TIL That cat whiskers are roughly the width of a cats body because they provide cats with a natural measuring stick, so they can “measure” whether they’ll fit into a space before an attempt. Whiskers are also capable of detecting changes in wind direction, which allows cats to navigate in darkness.

http://www.petango.com/Blogs/The-Purpose-Of-Cat-Whiskers-1839



Submitted February 28, 2015 at 04:12AM by Billy-Orcinus http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2xejae/til_that_cat_whiskers_are_roughly_the_width_of_a/

TIL a man once tattooed "Netflix" on his body and after tweeting a picture to the company he received a free year of service.

http://www.mstarz.com/articles/9460/20130308/netflix-tattoo-gets-man-free-service-year-photo-inked-twitter.htm



Submitted February 28, 2015 at 02:22AM by NBKFrost http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2xe4ri/til_a_man_once_tattooed_netflix_on_his_body_and/

TIL that in 1885, Edison offered Tesla $50,000 for redesigning his company's DC generators. After months of work, Tesla inquired about the payment. Edison said he was only joking, replying, "Tesla, you don't understand our American humor." Tesla quit his job shortly after.

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



Submitted February 28, 2015 at 11:03AM by ISeeDeadPickles http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2xfqlq/til_that_in_1885_edison_offered_tesla_50000_for/

TIL there were 6 assassins sent to kill Archduke Franz Ferdinand and 1 of them threw a bomb that exploded under the wrong car. His assassination failed, he took a cyanide pill and jumped into the river. The pill only induced vomiting and the river was only 13cm deep. He failed at killing himself too

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_Archduke_Franz_Ferdinand_of_Austria#The_bombing



Submitted February 28, 2015 at 06:30PM by dearylordyme http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2xghdo/til_there_were_6_assassins_sent_to_kill_archduke/

TIL Bryan Cranston was taught how to make meth by the DEA in preparation for his role in Breaking Bad

http://www.today.com/popculture/breaking-bad-star-bryan-cranston-we-were-taught-how-make-1C6395794



Submitted February 28, 2015 at 05:04AM by the_homeless_turtle http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2xepo1/til_bryan_cranston_was_taught_how_to_make_meth_by/

TIL That an Anti-Piracy Ad was fined for using stolen music.

http://www.dailytech.com/AntiPiracy+Ad+Creators+Fined+For+Stealing+Musicians+Work/article25205.htm



Submitted February 28, 2015 at 04:55AM by RobTheThief http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2xeolc/til_that_an_antipiracy_ad_was_fined_for_using/

TIL that The Tower Of London's ravens are enlisted as soldiers of the Kingdom. As in the case with soldiers, the ravens can be dismissed for unsatisfactory conduct. Raven George (Enlisted 1977-1986) lost his appointment to the Crown, and was retired to Wales for attacking and destroying TV aerials.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ravens_of_the_Tower_of_London#Raven_stories



Submitted February 28, 2015 at 04:35AM by RazorTom http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2xem78/til_that_the_tower_of_londons_ravens_are_enlisted/

TIL that after Bob Dylan offered The Beatles marijuana when he first met them in 1964 he was shocked to find out they weren't regular smokers. Dylan had misheard the lyric 'I can't hide' from 'I Want To Hold Your Hand' as 'I get high'.

http://www.beatlesbible.com/features/drugs/2/



Submitted February 27, 2015 at 10:37PM by the_ak http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2xd9zw/til_that_after_bob_dylan_offered_the_beatles/

TIL Canada sterilized indigenous school girls till the mid 1990s

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racism_in_North_America#Racism_against_Indigenous_Women



Submitted February 27, 2015 at 09:59PM by meteora93 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2xd4xp/til_canada_sterilized_indigenous_school_girls/

TIL India and China are the only Nuclear weapons capable states with a "No First Use" policy for nuclear Weapons

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



Submitted February 27, 2015 at 08:55PM by Brownboypower http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2xcx0s/til_india_and_china_are_the_only_nuclear_weapons/

TIL Michael Jackson campaigned for the lead in the 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' remake, even recording an entire soundtrack free of charge for the film. When Tim Burton refused to cast him, Jackson declared 'If I can't have the part, they're not getting the soundtrack'

https://books.google.ca/books?id=tQzzAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA234&lpg=PA234&dq=if+i+cant+have+the+part,+theyre+not+getting+the+soundtrack&source=bl&ots=osa7-1gaIL&sig=qjxwoIJblc4yDVHlfcLcaGs2Z6c&hl=en&sa=X&ei=y2btVMzzKIT7gwTT1YLACw&ved=0CB4Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=if%20i%20cant%20have%20the%20part%2C%20theyre%20not%20getting%20the%20soundtrack&f=false



Submitted February 27, 2015 at 10:25PM by ColonelDredd http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2xd8cg/til_michael_jackson_campaigned_for_the_lead_in/

TIL 53% of US cable customers would leave their current provider if they had a choice and 73% feel their cable provider engages in "predatory practices".

http://cg42.com/2014-us-cable-industry-brand-vulnerability-study/



Submitted February 28, 2015 at 04:02AM by dannfuria http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2xei16/til_53_of_us_cable_customers_would_leave_their/

TIL That a AAA membership card can be used as an arrest bond up to $1000 for minor traffic violations

http://abcdriveronline.com/benefits-of-joining-aaa-automotive/



Submitted February 27, 2015 at 10:08AM by stginger http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2xbiad/til_that_a_aaa_membership_card_can_be_used_as_an/

TIL Hitler encouraged his close associates to quit cigarettes by offering a gold watch to any who were able to break the habit.

http://www.whattheffacts.com/gallery/7053/15-surprising-facts-about-adolf-hitler/75406



Submitted February 27, 2015 at 09:30AM by movieman56 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2xbdxd/til_hitler_encouraged_his_close_associates_to/

TIL men and women see colors differently. In general, women are better at discriminating among colors while men excel at tracking fast-moving objects and discerning detail from a distance.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/09/120907-men-women-see-differently-science-health-vision-sex/



Submitted February 27, 2015 at 11:27PM by potato1 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2xdh30/til_men_and_women_see_colors_differently_in/

TIL during prohibition in the US, merchants sold "bricks" of grape concentrate with a packet of dried yeast. These would come with a "warning label" cautioning not to mix the brick, yeast, water and sugar in a pot and then seal it for seven days, or else "an illegal alcoholic beverage will result".

https://books.google.com/books?id=4zUVBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA51&dq=%22an+illegal+alcoholic+beverage+will+result%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=UMPwVOaKOszroASnioDoDg&ved=0CCQQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=%22an%20illegal%20alcoholic%20beverage%20will%20result%22&f=false



Submitted February 28, 2015 at 12:51AM by LesTP http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2xdsm8/til_during_prohibition_in_the_us_merchants_sold/

TIL that in 2006, a 12-year-old spearheaded a study that revealed 70% of the time ice at a fast food restaurant is dirtier than their toilet water

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/OnCall/story?id=1641825



Submitted February 27, 2015 at 09:34PM by adamvideo1 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2xd1oi/til_that_in_2006_a_12yearold_spearheaded_a_study/

TIL that a man in Africa single handedly stopped the desertification of his region by reviving ancient farming and irrigation techniques despite being ridiculed by his community.

http://www.odditycentral.com/news/meet-yacouba-sawadogo-the-man-who-stopped-the-desert.html



Submitted February 27, 2015 at 08:02PM by likenessaltered http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2xcqzy/til_that_a_man_in_africa_single_handedly_stopped/

TIL Twenty year old Ben Franklin devised a list of virtues to help him live a better life, a list which he followed until he died at age 84. They include: "Imitate Jesus and Socrates" and "avoid trifling conversation"

http://thirteenvirtues.com/



Submitted February 27, 2015 at 03:22AM by RagingBull55 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2xa3fq/til_twenty_year_old_ben_franklin_devised_a_list/

TIL that the Beastie Boys coined the term "mullet" to refer to a hairstyle in 1994 in their song "Mullet Head". No earlier use of the term "mullet" that refers to a hairstyle has been found.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mullet_%28haircut%29#Etymology



Submitted February 27, 2015 at 07:00PM by XenophonOfAthens http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2xcl2e/til_that_the_beastie_boys_coined_the_term_mullet/

TIL that during WWII American soldiers in the Pacific theatre would use the word 'lollapalooza' to challenge unidentified persons, on the premise that Japanese people often pronounce the letter L as R

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shibboleth#Notable_shibboleths



Submitted February 27, 2015 at 05:48AM by irritatedcitydweller http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2xamst/til_that_during_wwii_american_soldiers_in_the/

TIL the first four canadian soldiers who lost their life in Afghanistan was due to a American F18 dropping a bomb on a training exercise in the belief that the Canadians were enemy soldiers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Forces_casualties_in_Afghanistan#Specifics



Submitted February 27, 2015 at 04:12AM by listentome5 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2xaacb/til_the_first_four_canadian_soldiers_who_lost/

TIL the richest superhero is actually Black Panther, who has an estimated of $500 billion, whereas Tony Stark is worth $100 billion and Bruce Wayne $80 billion

http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2014/06/forget-tony-starks-fortune-black-panther-is-richest-superhero/



Submitted February 27, 2015 at 05:06AM by verious_ http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2xahcf/til_the_richest_superhero_is_actually_black/

