helicopter for a montage scene.

http://variety.com/2013/film/news/wes-anderson-bill-murray-was-paid-9000-for-rushmore-1200756011/



Submitted April 05, 2015 at 09:44PM by ASTU10 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31j3oh/til_that_bill_murray_was_only_paid_9000_for_his/

TIL Truck driving is the most common job in most states in the U.S., due in part to being immune to globalization and automation.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2015/02/05/382664837/map-the-most-common-job-in-every-state



Submitted April 05, 2015 at 08:02PM by Martin_Luther_King_J http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31isvw/til_truck_driving_is_the_most_common_job_in_most/

TIL Batman beat the Hulk in a special cross-over by throwing a can of knock-out-gas at the Hulk's head, then hitting him in the solar plexus which caused him to breathe in the gas.

http://io9.com/12-heroes-and-villains-who-kicked-the-hulks-green-ass-1543871751



Submitted April 05, 2015 at 07:59PM by RobotVampire http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31islg/til_batman_beat_the_hulk_in_a_special_crossover/

TIL Horses are as good as bloodhounds in tracking people

http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2013/06/horses_as_bloodhounds_lost_art.html



Submitted April 05, 2015 at 09:25PM by HeelsDownEyesUp http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31j1hc/til_horses_are_as_good_as_bloodhounds_in_tracking/

TIL There is an abandoned 120 year old concert hall buried underground in the middle of downtown Boston.

http://www.messynessychic.com/2014/04/22/the-secret-symphinic-stage-forgotten-35-feet-below-a-local-piano-shop/



Submitted April 05, 2015 at 06:45PM by iTelekom http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31imbi/til_there_is_an_abandoned_120_year_old_concert/

TIL that concrete is sometimes imbued with special bacteria, allowing itself to self-heal and strengthen through calcification.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concrete#Microbial_concrete



Submitted April 05, 2015 at 02:46AM by campfire14 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31ggdv/til_that_concrete_is_sometimes_imbued_with/

TIL: The leader of the Church of Scientology served as Tom Cruise's best man at his wedding and his own wife disappeared in 2007 after she "filled several job vacancies without her husband's permission".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Miscavige#Family_and_personal_life



Submitted April 05, 2015 at 06:09PM by ledgendary http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31ijqk/til_the_leader_of_the_church_of_scientology/

TIL in 1968, two boys playing in a deserted and rat-infested tenement found the body of a 31yo drug addict, surrounded by religious pamphlets and empty beer bottles. Not until 19 months later was the body identified as that of child actor Bobby Driscoll, Academy Award winner and voice of Peter Pan

http://deadcelebsbook.com/blog/2010/03/28/dead-celeb-of-the-week-bobby-driscoll-1937-1968/



Submitted April 05, 2015 at 05:56PM by TheCannon http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31iiuc/til_in_1968_two_boys_playing_in_a_deserted_and/

TIL the stethoscope was invented because a French doctor felt uncomfortable placing his face on a younger woman's chest.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1570491/



Submitted April 05, 2015 at 05:35PM by Dylpod http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31ihie/til_the_stethoscope_was_invented_because_a_french/

TIL that strippers often perform at Taiwanese temples. Offerings to the gods aren't limited to food and money, people figure that the gods like sexy women as much as the rest of us.

http://www.businessinsider.com/why-there-are-strippers-at-some-taiwanese-funerals-2012-10



Submitted April 05, 2015 at 12:11PM by steveoscaro http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31hzrf/til_that_strippers_often_perform_at_taiwanese/

TIL Israel has laws requiring photos of models that have been digitally retouched to be labeled as such.

https://fstoppers.com/post-production/israel-has-new-law-now-effect-photoshop-law-4042



Submitted April 05, 2015 at 05:20PM by reggaegotsoul http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31igjq/til_israel_has_laws_requiring_photos_of_models/

TIL after Kanye West's mother had died of heart disease while suffering "multiple post-operative factors" after plastic surgery, California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the "Donda West Law," making it mandatory for patients to provide medical clearance for elective cosmetic surgery.

http://www.mtv.com/news/1623902/arnold-schwarzenegger-signs-donda-west-plastic-surgery-law/



Submitted April 05, 2015 at 03:34AM by happysmile2 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31gm0e/til_after_kanye_wests_mother_had_died_of_heart/