TIL that the "service fee" on your phone bill is used by the FCC to provide communication to low income households, rural health clinics, and libraries.

http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/universal-service



Submitted February 27, 2015 at 06:05AM by anthony112358 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2xap0a/til_that_the_service_fee_on_your_phone_bill_is/

TIL traditional firearms exist in the Star Wars universe. They are called "slugthrowers" and are preferred weapons of bounty hunters for their unique advantages over blasters

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



Submitted February 27, 2015 at 09:18AM by a-memorable-fancy http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2xbcir/til_traditional_firearms_exist_in_the_star_wars/

TIL Mattel once tried to sue Aqua over their song "Barbie Girl". The judge literally told them to "chill".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/2150432.stm



Submitted February 27, 2015 at 08:16AM by FramesTowers http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2xb53j/til_mattel_once_tried_to_sue_aqua_over_their_song/

TIL Riddles are a derivative of poetry and were used to teach wit, which was regarded as the ability to think while maintaining multiple perspectives on the topic.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riddle#Ancestry



Submitted February 26, 2015 at 07:16PM by timeslinger http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2x8cc6/til_riddles_are_a_derivative_of_poetry_and_were/

TIL that Canadian National Railway Co (CNI) largest shareholder is the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

http://www.insidermonkey.com/insider-trading/company/canadian+national+railway+co/16868/



Submitted February 26, 2015 at 05:30PM by googler1991 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2x841f/til_that_canadian_national_railway_co_cni_largest/

TIL that a couple of PETA members, after attending an anti-hunting campaign, wrecked into a deer. They followed up by suing the New Jersey Game Department claiming that their deer management program was to blame.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2002/mar/10/20020310-040938-2026r/



Submitted February 27, 2015 at 07:29AM by RichNation http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2xazd0/til_that_a_couple_of_peta_members_after_attending/

TIL Sexual abuse by nuns is just as prevalent as priests. Sexual abuse by nuns has gone largely unaddressed and unreported in part because of cultural biases about gender roles and sex. It seems to receive less publicity and scrutiny than abuse committed by priests

http://scholarship.law.wm.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1103&context=wmjowl



Submitted February 27, 2015 at 05:10AM by babybopp http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2xahu1/til_sexual_abuse_by_nuns_is_just_as_prevalent_as/

TIL the sun and moon appear to be the same size in the sky because of an astonishing coincidence: the moon is 400 times smaller but 400 times closer.

http://www.mentalfloss.com/article.php?id=30901



Submitted February 27, 2015 at 07:49AM by garglemymarbles http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2xb1s4/til_the_sun_and_moon_appear_to_be_the_same_size/

TIL People in the final stages of hypothermia engage in "paradoxical undressing" because, as they lose rationality and their nerves are damaged, they feel incredibly, irrationally hot. They strip off their clothes to cool themselves down as they are freezing to death.

http://io9.com/why-freezing-to-death-makes-you-want-to-get-naked-1688151366?utm_campaign=socialflow_io9_facebook&utm_source=io9_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow



Submitted February 27, 2015 at 04:57AM by poonpatrolpal http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2xagcl/til_people_in_the_final_stages_of_hypothermia/

TIL: In 2009, Detroit had a worse unemployment rate than during the Great Depression.

http://triblive.com/opinion/featuredcommentary/4215932-74/detroit-pittsburgh-jobs#axzz3SrQVhUcm



Submitted February 26, 2015 at 07:50PM by ugots http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2x8fkd/til_in_2009_detroit_had_a_worse_unemployment_rate/

TIL the last movie ever rented at a corporate Blockbuster was "This Is The End" at a store in Hawaii.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/blockbusters-last-movie-rental-is-655126



Submitted February 27, 2015 at 12:19AM by GhoulishMan http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2x9e60/til_the_last_movie_ever_rented_at_a_corporate/

TIL The Korean text in "The Interview" poster says, ""The war will begin", "Do not trust these ignorant Americans!" and "Awful work by the 'pigs' that created Neighbors and This Is the End."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Interview_%282014_film%29



Submitted February 26, 2015 at 08:41PM by dayofthedead204 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2x8l13/til_the_korean_text_in_the_interview_poster_says/

TIL there was a man-made mouse utopia called Universe 25. It started with 4 males and 4 females. The colony peaked at 2200 and from there declined to extinction. Once a tipping point was reached, the mice lost instinctual behaviors. Scientists extrapolate this model to humans on earth.

http://www.cabinetmagazine.org/issues/42/wiles.php



Submitted February 27, 2015 at 01:03AM by Crackyospine http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2x9kbp/til_there_was_a_manmade_mouse_utopia_called/

TIL the original idea for the episode, Jurassic Bark, was to have Fry's mother fossilized instead of Seymour, but this idea was scrapped after it was thought to be too upsetting to the audience.

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



Submitted February 26, 2015 at 08:26PM by ArbainHestia http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2x8jcx/til_the_original_idea_for_the_episode_jurassic/

TIL that Bill Gates plans to donate 95% of his $81.1 billion dollar wealth to charity. That's about $77 billion dollars

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



Submitted February 26, 2015 at 10:03PM by yelawolffan1 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2x8v7q/til_that_bill_gates_plans_to_donate_95_of_his_811/

TIL that a brain surgeon from Italy suffered a heart attack during an operation, but forced himself to continue after realizing that the patient would not recover if he stopped.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7960768.stm#p=1



Submitted February 26, 2015 at 11:42PM by gothsim http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2x98yy/til_that_a_brain_surgeon_from_italy_suffered_a/

TIL Ex-Beatle George Harrison was forced against his will to sign a guitar for his cancer doctor as he lay dying. He also broke Harrison's confidentiality agreement by announcing he was in cancer treatment. He was later convicted of malpractice in 20 other cases.

http://nymag.com/nymetro/health/features/10817



Submitted February 27, 2015 at 12:04AM by dtm106 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2x9bz1/til_exbeatle_george_harrison_was_forced_against/

TIL the Basque language is an absolute isolated language: It has not been shown to be related to any other language despite numerous attempts

http://www.wikiwand.com/en/Language_family#/Isolate



Submitted February 26, 2015 at 03:44PM by Yogpod http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2x7xkd/til_the_basque_language_is_an_absolute_isolated/

TIL that Goodyear developed a small inflatable airplane called the "Inflatoplane" with funding from the United States Army in 1956. The project was scrapped because it could not find a "valid military use for an aircraft that could be brought down by a well-aimed bow and arrow."

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



Submitted February 26, 2015 at 04:10PM by Rsenel http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2x7z3u/til_that_goodyear_developed_a_small_inflatable/

TIL That owls fly silently due to specially designed edges of their primary feathers. When most birds fly, turbulence from air gushing over their wings creating noise. However, owls have their primary feathers serrated like a comb, which divides turbulence into tiny currents aka micro-turbulences.

http://animals.howstuffworks.com/birds/owl-fly-silently1.htm



Submitted February 26, 2015 at 08:28PM by Billy-Orcinus http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2x8jj0/til_that_owls_fly_silently_due_to_specially/

TIL Statistical analysis of hockey fights confirmed what coaches have long believed, that sending a player out to fight can significantly shift momentum in a game. Researcher Terry Appleby found that 76% of fights resulted in a 'momentum surge' for one team and 23% ended in a surge for both teams.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=nhl&id=7429876



Submitted February 26, 2015 at 01:54AM by jorio http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2x5f94/til_statistical_analysis_of_hockey_fights/

TIL In 2009 Burger King launched a campaign that if you unfriended 10 friends on Facebook you were entitled to a free whopper. The person you unfriended would get a message telling them that their friendship is worth less than a whopper.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/29/fashion/29facebook.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0



Submitted February 26, 2015 at 04:02AM by gothsim http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2x5xe4/til_in_2009_burger_king_launched_a_campaign_that/

TIL King Gustav III of Sweden commissioned an experiment to prove coffee was poisonous. Overseen by two doctors, a prisoner was forced to drink three pots of coffee a day until he died. Both doctors and the King died before the prisoner.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustav_III_of_Sweden%27s_coffee_experiment



Submitted February 26, 2015 at 07:05AM by FilecakeAbroad http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2x6lfq/til_king_gustav_iii_of_sweden_commissioned_an/

TIL when the original Mortal Kombat game came out, an audit menu listed Error Macros under the name ERMAC, leading fans to think there was a third hidden ninja in the game. This myth resulted in the creation of the character in future games.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortal_Kombat_%281992_video_game%29#Rumored_content



Submitted February 26, 2015 at 01:18AM by TheBrianJ http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2x59w6/til_when_the_original_mortal_kombat_game_came_out/

TIL that Wisconsin's only pirate once got the crew of an entire ship drunk then proceeded to throw them all over board. He then took the ship to Chicago and sold all the cargo.

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



Submitted February 26, 2015 at 07:11PM by Jay_dee_ http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2x8btv/til_that_wisconsins_only_pirate_once_got_the_crew/

TIL Stephen Hawking is 73 years old and has outlived his life expectancy due to ALS by over 50 years.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/stephen-hawking-als/



Submitted February 26, 2015 at 11:12AM by RedditFirstWorkLater http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2x7dfd/til_stephen_hawking_is_73_years_old_and_has/

TIL that most almonds are really poisonous and "eating even a few dozen in one sitting can be fatal" and that how we bred safe ones remains a mystery.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Almond#Origin_and_history



Submitted February 26, 2015 at 04:48AM by brokecollegekidd http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2x63rt/til_that_most_almonds_are_really_poisonous_and/

TIL Japanese created a smoke alarm for those who can't hear, that pumps super-spicy wasabi mist into the air to alert them.

http://news.discovery.com/tech/gear-and-gadgets/wasabi-spraying-fire-alarm-is-made-for-the-hard-of-hearing.htm



Submitted February 26, 2015 at 02:55AM by BBGMfan http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2x5nx5/til_japanese_created_a_smoke_alarm_for_those_who/

TIL Walt Jr. never encountered Jessie in all 62 episodes of Breaking Bad.

http://breakingbad.wikia.com/wiki/Walter_White_Jr.



Submitted February 26, 2015 at 09:38AM by IsellCarpet http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2x73h9/til_walt_jr_never_encountered_jessie_in_all_62/

TIL Professor Patrick Michaud performed an experiment in 1994 showing strawberry Pop-Tarts could produce foot high flames when left in a toaster too long, triggering lawsuits. Pop-Tarts now carry a warning: "Due to possible risk of fire, never leave your toasting appliance or microwave unattended."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pop-Tarts?TIL#History



Submitted February 25, 2015 at 07:50PM by Trolling_4_Eva http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2x42t8/til_professor_patrick_michaud_performed_an/

TIL a teenager secretly lived at AOL's headquarters for two months. People just assumed he was working late.

http://www.cnet.com/news/meet-the-tireless-entrepreneur-who-squatted-at-aol/



Submitted February 25, 2015 at 11:28PM by Roper92391 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2x4uo6/til_a_teenager_secretly_lived_at_aols/

TIL that Fiji water company ran the slogan "Fiji, because it's not bottled in Cleveland". The Cleveland water dept. Took offense, and ran a test determining that Fiji water has more impurities than the cities' tap water.

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



Submitted February 26, 2015 at 06:55AM by meanryan http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2x6k62/til_that_fiji_water_company_ran_the_slogan_fiji/

TIL that three people in a flight simulator died after a real plane crashed into the building

https://au.news.yahoo.com/world/a/25394876/plane-crash-kills-three-in-flight-simulator/



Submitted February 26, 2015 at 03:47AM by airwa http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2x5v9h/til_that_three_people_in_a_flight_simulator_died/

TIL in 2003, instead of regular interviews, a magazine gave every San Francisco mayoral candidate the replicant test from Blade Runner

http://dangerousminds.net/comments/a_magazine_gave_every_san_francisco_mayoral_candidate_the_replicant_te



Submitted February 25, 2015 at 10:21PM by GhostofAlyeska http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2x4lbw/til_in_2003_instead_of_regular_interviews_a/

TIL a convicted murderer was once granted a retrial after it was discovered that four members of the jury used a Ouija board to contact the victim before rendering their verdict.

http://sixthformlaw.info/02_cases/mod1/cases_juries.htm#Young,%20R%20v%20%5B1995%5D%20CA



Submitted February 25, 2015 at 10:32PM by KCCO2015 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2x4mtx/til_a_convicted_murderer_was_once_granted_a/

TIL that in the late 1600s London was plagued by an attacker who would spank his victims with a rod and shout "Spanko!" before running away

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whipping_Tom#Whipping_Tom_of_1681



Submitted February 25, 2015 at 05:52PM by dddash http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2x3sku/til_that_in_the_late_1600s_london_was_plagued_by/

TIL The name Six Flags comes from the flags of the six different nations that have governed Texas

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_Flags#Beginnings



Submitted February 25, 2015 at 09:11PM by NightlyNigga http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2x4c8t/til_the_name_six_flags_comes_from_the_flags_of/

TIL that Bill Murray was pre-med in college but dropped out after being arrested for marijuana possession. After, he joined the National Lampoon Radio Hour with Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, and Gilda Radner.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000195/bio



Submitted February 25, 2015 at 10:04PM by Nugatorysurplusage http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2x4j3u/til_that_bill_murray_was_premed_in_college_but/

TIL the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust allowed South African scientists from Transvaal Museum to analyze 24 pipe fragments found at William Shakespeare’s home. Eight of the pipes contained traces of cannabis and two contained traces of cocaine. Others appear to be laced hallucinogenic nutmeg extracts.

http://www.shakespeare-online.com/biography/notedweed.html



Submitted February 25, 2015 at 12:52AM by OMGLMAOWTF_com http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2x0rht/til_the_shakespeare_birthplace_trust_allowed/

TIL that during the Iran Hostage Crisis, American embassy staff tried to burn classified documents but the furnace malfunctioned, forcing them to use cheap paper shredders. After the takeover, Iran employed carpet weavers to put the shredded documents together.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran_hostage_crisis#Prelude



Submitted February 25, 2015 at 04:41PM by Topham_Kek http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2x3nrh/til_that_during_the_iran_hostage_crisis_american/

TIL Samuel L. Jackson was suspended for two years from Morehouse College and convicted of a second-degree felony when he and several other students held members of the college board of trustees hostage in exchange for school reform.

http://news.moviefone.com/2014/04/04/samuel-l-jackson-facts/



Submitted February 25, 2015 at 10:05AM by RichNation http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2x2tj3/til_samuel_l_jackson_was_suspended_for_two_years/

TIL of Jerningham Wakefield, a New Zealand politician who was such a notorious drunk, his friends would lock him in Parliament overnight to keep him sober enough to vote the next day. However, this failed in 1872 when his political enemies began lowering bottles of whisky down the chimney.

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



Submitted February 25, 2015 at 02:10PM by SirGuyGrand http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2x3ec6/til_of_jerningham_wakefield_a_new_zealand/

TIL that 563 million years from now the Earth will experience its final total solar eclipse as the moon slowly drifts away

http://www.spaceanswers.com/astronomy/total-solar-eclipse-2015-how-to-see-it/



Submitted February 25, 2015 at 07:38AM by deadgirl82 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2x2bqa/til_that_563_million_years_from_now_the_earth/

TIL that while abundant in the universe, Helium is a finite resource on Earth and cannot be manufactured. Its use in MRI's means a shortage could seriously affect access to this life saving technology.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/health/a4046/why-is-there-a-helium-shortage-10031229/



Submitted February 25, 2015 at 12:41AM by TwiztedbyDesign http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2x0pzs/til_that_while_abundant_in_the_universe_helium_is/

TIL That if you take all the letters from the word "wizard" and swap them with opposite letters (a->z, b->y), it spells wizard backwards.

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



Submitted February 25, 2015 at 02:44PM by Osimonbinladen http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2x3gea/til_that_if_you_take_all_the_letters_from_the/

TIL women lost her wedding ring for 16 years before finding it growing on a carrot in her garden.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-16374283



Submitted February 25, 2015 at 04:00AM by desomond http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2x1iyc/til_women_lost_her_wedding_ring_for_16_years/

TIL There is a lake filled with jellyfish, completely harmless due to lack of predators to defend against.

http://www.hotelclub.com/blog/the-incredible-jellyfish-lake/



Submitted February 24, 2015 at 11:19PM by nhremna http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2x0ep0/til_there_is_a_lake_filled_with_jellyfish/

TIL that A black, Nigerian couple living in the U.K. gave birth to a white, blonde, blue-eyed baby that they call the "miracle baby."

http://nypost.com/2010/07/21/blond-bombshell/



Submitted February 24, 2015 at 11:52PM by pushpendra_singh http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2x0j9p/til_that_a_black_nigerian_couple_living_in_the_uk/

TIL that starting in 1988, the Harvard Medical School partnered with film and TV studios to insert the concept of the "Designated Driver" into popular consciousness. The project was a huge success.

http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/chc/harvard-alcohol-project/



Submitted February 25, 2015 at 02:47AM by diamond http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2x17oa/til_that_starting_in_1988_the_harvard_medical/

TIL the 442nd Infantry Regiment, a largely Japanese American unit that served during WWII, did so while their families were held in internment camps. Their motto was "Go for Broke" and they were the most decorated unit in U.S. military history.

http://www.ted.com/talks/george_takei_why_i_love_a_country_that_once_betrayed_me?language=en



Submitted February 25, 2015 at 02:00AM by Rayne37 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2x1143/til_the_442nd_infantry_regiment_a_largely/

TIL that this March 14 will be an extra special "Pi Day" because, for the only time this century, we will have 3/14/15 9:26:53!

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



Submitted February 25, 2015 at 05:32AM by AhanDahdia http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2x1vvs/til_that_this_march_14_will_be_an_extra_special/

TIL Shoulder injuries are more common in Crossfit than in Olympic weightlifting and 73.5% of CrossFit athletes had sustained an injury that had prevented them from working, training or competing.

http://www.stack.com/2014/01/16/crossfits-injury-rates/



Submitted February 24, 2015 at 10:01PM by az4z3l http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2x042y/til_shoulder_injuries_are_more_common_in_crossfit/

TIL that Hitler once said,"If I had Gurkhas, no armies in the world will defeat me."

http://blog.nepaladvisor.com/nepalese-gurkhas/



Submitted February 24, 2015 at 03:53PM by chimabuu http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wz66l/til_that_hitler_once_saidif_i_had_gurkhas_no/

TIL that people in China were confused at how a couple could work their busy restaurant for 21 hours per day. Turns out it was actually being ran by two sets of identical twins.

http://smartlife.tips/robot-couple-who-worked-21-hour-shifts-turns-out-to-be-2-sets-of-identical-twins/



Submitted February 24, 2015 at 09:12PM by wilsonhasnoarms http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wzxo1/til_that_people_in_china_were_confused_at_how_a/

TIL That the Dutch East India Company was the most valuable company in history. Worth 78 Million Dutch Guilders, adjusted to dollars it was worth $7.4 Trillion.

https://finance.yahoo.com/photos/most-valuable-companies-ever-adjusted-for-inflation-1351801906-slideshow/most-valuable-companies-in-history-adjusted-for-inflation-photo--1113431046.html



Submitted February 24, 2015 at 11:58PM by Wombarly http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2x0k1d/til_that_the_dutch_east_india_company_was_the/

TIL that there is a difference between a hobo and a bum; a hobo is a migratory worker, while a bum doesn't work at all.