TIL Chris Pratt worked as a coupon salesman and a daytime stripper before becoming homeless in Maui. Of the experience, Pratt said, "It's a pretty awesome place to be homeless. We just drank and smoked weed and worked minimal hours, just enough to cover gas, food, and fishing supplies."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Pratt#Early_life



Submitted April 05, 2015 at 07:16AM by Porch_Dick http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31h9n9/til_chris_pratt_worked_as_a_coupon_salesman_and_a/

TIL 'No Animals Were Harmed' only applies while film is actually recording

http://www.businessinsider.com/what-no-animals-were-harmed-actually-means-2013-11?IR=T



Submitted April 05, 2015 at 02:30AM by surpy http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31gefg/til_no_animals_were_harmed_only_applies_while/

TIL The music used in the 'You wouldn't steal a car' anti-piracy advert was stolen.

http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2013/01/29/3678851.htm



Submitted April 05, 2015 at 05:53AM by Talska http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31h126/til_the_music_used_in_the_you_wouldnt_steal_a_car/

TIL A parking meter official got busted stealing $90,000 in quarters. Bank staff became suspicious because he was regularly depositing large amounts of coins into his personal account while still wearing his parking enforcement uniform.

http://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/westchester/2015/01/06/mount-kisco-parking-meter-theft/21331453/



Submitted April 05, 2015 at 06:48AM by snackbarclosed http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31h6vk/til_a_parking_meter_official_got_busted_stealing/

TIL people think more rationally in their second language and make better choices.

http://digest.bps.org.uk/2012/06/we-think-more-rationally-in-foreign.html



Submitted April 05, 2015 at 02:52AM by Arteza147 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31ggzr/til_people_think_more_rationally_in_their_second/

TIL a group of firefighters buried themselves to survive a dangerous wildfire, then adopted a black bear cub who also survived and making him the real "Smokey the Bear."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitan_Gap_fire



Submitted April 04, 2015 at 11:33PM by MississippiJoel http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31ftsg/til_a_group_of_firefighters_buried_themselves_to/

TIL: Spain Cheated in the 2000 Summer Paralympics, 10 of the 12 players on their roster "were encouraged to pretend to be stupid" and had no mental disability.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMNBXU1rP9M



Submitted April 04, 2015 at 09:46PM by Monsenyour http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31fhov/til_spain_cheated_in_the_2000_summer_paralympics/

TIL that on ships at sea there is a difference between "aye aye sir" and "yes sir". "Aye aye sir" indicates that an order has been received, is understood and will be carried out immediately. "Yes sir" would only indicate agreement to an order.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aye_aye,_sir



Submitted April 04, 2015 at 05:38PM by Second_Best_Bed http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31eveu/til_that_on_ships_at_sea_there_is_a_difference/

TIL 16% of the world's population, 1.1 billion are atheists, agnostics and people who do not identify with any particular religion

http://www.pewforum.org/2015/04/02/religious-projections-2010-2050/



Submitted April 04, 2015 at 09:37PM by tinybadger http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31fgnz/til_16_of_the_worlds_population_11_billion_are/

TIL scientists have dosed naked mole rats with carcinogens and radiation, yet they have never been observed to develop cancer. They tolerate acid, live 6x longer than other rodents, they hardly age, they survive long periods of oxygen deprivation and can live in heavy metal polluted areas.

http://www.vox.com/2014/6/16/5796732/do-naked-mole-rats-have-the-secret-to-long-healthy-lives



Submitted April 04, 2015 at 11:06PM by Donkey_-_Dong http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31fquc/til_scientists_have_dosed_naked_mole_rats_with/

TIL Soviet Cosmonaut knew he was doomed before he reentered, and spent his final minutes crying in rage.

http://rarehistoricalphotos.com/remains-astronaut-vladimir-komarov-man-fell-space-1967/



Submitted April 04, 2015 at 12:29PM by MississippiJoel http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31edlq/til_soviet_cosmonaut_knew_he_was_doomed_before_he/

TIL after several overburdened hospitals turned away a 22yo woman's 4 Ebola-stricken family members, the Liberian woman fashioned protective equipment out of plastic garbage bags and treated them herself for 2 weeks. Three of the Four family members survived.