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



Submitted February 24, 2015 at 01:43PM by bees_in_bum http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wyy38/til_that_there_is_a_difference_between_a_hobo_and/

TIL An unintended consequence of the DMZ in Korea is that it has become a wildlife sanctuary due to the lack of human interference.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/04/12/world/asia/north-korea-questions.html?_r=0



Submitted February 24, 2015 at 08:24PM by dodagr8 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wzrww/til_an_unintended_consequence_of_the_dmz_in_korea/

TIL that a 14 year old boy broke into Queen Victoria's Buckingham Palace while disguised as a chimney sweep then ran off with her underwear.

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



Submitted February 24, 2015 at 08:16PM by zahrul3 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wzqyl/til_that_a_14_year_old_boy_broke_into_queen/

TIL The red juice that often collects in a package of red meat is not blood, nearly all blood is removed during processing. The red liquid, instead, is a mixture of water and a protein called myoglobin

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/10/25/myoglobin-red-meat.aspx



Submitted February 24, 2015 at 03:41AM by Ripsaw99 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wx3um/til_the_red_juice_that_often_collects_in_a/

TIL: All disabled toilets in the UK use the same key and all disabled people are entitled to a copy of it.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-ouch-22602836



Submitted February 24, 2015 at 03:44PM by kbox http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wz5k7/til_all_disabled_toilets_in_the_uk_use_the_same/

TIL some species of carpenter ants can explode at will. As a last resort they contract their abs to rupture their internal glands, resulting in a suicidal burst of corrosive, immobilizing glue.

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



Submitted February 24, 2015 at 07:24AM by A_huge_waffle http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wxwbc/til_some_species_of_carpenter_ants_can_explode_at/

TIL that The largest cave in the world is in Vietnam and it's so big that it has its own river, jungle and climate.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C6%A1n_%C4%90o%C3%B2ng_Cave



Submitted February 24, 2015 at 02:22PM by pushpendra_singh http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wz0i1/til_that_the_largest_cave_in_the_world_is_in/

TIL a Russian man died after having a 12-hour sex marathon with two female friends

http://www.foxnews.com/story/2009/02/26/man-28-dies-after-guzzling-viagra-during-12-hour-romp/



Submitted February 24, 2015 at 05:31AM by cipher86 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wxih5/til_a_russian_man_died_after_having_a_12hour_sex/

TIL the song "99 Bottle Of Beer" ends with "No more bottles of beer on the wall, no more bottles of beer. You go to the store and buy some more, 99 bottles of beer on the wall"

http://www.99-bottles-of-beer.net/lyrics.html



Submitted February 24, 2015 at 08:57AM by 007lutz http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wy7cu/til_the_song_99_bottle_of_beer_ends_with_no_more/

TIL that the person who designed Hitler's bunker had a grandson who went on to design Saddam Hussein's bunker.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4642916.stm



Submitted February 24, 2015 at 01:26AM by ArTdEc0 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wwks7/til_that_the_person_who_designed_hitlers_bunker/

TIL: 1968, Olympic long jumper Bob Beamon's first attempt exceed the limit of the official measuring equipment. It took over 15 minutes before a distance was posted, and only then did he realize he had broken the world record by nearly 2 feet (0.6m).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEt_Xgg8dzc



Submitted February 24, 2015 at 05:02AM by WhiteyDude http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wxeou/til_1968_olympic_long_jumper_bob_beamons_first/

TIL, Betty White is older than sliced bread. Betty White was born in 1922 and sliced bread was introduced in 1928.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/26/historical-facts-time_n_4832325.html



Submitted February 24, 2015 at 07:56AM by evviesmom http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wy099/til_betty_white_is_older_than_sliced_bread_betty/

TIL: Beastie Boys Mike D wore a chain with a 4-inch (10cm) VW emblem which inspired so many thefts that Volkswagen offered free replacements for all drivers affected and placed ads in papers saying "Don’t steal our medallions; send this ad in as a coupon, and we’ll send you your own VW medallion."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beastie_Boys#Musical_style.2C_influences.2C_and_legacy



Submitted February 24, 2015 at 04:16AM by mcfuddlebutt http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wx8n5/til_beastie_boys_mike_d_wore_a_chain_with_a_4inch/

TIL that in China, more than 30 million people live in caves. Also that in the stone age there were only 5 million people on the earth, meaning that there are more cavemen now than there have ever been.

http://articles.latimes.com/2012/mar/18/world/la-fg-china-caves-20120318



Submitted February 24, 2015 at 03:01AM by Metalligod666 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wwy9k/til_that_in_china_more_than_30_million_people/

TIL in 1810 London came to a standstill from a prank by Theodore Hook who sent out thousands of letters requesting services that included hundreds of coal deliveries, wedding cakes, priests, lawyers, doctors, chimney sweeps, and over a dozen pianos to be delivered to the same address.

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



Submitted February 24, 2015 at 12:18AM by Toodlum http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wwb9l/til_in_1810_london_came_to_a_standstill_from_a/

TIL that there is a man in Sweden who received disability benefits for his "addiction" to heavy metal. He reportedly went to 300 concerts in one year which left him unable to hold down a job.

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/weird-wide-web/sweden-heavy-metal-music-addiction-disability-benefits



Submitted February 24, 2015 at 01:20AM by ArTdEc0 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wwk1e/til_that_there_is_a_man_in_sweden_who_received/

TIL that soldiers are required to "route step" (or walk out of step) when crossing bridges because, in 1831, the rhythmic march of British soldiers broke a bridge, throwing soldiers off of the bridge.

http://www.livescience.com/34608-break-stride-frequency-of-vibration.html



Submitted February 23, 2015 at 11:13PM by SEHumphrey http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2ww2ks/til_that_soldiers_are_required_to_route_step_or/

TIL that Sybil Ludington, a 16 year old girl, rode more than twice the distance of Paul Revere in order to warn Americans of an imminent British attack.

http://www.historicpatterson.org/Exhibits/ExhSybilLudington.php



Submitted February 23, 2015 at 08:37PM by mrfeeny24 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wvjjj/til_that_sybil_ludington_a_16_year_old_girl_rode/

TIL Genghis Khan would marry off a daughter to the king of an allied nation, dismissing his other wives. Then he would assign his new son-in-law to military duty in the Mongol wars, while the daughter took over the rule. Most sons-in-law died in combat, giving him shield around the Mongol lands

http://thetyee.ca/Books/2010/07/26/GenghisFeminist/



Submitted February 23, 2015 at 11:18PM by cj_would_lovethis http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2ww38a/til_genghis_khan_would_marry_off_a_daughter_to/

TIL that out of 1.086 million high school football players, only 70,147 begin a college football career, out of which only 6500 get scouted by the NFL, 350 get invited to the combine, 256 get drafted and only 150 (0.01%) last at least four years in the NFL.

http://sportige.com/what-are-the-chances-of-making-it-to-the-nfl-03-06-2014/



Submitted February 23, 2015 at 06:56PM by Prehistoricshark http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wv9x5/til_that_out_of_1086_million_high_school_football/

TIL that the white spots on finger nails are called Leukonychia, and are harmless and most commonly caused by minor injuries that occur while the nail is growing. Contrary to popular belief, leukonychia is not a sign of excess or deficiency of calcium and zinc or other vitamins in the diet

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



Submitted February 23, 2015 at 09:04PM by Skweres88 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wvmgy/til_that_the_white_spots_on_finger_nails_are/

TIL The shoe company 'Atheist Shoes' conducted an experiment where they sent packages with 'Atheist' brand packing tape and neutral packing tape to the U.S. The 'Atheist' marked packages took an average of 3 days longer to ship and where 10 times more likely to disappear.

http://www.atheistberlin.com/study



Submitted February 24, 2015 at 12:02AM by meep_launcher http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2ww93s/til_the_shoe_company_atheist_shoes_conducted_an/

TIL one of the benefits of the popular classroom game 'Heads Up, Seven Up' is that teachers may observe which students have a tendency to cheat.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Up_%28game%29#Benefits



Submitted February 23, 2015 at 06:33PM by botdepurd http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wv84q/til_one_of_the_benefits_of_the_popular_classroom/

TIL: Even with the bare minimum of driver training on its use, the British roundabout has been proven to be at least 20% more efficient at moving traffic through an intersection than any other design

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MythBusters_(2014_season)#Episode_221_.E2.80.93_.22Traffic_Tricks.22



Submitted February 23, 2015 at 06:22PM by klemmo http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wv77y/til_even_with_the_bare_minimum_of_driver_training/

TIL that Sigmund Freud's nephew believed the scientific manipulation of public opinion was necessary to overcome chaos and conflict in society. His subsequent work did much to create the consumerist culture we live in today.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_8W5GmdM7U&feature=youtu.be&t=2m31s



Submitted February 23, 2015 at 05:32AM by GlendaleAZ2 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wtbua/til_that_sigmund_freuds_nephew_believed_the/

TIL that a man's home was being foreclosed and the bank wouldn't let him sell it. He responded by spending 2 weeks tearing down the $350K home he built.

http://m.wlwt.com/Frustrated-Owner-Bulldozes-Home-Ahead-Of-Foreclosure/10462928



Submitted February 23, 2015 at 08:07PM by Classy_Coop http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wvg9n/til_that_a_mans_home_was_being_foreclosed_and_the/

TIL a woman had her ex arrested through a fake cute girl facebook page conversations. Police released husband when he showed a notarized affidavit: "I am lying to this [fake profile] to gain proof that my ex-wife is trying to again tamper with my life. In no way do I have plans to harm my wife"

http://www.businessinsider.com/people-arrested-for-facebook-posts-2013-7#david-voelkert-was-arrested-temporarily-for-an-elaborate-hoax-he-played-on-his-ex-wife-7



Submitted February 23, 2015 at 04:05AM by brna767 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wt12d/til_a_woman_had_her_ex_arrested_through_a_fake/

TIL When Youtube started requiring G+ accounts to comment, one of YT's founders wrote on his his Youtube profile "why the fuck do i need a google+ account to comment on a video?"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jawed_Karim?--Fuck-You-It-Will-Be-Reposted



Submitted February 23, 2015 at 10:37AM by doopercooper http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wuaop/til_when_youtube_started_requiring_g_accounts_to/

TIL Dr Phil hasn't had a license to practice psychology professionally for 9 years, and considers himself "retired from psychology."

http://www.today.com/id/22901694



Submitted February 23, 2015 at 04:09PM by willonz http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wuyrl/til_dr_phil_hasnt_had_a_license_to_practice/

TIL Japan is the vending machine capital of the world and that machines can dispense free supplies in the event of disasters

http://www.coca-colacompany.com/stories/16-things-you-didnt-know-about-vending-machines-in-japan-and-around-the-world



Submitted February 22, 2015 at 10:52PM by Finger-in-Sharpener http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wrws5/til_japan_is_the_vending_machine_capital_of_the/

TIL that while shooting Pirates XXX on a ship in FL, the ship owner was told the movie was a "Disney film for families."

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



Submitted February 23, 2015 at 04:16AM by A_huge_waffle http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wt2h7/til_that_while_shooting_pirates_xxx_on_a_ship_in/

TIL Genghis Khan killed an estimated 40 million people, resulting in a man-made climate change. The Mongol invasion effectively cooled the planet, scrubbing around 700 million tons of carbon from the atmosphere.

http://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2011/jan/26/genghis-khan-eco-warrior?r=1



Submitted February 23, 2015 at 09:02AM by mbregg http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wu09s/til_genghis_khan_killed_an_estimated_40_million/

TIL that in the United States, more money is stolen by employers from employees each year than is stolen in robberies, burglaries, larcenies and auto thefts COMBINED. The most common victims of wage theft are low wage workers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wage_theft#Incidence



Submitted February 23, 2015 at 05:06PM by KH10304 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wv26w/til_that_in_the_united_states_more_money_is/

TIL, Comedian Lisa Lampanelli once pledged to donate $1,000 to gay charity in the name of the Waterboro Baptist Church of each of its members that showed up to protest her show. She ended up donating $50,000.

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/865291



Submitted February 23, 2015 at 01:51AM by LittleColette http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wsjhm/til_comedian_lisa_lampanelli_once_pledged_to/

TIL that before a concert to ease violent tensions in Jamaica, Bob Marley was shot. He went on to perform, injured, stating that, "The people who are trying to make this world worse aren't taking a day off. How can I?"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Marley#1974.E2.80.931976:_Line-up_changes_and_shooting



Submitted February 23, 2015 at 05:06AM by Mardkayin http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wt8t5/til_that_before_a_concert_to_ease_violent/

TIL In 1900, a German mathematician outlined a list of 23 unsolved problems in mathematics that he hoped would be solved in the 20th century. As of 2015, only 10 have been answered.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hilbert%27s_problems



Submitted February 23, 2015 at 01:13AM by TheSwayzieExpress http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wsefl/til_in_1900_a_german_mathematician_outlined_a/

TIL Tom Green won 5 Raspberry Awards for "Freddy Got Fingered" in 2002. He showed up in a white Cadillac, rolled out his own red carpet, and had to be dragged off stage because he wouldn't stop play a harmonica.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/entertainment/2002/oscars_2002/1889555.stm



Submitted February 23, 2015 at 05:29AM by Nichols101 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wtbhn/til_tom_green_won_5_raspberry_awards_for_freddy/

TIL in 1971, Saddam Hussein imported 95,000 tons of grain treated with fungicidal mercury. The grain was intended for planting, but the Iraqis, unable to understand the English and Spanish warnings or the "skull and crossbones" image, baked it into bread. Hundreds died.

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1971_Iraq_poison_grain_disaster#Causes



Submitted February 22, 2015 at 10:42PM by garglemymarbles http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wrvm1/til_in_1971_saddam_hussein_imported_95000_tons_of/

TIL asbestos in the United States has not been banned and is totally legal. When the Environmental Protection Agency tried to ban it, supporters of the asbestos industry actually overturned the ban in a lawsuit. It is still widely used in products to this day.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asbestos#United_States



Submitted February 23, 2015 at 02:23AM by D3M01 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wsni6/til_asbestos_in_the_united_states_has_not_been/

TIL A senior Labrador retriever named Ma Kettle was surrendered to a shelter by her owners. She then escaped her new home and walked nearly 30 miles to return to her previous owners- who would not take her back.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/03/dog-walks-30-miles_n_5641670.html



Submitted February 22, 2015 at 08:07PM by Banatepec http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wrftp/til_a_senior_labrador_retriever_named_ma_kettle/

TIL Kraftwerk thanked Coldplay for asking if they could use one of their riffs by saying something like: 'Yes, you can use it, and thank you very much for asking my permission, unlike that bastard Jay-Z'

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk_(song)



Submitted February 22, 2015 at 10:01PM by reddit_mars http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wrqtb/til_kraftwerk_thanked_coldplay_for_asking_if_they/

TIL More people are bitten each year by New Yorkers than by sharks.

http://science.time.com/2013/12/03/in-the-war-between-sharks-and-people-humans-are-killing-it/



Submitted February 22, 2015 at 11:49PM by igotpetdeers http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2ws3sg/til_more_people_are_bitten_each_year_by_new/

TIL the Cincinnati Library has 3D printers, audio and visual equipment, laser cutters and engravers, sewing machines, cameras and other hardware and software tools that patrons can use for free.

http://www.cincinnatilibrary.org/main/makerspace.html



Submitted February 22, 2015 at 08:36PM by IntelWarrior http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wrid4/til_the_cincinnati_library_has_3d_printers_audio/

TIL that Alan Greenspan once tried to have his dissertation banned from New York University. When a copy was obtained by Barron's, it was found to be "a discussion of soaring housing prices and their effect on consumer spending; it even anticipates a bursting housing bubble."

http://online.barrons.com/public/article/SB120917419049046805.html?mod=mktw#articleTabs_article%3D1



Submitted February 22, 2015 at 06:33PM by openmindedskeptic http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wr91o/til_that_alan_greenspan_once_tried_to_have_his/

TIL that the saying 'blood is thicker than water' may have once been 'the blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb', meaning that friends are actually more important than family

http://www.thedirtpsychology.com/the-dirt/common-mistakes-advice-hindsight-bias



Submitted February 22, 2015 at 03:46PM by fauxreal3 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wr031/til_that_the_saying_blood_is_thicker_than_water/

TIL it takes 600 cows to make one full season's worth of NFL footballs.

http://facts.randomhistory.com/football-facts.html



Submitted February 22, 2015 at 02:25PM by NSA-SURVEILLANCE http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wqvvo/til_it_takes_600_cows_to_make_one_full_seasons/

TIL John Quincy Adams was the first American president to grant a woman reporter an interview (Anne Royall) and did so because she sat on his clothes while he bathed nude in the Potomac River.

http://www.ipl.org/div/potus/jqadams.html



Submitted February 22, 2015 at 11:46AM by dutchesse http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wql6m/til_john_quincy_adams_was_the_first_american/

TIL a British Challenger 2 tank was hit directly by 14 RPGs and an anti-tank missile in Iraq. The crew was uninjured and the tank was back in operation 6 hours later. Another survived 70 RPG hits. Only 1 Challenger 2 has been destroyed in combat; by another Challenger 2 in a friendly fire incident.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Challenger_2#Operational_history



Submitted February 22, 2015 at 04:31AM by GreasyPeanut http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wpbxi/til_a_british_challenger_2_tank_was_hit_directly/

TIL China Used More Concrete in 3 Years than the US did in the 20th Century

http://www.forbes.com/sites/niallmccarthy/2014/12/05/china-used-more-concrete-in-3-years-than-the-u-s-used-in-the-entire-20th-century-infographic/



Submitted February 22, 2015 at 06:20PM by undue-influence http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wr89i/til_china_used_more_concrete_in_3_years_than_the/

TIL In Old English, 'man' was a gender neutral term. Males were known as 'wermen' and females were known as 'wifmen'.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_neutrality_in_English#Generic_words_for_humans



Submitted February 22, 2015 at 02:27AM by simplisto http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wowc7/til_in_old_english_man_was_a_gender_neutral_term/

TIL that in 1746, Jean-Antoine Nollet conducted an experiment in which 200 monks formed a circle (1.6 km in circumference) and were linked by iron wire. He then had electricity pass through them which shocked all the monks simultaneously. He concluded that the speed of electricity was very high.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Antoine_Nollet



Submitted February 22, 2015 at 10:35AM by piponwa http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wqeuk/til_that_in_1746_jeanantoine_nollet_conducted_an/

TIL: Hells Angels attempted to Kill Mick Jagger in 1975. They tried to drive a boat up to the Long Island Mansion he was staying at, however, the boat sank and the Hells Angels ended up having to swim for their lives.