http://iamprojects.org/cause/fatu-kekula-liberia/



Submitted April 04, 2015 at 05:38PM by TheCannon http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31evgd/til_after_several_overburdened_hospitals_turned/

TIL an Air Canada passenger flight took a detour and dropped from 37,000 feet to 4,000 feet to help find a stranded yacht off the Australian coast. It took the passengers 25 minutes after the emergency beacon was activated to locate the yacht.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/18/travel/australia-yacht-rescue/



Submitted April 04, 2015 at 09:28PM by garglemymarbles http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31ffpq/til_an_air_canada_passenger_flight_took_a_detour/

TIL in 2005 a portion of T-Rex bone was dissolved in acid, it revealed soft tissue with sections of possible DNA.

http://news.discovery.com/animals/dinosaurs/mysteriously-intact-t-rex-tissue-finally-explained-131127.htm?38



Submitted April 04, 2015 at 08:06PM by CarlosIHernandez http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31f77z/til_in_2005_a_portion_of_trex_bone_was_dissolved/

TIL of Ignaz Semmelweis who made doctors wash their hands between autopsies and deliveries. He was later shunned by the scientific community, and beaten to death by asylum guards.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ignaz_Semmelweis



Submitted April 04, 2015 at 01:15PM by haponto http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31egn3/til_of_ignaz_semmelweis_who_made_doctors_wash/

TIL Astronaut Ed Mitchell said of his experience on the moon in 1971: "From out there on the moon, international politics look so petty. You want to grab a politician by the scruff of the neck and drag him a quarter of a million miles out and say, ‘Look at that, you son of a bitch.'"

http://www.universetoday.com/14455/the-human-brain-in-space-euphoria-and-the-overview-effect-experienced-by-astronauts/



Submitted April 04, 2015 at 06:47PM by Nugatorysurplusage http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31f0di/til_astronaut_ed_mitchell_said_of_his_experience/

TIL that Michael Jordan forced Chicago Bulls GM Jerry Krause to sign a clause titled the "love of the game clause" that allowed him to play basketball whenever and wherever he wanted, whether it be a pickup game at the park or a scrimmage with college kids.

http://hypun.com/10-wackiest-contract-and-trade-clauses-in-nba-history/11/



Submitted April 04, 2015 at 08:18AM by vagin8r5000 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31dsc8/til_that_michael_jordan_forced_chicago_bulls_gm/

TIL That a British PoW captured by the Germans in World War I was freed to see his dying mother - but went back to the prison camp after giving the Kaiser 'his word' he would return.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-23957605



Submitted April 04, 2015 at 05:00AM by Donkey_-_Dong http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31d7mk/til_that_a_british_pow_captured_by_the_germans_in/

TIL an airline pilot ordered 30 pizzas for his passengers after finding they would be delayed for weather. The pizzas were cleared by security and sent directly to the plane.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2014/07/09/how-to-get-pizza-to-a-plane-full-of-stranded-passengers/



Submitted April 04, 2015 at 06:18AM by lSecretlyLoveYou http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31dfyg/til_an_airline_pilot_ordered_30_pizzas_for_his/

TIL a Canadian female astronaut was sexually assaulted by a cosmonaut on a training mission. She reached out to the CSA and was told, "That kind of behavior is normal for Russians, and it would be too taboo to complain publicly."

http://motherboard.vice.com/read/sexism-in-space



Submitted April 04, 2015 at 03:41AM by fuckThatAndroid http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31cye2/til_a_canadian_female_astronaut_was_sexually/

TIL That a Japanese soldier was stranded on a island for 30 years, not knowing that the second world war had ended for 30 years. His commander came to the island to personally dismiss him in 1974.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiroo_Onoda



Submitted April 04, 2015 at 12:16AM by Talska http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31c7p4/til_that_a_japanese_soldier_was_stranded_on_a/

TIL Wrestler Chris Benoit had such severe traumatic damage to his brain that it resembled the brain of an 85 year old Alzheimers sufferer when he murdered his wife and child.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Benoit



Submitted April 04, 2015 at 01:22AM by minisixx http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31cgie/til_wrestler_chris_benoit_had_such_severe/

TIL that Weird Al's recent "Mandatory Fun" album was the first comedy album to ever debut at #1 on the Billboard charts, and it was the first comedy album to top the charts in over 50 years.