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



Submitted February 22, 2015 at 12:27AM by opeyshion http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2woh6g/til_hells_angels_attempted_to_kill_mick_jagger_in/

TIL that toilets in ancient Rome were bad enough to warrant prayers to the Gods of fortune written on the walls. Problems included bursts of flame from the methane buildup, and biting creatures emerging from below.

http://discovermagazine.com/2014/julyaug/4-archeological-crap-shoot



Submitted February 21, 2015 at 10:25PM by oglach http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wo2jm/til_that_toilets_in_ancient_rome_were_bad_enough/

TIL that in 2013, a 15 year old Alabama boy committed suicide after learning he might be placed on the sex offender registry after "streaking" at a high school football game.

http://nypost.com/2013/10/11/teen-who-faced-sex-offenders-list-for-streaking-commits-suicide/



Submitted February 22, 2015 at 09:57AM by AGuyWithAHammer http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wqb6z/til_that_in_2013_a_15_year_old_alabama_boy/

TIL The astronauts aboard Skylab 4 went on "strike" for a day because they felt overwhelmed by the demands of Mission Control. The used the time to look out the window and think.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/11/science/space/william-r-pogue-astronaut-who-flew-longest-skylab-mission-is-dead-at-84.html?_r=



Submitted February 22, 2015 at 04:11AM by burwor http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wp9lp/til_the_astronauts_aboard_skylab_4_went_on_strike/

TIL there are only 2 escalators in the entire state of Wyoming

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/3616861



Submitted February 22, 2015 at 12:27AM by igotpetdeers http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2woh6p/til_there_are_only_2_escalators_in_the_entire/

TIL You cannot actually buy the name of a star. The International Astronomical Union is the only authority for naming celestial bodies. No countries, authorities, or scientists in the world will recognize a purchased star name.

http://www.iau.org/public/themes/buying_star_names/



Submitted February 22, 2015 at 12:44AM by oreamnos http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2woj9l/til_you_cannot_actually_buy_the_name_of_a_star/

TIL that to prepare IBM's Watson for Jeopardy, researchers inputted the entirety of Urban Dictionary. Unfortunately, this had the side effect of Watson adopting profanity. In one test, it even used the word "bullshit" to respond to a researcher's query.

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2013/01/ibms-watson-memorized-the-entire-urban-dictionary-then-his-overlords-had-to-delete-it/267047/?whoosh



Submitted February 22, 2015 at 02:34AM by Puppier http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wox94/til_that_to_prepare_ibms_watson_for_jeopardy/

TIL The man who create the bear-proof suit also invented a fireproof paste, a light capable of seeing through walls, the Trojan Ballistics Suit of Armour, and has received the Ig Nobel Prize for Safety Engineering.

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



Submitted February 21, 2015 at 07:54PM by ozmodiar20 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wnnz5/til_the_man_who_create_the_bearproof_suit_also/

TIL an Australian company wants to resurrect gladiator duels with carbon-fiber suits

http://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/unified-weapons-master-future-fighting/



Submitted February 21, 2015 at 11:52AM by kittykatkisses http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wmtvm/til_an_australian_company_wants_to_resurrect/

TIL heart disease kills more people per year than cancer, war, terrorism, hunger, suicide, diabetes, respiratory diseases and mental disorders combined.

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



Submitted February 21, 2015 at 06:30PM by r3ll1sh http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wnhmk/til_heart_disease_kills_more_people_per_year_than/

TIL That Multimillionaire Forrest Fenn has hidden a treasure worth in between 1 million and 3 million in the Rocky Mountains. To find it, you must solve his riddle. So far, no one has found it.

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



Submitted February 21, 2015 at 09:54PM by Red_Victoria http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wnz8m/til_that_multimillionaire_forrest_fenn_has_hidden/

TIL Saudi Arabia and Bahrain recently made a joint bid to host the Olympics with the mens' events in Saudi Arabia and the womens' events in Bahrain as women are not allowed to play sports in Saudi Arabia. The IOC vetoed the bid.

http://gamesbids.com/eng/summer-olympic-bids/future-summer-bids/ioc-shuns-saudi-arabias-proposed-cross-border-split-gender-olympic-bid/



Submitted February 21, 2015 at 07:11AM by 12-Volt http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wm33m/til_saudi_arabia_and_bahrain_recently_made_a/

TIL that in Eve Online a player set up an in-game bank that operated legitimately for several months. The bank's founder then stole nearly 790 billion units of in-game currency, nearly $170,000 in real world dollars. This was all perfectly legal.

http://arstechnica.com/uncategorized/2006/08/7605/



Submitted February 21, 2015 at 11:01AM by ShadowKnightofRegret http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wmpgm/til_that_in_eve_online_a_player_set_up_an_ingame/

TIL the largest recorded dose of LSD was taken by 8 men who snorted pure LSD thinking it was cocaine. Within 10 minutes, all were incapacitated with 10-70 hits of LSD in each 100mL of their blood plasma. Eventually, all were able to talk within 4-5 hours and normal within 12 with no residual effects

http://www.maps.org/research/cluster/psilo-lsd/cns-neuroscience+therapeutics_2008-passie.pdf



Submitted February 21, 2015 at 09:59PM by giopi http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wnzpu/til_the_largest_recorded_dose_of_lsd_was_taken_by/

TIL The Numa Numa viral video was first uploaded to NewGrounds in 2004 - Youtube did not exist at the time

http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/numa-numa



Submitted February 21, 2015 at 03:28PM by Pajaronoespajero http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wn7dr/til_the_numa_numa_viral_video_was_first_uploaded/

TIL Martha Stewart ended her relationship with Sir Anthony Hopkins after watching The Silence of the Lambs because she was unable to avoid associating Hopkins with the character of Hannibal Lecter.

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



Submitted February 21, 2015 at 07:56PM by billytheold http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wno4y/til_martha_stewart_ended_her_relationship_with/

TIL That Steve Irwin was offered a state funeral following his death, however his dad rejected the government's offer citing that Steve would have wanted to have been remembered as "an ordinary bloke".

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_irwin#section_7



Submitted February 21, 2015 at 02:51PM by jusioaskal http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wn5dj/til_that_steve_irwin_was_offered_a_state_funeral/

TIL Lawyer, Salesperson and Police Officer are Among the Top 10 Jobs that Attract Psychopaths

http://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyclay/2013/01/05/the-top-10-jobs-that-attract-psychopaths/



Submitted February 21, 2015 at 06:49PM by apropo http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wniy6/til_lawyer_salesperson_and_police_officer_are/

TIL that Jimmy Diresta shot and produced an instructional DVD for Nick Offerman in 2008. Offerman paid him with a canoe.

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



Submitted February 21, 2015 at 12:28AM by k_r_i_s http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wkqg0/til_that_jimmy_diresta_shot_and_produced_an/

TIL North Korea is the only country to have been caught cheating at the International Mathematical Olympiad. Twice.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Mathematical_Olympiad#Penalties



Submitted February 21, 2015 at 01:49PM by phaederus http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wn20f/til_north_korea_is_the_only_country_to_have_been/

TIL that in 1987, someone hacked into a primetime episode of Dr Who dressed as Max Headroom. He was never caught

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



Submitted February 21, 2015 at 01:30AM by HanLeonSolo http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wkyc7/til_that_in_1987_someone_hacked_into_a_primetime/

TIL the "#" of C# was based on a small grid of 4 "+" signs, implying it is an increment of C++

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C_Sharp_(programming_language)#Name



Submitted February 20, 2015 at 09:22PM by Redlining http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wk1xh/til_the_of_c_was_based_on_a_small_grid_of_4_signs/

TIL, unpaid internships at for-profit businesses are illegal in the United States when they're for the benefit of the employer and displace regular employees.

http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs71.pdf



Submitted February 21, 2015 at 03:24AM by sihtydaernacuoytihsy http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wlcdf/til_unpaid_internships_at_forprofit_businesses/

TIL there is a pub in Ireland that opened in 900 ad.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sean%27s_Bar



Submitted February 21, 2015 at 03:08AM by noahhellman http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wlaet/til_there_is_a_pub_in_ireland_that_opened_in_900/

TIL that Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller, two wealthy extremely entrepreneurs, sent each other gag Christmas gifts. Rockefeller sent Carnegie a cardboard vest to make fun of his poor childhood. In return Carnegie sent a fine whiskey to Rockefeller, a devout baptist who had given up drinking.

http://www.history.co.uk/biographies/andrew-carnegie



Submitted February 21, 2015 at 07:23AM by BESHEE27 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wm49c/til_that_andrew_carnegie_and_john_d_rockefeller/

TIL Malcolm X avoided military service after being declared “mentally disqualified” because he told draft board officials that he wanted to “steal us some guns, and kill us [some] crackers.”

http://macmccanntx.com/2013/04/09/transforming-the-world-the-transformations-of-malcolm-x/



Submitted February 20, 2015 at 09:35PM by HDThoreauFTW http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wk3k4/til_malcolm_x_avoided_military_service_after/

TIL bacteria that eats and survives on electricity alone , was found in the ocean floor.

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn25894-meet-the-electric-life-forms-that-live-on-pure-energy.html?full=true



Submitted February 21, 2015 at 05:19AM by 6h0stT0ast http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wlqki/til_bacteria_that_eats_and_survives_on/

TIL Disney successfully lobbied Congress to extend the length of copyright protection in order to prevent Mickey Mouse from entering the public domain. The law was later referred to as the Mickey Mouse Protection Act

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



Submitted February 21, 2015 at 01:46AM by Dracula_in_Auschwitz http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wl0bw/til_disney_successfully_lobbied_congress_to/

TIL Steve Wozniak used to submit Tetris high scores to Nintendo Power magazine, and even started sending them under an alias when they refused to publish anymore of his high scores

http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/20/steve-wozniak-secretly-submitted-tetris-scores-to-nintendo-power/



Submitted February 21, 2015 at 02:10AM by praisecarcinoma http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wl35t/til_steve_wozniak_used_to_submit_tetris_high/

TIL former college basketball coach George Raveling has the original, typewritten "I have a dream" speech delivered by Martin Luther King, Jr. Raveling was a volunteer security guard at the event and King handed it to him after he finished addressing the audience. It is valued at over $3,000,000.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Have_a_Dream#Original_copy_of_the_speech



Submitted February 20, 2015 at 07:29PM by thebigsexy1 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wjp65/til_former_college_basketball_coach_george/

TIL That after watching Star Wars for the first time in 1977, James Cameron quit his job as a truck driver to enter the film industry.

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



Submitted February 21, 2015 at 12:31AM by Nugatorysurplusage http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wkqz4/til_that_after_watching_star_wars_for_the_first/

TIL That in World War I, the Germans tried to use a picture of Quentin Roosevelt's body as propoganda to increase moral. This backfired, as soldiers wondered why the sons of American Presidents were fighting and dying at the front, while the Kaiser's sons were not.

http://francerevisited.com/2012/07/quentin-roosevelt-presidents-son-the-most-famous-american-killed-in-france-in-wwi-2/



Submitted February 21, 2015 at 12:25AM by Try_Another_NO http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wkq4q/til_that_in_world_war_i_the_germans_tried_to_use/

TIL The squirrels in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory were real, not CGI. They were trained from birth and were each taught how to sit upon a little blue bar stool, tap and then open a walnut, and deposit its meat onto a conveyor belt.

http://wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_and_the_Chocolate_Factory_%28film%29#Visual_effects



Submitted February 20, 2015 at 08:35PM by oprahsanalbeeds http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wjwcx/til_the_squirrels_in_charlie_and_the_chocolate/

TIL: Detroit Fire Department is so underfunded they use soda cans filled with loose change as fire alarms

http://gizmodo.com/detroits-under-funded-fire-departments-use-a-soda-can-f-1631409347



Submitted February 20, 2015 at 07:35PM by Mr-Unpopular http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wjpsq/til_detroit_fire_department_is_so_underfunded/

TIL That Spy Kids 1-4, Kill Bill 1 and 2, Machete, and Planet Terror are all based in the same Universe.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:W_guice/Tarantino/Rodriguez_Universe



Submitted February 20, 2015 at 08:40AM by prickly_pw http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wiame/til_that_spy_kids_14_kill_bill_1_and_2_machete/

TIL The CEO of Spotify was the CEO of uTorrent in 2006

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



Submitted February 20, 2015 at 07:55PM by FromFilm http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wjrvw/til_the_ceo_of_spotify_was_the_ceo_of_utorrent_in/

TIL it has been 122 years since the United States of America has had a bearded President

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



Submitted February 20, 2015 at 09:44AM by squibulch http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wihu5/til_it_has_been_122_years_since_the_united_states/

TIL that townfolk from a small German town duped over 200 neo-Nazis by tricking them into a walkathon that raised over $12,000 for an anti-Nazi charity.

http://www.hexapolis.com/2014/12/03/curious-case-neo-nazis-swindled-anti-nazi-charity/



Submitted February 20, 2015 at 06:50PM by Dattatreya87 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wjlpo/til_that_townfolk_from_a_small_german_town_duped/

TIL that in 2002, a 15 year old boy inspired by 9/11, stole an airplane and flew it into a skyscraper in Tampa, Florida. It damaged one office room and he was the only person that died.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_Tampa_plane_crash



Submitted February 20, 2015 at 05:39PM by Ruhal_ http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wjg86/til_that_in_2002_a_15_year_old_boy_inspired_by/

TIL Finland has a 20-year plan for its country brand. The 365-page government report includes plans to become a silicon valley of social innovations, a land where the lakes are drinkable, and a country that has managed to export its unbeatable education.

http://monocle.com/monocolumn/affairs/branding-finland/



Submitted February 20, 2015 at 05:21PM by albaniankalle http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wjf3f/til_finland_has_a_20year_plan_for_its_country/

TIL that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes, helped get two falsely accused men out of prison after solving their previously closed cases.

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



Submitted February 20, 2015 at 09:10AM by DropTheGigawatt http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2widzv/til_that_sir_arthur_conan_doyle_creator_of/

TIL before Ed Sheeran became internationally famous, he put on a free show for his small fan base. Over 1,000 fans turned up to see the show, so Sheeran ended up playing four different shows to make sure everyone saw a gig, including a gig outside on the street after the venue had closed.

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



Submitted February 20, 2015 at 10:17AM by imsoowaavy http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wil9i/til_before_ed_sheeran_became_internationally/

TIL that about 80% of people breathe through only one nostril. Which nostril, left or right, can alternate on average every 2,5 hours.

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



Submitted February 20, 2015 at 07:58AM by Salvatio http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wi5mj/til_that_about_80_of_people_breathe_through_only/

TIL Bruce Lee was born in both the HOUR and the YEAR of the Dragon

http://www.legacy.com/news/legends-and-legacies/born-a-dragon/1083/



Submitted February 20, 2015 at 05:49AM by maxdps_ http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2whq44/til_bruce_lee_was_born_in_both_the_hour_and_the/

TIL: The Hitlers were early pioneers of southern Ohio. Including local dentist Dr. Gay Hitler.

http://www.circlevilleherald.com/news/hitlers-were-county-pioneers/article_2a6487b2-a34a-55f4-83f4-dfcf116d15d5.html



Submitted February 20, 2015 at 07:50AM by triplealpha http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wi4mm/til_the_hitlers_were_early_pioneers_of_southern/

TIL that tigers are the only predators known to regularly prey on adult bears

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bear#Diet_and_interspecific_interactions



Submitted February 20, 2015 at 12:15AM by anon_liberty http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wggrv/til_that_tigers_are_the_only_predators_known_to/

TIL In 1500s, Mapuche warrior Galvarino had both hands cut off as punishment for defying the Spanish. He returned home, raised an army and fought the Spanish with knives fastened on both mutilated wrists replacing his hands.

http://www.oldfascinatinghistory.com/2013/10/galvarino.html



Submitted February 20, 2015 at 01:37AM by samuelas http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wgs6k/til_in_1500s_mapuche_warrior_galvarino_had_both/

TIL Sikh's are expected to carry a comb that is to be used twice daily, a steel bracelet that is to be worn on the dominant hand, and a small dagger to defend against the repression of the weak.