http://weirdal.com/news/mandatory-fun-makes-chart-history/



Submitted April 03, 2015 at 07:33PM by ColsonIRL http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31b5zy/til_that_weird_als_recent_mandatory_fun_album_was/

TIL Whilst on his deathbed, French philosopher Voltaire was asked to renounce Satan, he simply replied "Now is not the time for making new enemies."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voltaire#Death_and_burial



Submitted April 04, 2015 at 02:10AM by Ska-doosh http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31cmt8/til_whilst_on_his_deathbed_french_philosopher/

TIL many trains in the UK still dump their shit directly on the tracks.

http://londonist.com/2014/03/mind-the-crap-the-continuing-problem-of-poo-on-the-tracks.php



Submitted April 03, 2015 at 04:55PM by kaseijin64 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31arws/til_many_trains_in_the_uk_still_dump_their_shit/

TIL the Hollister store chain threatened to sue merchants in the city of Hollister, California who sold shirts that had the city's name on it.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-hollister24-2009apr24-story.html#axzz2rMUQrbBm&page=1/



Submitted April 03, 2015 at 05:11AM by garglemymarbles http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/3192mt/til_the_hollister_store_chain_threatened_to_sue/

TIL in 2012 an artist dressed up as the Hamburglar and biked around New York City throwing partially-eaten McDonald’s cheeseburgers at bystanders. The artist said he wanted it to be “one of those little things that messes up your whole day.”

http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20120705/upper-east-side/hamburglar-artist-throws-gnawed-cheeseburgers-at-people-from-bike



Submitted April 03, 2015 at 10:55PM by Matuas http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31bw92/til_in_2012_an_artist_dressed_up_as_the/

TIL A sardine is not a species of fish, but a name that can apply to many small varieties of pickled fish, including herring and pilchard.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sardine?TIL



Submitted April 03, 2015 at 06:03PM by LackingAHeart http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31ax38/til_a_sardine_is_not_a_species_of_fish_but_a_name/

TIL there was a popular Bitcoin alternative named Coinye West, until Kanye West sued for copyright infringement. In response, the company removed all direct references to West and replaced him with "an unnamed half-man half-fish hybrid."

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coinye



Submitted April 03, 2015 at 08:26PM by hollowaydivision http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31bc1w/til_there_was_a_popular_bitcoin_alternative_named/

TIL A survey conducted by Smithfield showed that 65% of Americans would support bacon as their "national food."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacon?TIL#Bacon_mania



Submitted April 03, 2015 at 04:23PM by LackingAHeart http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31apv1/til_a_survey_conducted_by_smithfield_showed_that/

TIL that if a dead body goes undiscovered long enough for skin-slip to start and there's no one to identify the body, forensics can cut the skin around your wrist, slip the skin off, and wear it like a glove in order to get the fingerprints.

http://forensicoutreach.com/4-terrifying-things-your-body-does-when-it-decomposes-ii/



Submitted April 03, 2015 at 02:53AM by princeandthepopper http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/318knq/til_that_if_a_dead_body_goes_undiscovered_long/

TIL Adolf Hitler's initial reaction to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, when he was first informed about it on the evening of 7 December at Führer Headquarters, was that he claimed "We can't lose the war at all. We now have an ally which has never been conquered in 3,000 years".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consequences_of_the_attack_on_Pearl_Harbor?TIL#Germany_and_Italy_declare_war



Submitted April 03, 2015 at 04:54PM by LackingAHeart http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31aruw/til_adolf_hitlers_initial_reaction_to_the/

TIL that many ancient Egyptian Pharaohs were overweight and unhealthy, in contrast to their typical depiction. That was likely due to a sugary diet of alcohol, bread and honey.

http://www.history.com/news/history-lists/11-things-you-may-not-know-about-ancient-egypt



Submitted April 03, 2015 at 04:16PM by Identimental http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31apes/til_that_many_ancient_egyptian_pharaohs_were/

TIL the band Blink-182 incorporated under the name "Pennywise Poo Poo Butt Inc." so that their accountants, managers and attorneys would have to say that over the phone every day.

http://www.newstimes.com/news/article/Punks-go-beyond-joking-around-246287.php?a



Submitted April 03, 2015 at 05:41PM by The_CT_Kid http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/31avcw/til_the_band_blink182_incorporated_under_the_name/