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



Submitted February 20, 2015 at 01:04AM by Sheriff_McLawDog_ http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wgnjk/til_sikhs_are_expected_to_carry_a_comb_that_is_to/

TIL that Apple and Facebook have said they will cover the cost of freezing the eggs of female employees who want to delay having a baby while they pursue their careers

http://apple.slashdot.org/story/14/10/15/153231/facebook-and-apple-now-pay-for-female-employees-to-freeze-their-eggs



Submitted February 20, 2015 at 12:09AM by Keerikkadan91 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wgfvm/til_that_apple_and_facebook_have_said_they_will/

TIL A 13-year-old girl dove through the window of a moving car and fought the passenger and driver so she can get her stolen cell phone back.

http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20140319/east-elmhurst/gutsy-teen-recounts-diving-through-car-window-get-stolen-phone



Submitted February 19, 2015 at 11:13PM by littlecleetus http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wg810/til_a_13yearold_girl_dove_through_the_window_of_a/

TIL Costco sells approximately 60,000,000 rotisserie chickens every year.

http://www.bloomberg.com/bw/articles/2013-10-09/costco-stands-behind-its-cheap-rotisserie-chicken-strategy



Submitted February 20, 2015 at 12:18AM by Trolling_4_Eva http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wgh6m/til_costco_sells_approximately_60000000/

TIL Marge Simpson was originally intended to have rabbit ears hidden in her hair. You can see them on her sprite from The Simpsons arcade game.

http://rubbercat.net/simpsons/news/2011/09/marge-simpson-had-rabbit-ears.html



Submitted February 19, 2015 at 05:06PM by KTL175 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wf5j4/til_marge_simpson_was_originally_intended_to_have/

TIL Jim Varney had a photographic memory and would shoot up to 25 "Ernest" commercials a day inserting different product names during different takes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_P._Worrell#History



Submitted February 19, 2015 at 10:06PM by superfudge73 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wfz0h/til_jim_varney_had_a_photographic_memory_and/

TIL that in the New Deal, FDR called for a new tax program called the Revenue Act of 1935, which imposed an income tax of 79% on incomes over $5 million. This tax rate affected literally one person: John D. Rockefeller.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Deal#Tax_Policy



Submitted February 19, 2015 at 11:40PM by torbald2895 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wgboc/til_that_in_the_new_deal_fdr_called_for_a_new_tax/

TIL: In the film "Foxcatcher" Channing Tatum's mirror-bashing scene wasn't in the script, Tatum got so into the role he frantically headbutted a real mirror and cut his head.

http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Scary-Story-How-Channing-Tatum-Hurt-Himself-Filming-Foxcatcher-68061.html



Submitted February 19, 2015 at 06:23PM by Ozymandias1818 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wfaue/til_in_the_film_foxcatcher_channing_tatums/

TIL Stephen Hawking provided the voice of his own head in a jar on Futurama.

http://theinfosphere.org/Stephen_Hawking?futurama



Submitted February 19, 2015 at 01:49AM by THRASHINGMADNESS http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wckm0/til_stephen_hawking_provided_the_voice_of_his_own/

TIL the Japanese kanji for vagina (膣) is comprised of components 至, 肉, and 穴. In other words, "climax meat hole."

http://www.jisho.org/kanji/details/膣



Submitted February 19, 2015 at 09:35PM by pacific_north_fresh http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wfux1/til_the_japanese_kanji_for_vagina_%E8%86%A3_is_comprised/

TIL Lenin's dead body is bathed and dressed in new clothes every year. His tomb is in center of Moscow open to public, despite his death wish to be buried next to his wife

http://depletedcranium.com/comrade-lenin-gets-a-bath/



Submitted February 19, 2015 at 06:11PM by LukrezZerg http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wf9yu/til_lenins_dead_body_is_bathed_and_dressed_in_new/

TIL there was a 3-day Go championship game ongoing in Hiroshima when the city was nuked. The building was damaged and several spectators were injured, but play resumed normally after lunch break and concluded later that day.

http://wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_go_games#Atomic_Bomb_Go_Game



Submitted February 19, 2015 at 05:53PM by Dtnoip30 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wf8p4/til_there_was_a_3day_go_championship_game_ongoing/

TIL that when the US Navy refused to provide footage for the film Crimson Tide, the producers waited at the Pearl Harbor submarine base until a submarine left port, which they then pursued with a boat and a helicopter, filming as they went, until the submarine submerged.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crimson_Tide_%28film%29#Production?whoosh



Submitted February 19, 2015 at 04:48AM by Puppier http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wd98b/til_that_when_the_us_navy_refused_to_provide/

TIL: High Frequency Traders pay up to $6,000/month to get information 2 seconds before the general public

http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2013/07/08/the-optics-of-selling-financial-information/



Submitted February 19, 2015 at 12:55AM by ugots http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wccwf/til_high_frequency_traders_pay_up_to_6000month_to/

TIL that actor Sir Anthony Hopkins wrote a letter of praise to Bryan Cranston, telling him that his "performance as Walter White was the best acting I have seen – ever."

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



Submitted February 19, 2015 at 03:35PM by Nutcup http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wf04v/til_that_actor_sir_anthony_hopkins_wrote_a_letter/

TIL NASA wants to establish a floating cloud city to study Venus. The innovative concept involves helium-filled, solar-powered airships, which could contribute to humans permanently occupying the atmosphere of the hottest planet in our solar system.

http://www.iflscience.com/space/nasa-wants-establish-floating-cloud-city-study-venus



Submitted February 18, 2015 at 10:55PM by THRASHINGMADNESS http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wbwdq/til_nasa_wants_to_establish_a_floating_cloud_city/

TIL: Loneliness can be just as deadly as smoking cigarettes, it is considered a serious life threatening health condition.

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



Submitted February 19, 2015 at 02:03AM by imagineagain http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wcmkk/til_loneliness_can_be_just_as_deadly_as_smoking/

TIL When Bill Gates first showed off Windows 98's ability to use Universal Serial Bus (USB) to connect a scanner while the computer was still running, something revolutionary at the time, the computer crashed.He joked, "That's why we're not shipping it yet."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/82951.stm



Submitted February 19, 2015 at 07:52AM by koghrun http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wdvwo/til_when_bill_gates_first_showed_off_windows_98s/

TIL that 1 week of camping, without electronics, resets our biological clock and synchronizes our melatonin hormones with sunrise and sunset. If you have trouble sleeping, go camping.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/trouble-sleeping-go-campi/



Submitted February 19, 2015 at 09:07AM by DropTheGigawatt http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2we4qp/til_that_1_week_of_camping_without_electronics/

TIL in Japan, the shutter sound of iPhone cameras cannot be switched off--even in silent mode--because the Japanese are so afraid of perverts taking upskirts in the subways

http://www.wired.com/2008/07/pervert-alert-j/



Submitted February 19, 2015 at 07:10AM by smlreynolds http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wdqxj/til_in_japan_the_shutter_sound_of_iphone_cameras/

TIL that school officials used a 15 year old as bait to catch another student suspected of sexual abuse, and still denies responsibility for her being raped because of it.

http://www.mastandoartrip.com/protecting-girls-in-schools/



Submitted February 19, 2015 at 04:34AM by footinmymouth http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wd7db/til_that_school_officials_used_a_15_year_old_as/

TIL Jimmy Carter said if he became president, he would release all government UFO information to the public. Once elected, he decided not to due to "national security concerns"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Carter_UFO_incident#Personal_impact



Submitted February 19, 2015 at 07:15AM by faceman83 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wdrgh/til_jimmy_carter_said_if_he_became_president_he/

TIL that in 1938, a Kindergarten teacher who witnessed a burglary was jailed for five days because she wore a pair of slacks into court the day she was called to testify.

http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-california-retrospective-20141023-story.html



Submitted February 19, 2015 at 02:50AM by imautoparts http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wct0t/til_that_in_1938_a_kindergarten_teacher_who/

TIL Paranormal Activity was made for just $15,000, but went on to make $190 million. At its test screening, people walked out. Dreamworks thought it was because the movie was terrible—it turned out that people were just terrified.

http://www.likesharetweet.com/inspiring/10-movies-that-made-a-dime-into-millions/10/



Submitted February 19, 2015 at 12:45AM by anagoge http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wcbh5/til_paranormal_activity_was_made_for_just_15000/

TIL of DI-X, a drug intended for Nazi soldiers that allowed test subjects to march up to 55 miles before collapsing.

http://english.pravda.ru/science/tech/14-02-2003/1872-nazi-0/



Submitted February 18, 2015 at 10:31PM by surrogatepenguin http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wbt2l/til_of_dix_a_drug_intended_for_nazi_soldiers_that/

TIL that Runescape has been remade inside Minecraft, including Tutorial Island and Quests.

http://www.minesca.pe/aboutus.php



Submitted February 18, 2015 at 05:16PM by wickedsight http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2waxaf/til_that_runescape_has_been_remade_inside/

TIL In 1999, Jay-Z plead guilty to stabbing a rap producer in the back with an 8 to 9 inch knife, suspecting he was bootlegging his new album before the release date. He received 3 years of probation.

http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/jay-z-hit-assault-rapper-charged-nightclub-stabbing-article-1.850928



Submitted February 18, 2015 at 11:50PM by selimtrew http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wc3x2/til_in_1999_jayz_plead_guilty_to_stabbing_a_rap/

TIL "pouring one out for your homie" is actually an ancient tradition called "Libation".

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



Submitted February 18, 2015 at 09:29PM by PSGWSP http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wbky5/til_pouring_one_out_for_your_homie_is_actually_an/

TIL that ice fits all of the qualifications to be a mineral.

http://academic.emporia.edu/abersusa/go336/merhoff/



Submitted February 18, 2015 at 06:04PM by JoeCool888 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wb0o6/til_that_ice_fits_all_of_the_qualifications_to_be/

TIL the fat and round "Laughing Buddha" isn't a depiction of Gauthama Buddha at all, but of a Chinese deity called "Budai"

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



Submitted February 18, 2015 at 08:32PM by SoldierOfCringe http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wbe4h/til_the_fat_and_round_laughing_buddha_isnt_a/

TIL that in 1963, the Quebec government bought out all the private power companies and nationalized electricity. Today, 96% of Quebec's power is from hydroelectricity, and it has some of the cheapest electricity rates in North America while earning billions in revenue.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydro-Qu%C3%A9bec



Submitted February 18, 2015 at 07:09AM by Haxld http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2w9gvd/til_that_in_1963_the_quebec_government_bought_out/

TIL Brad Pitt, while playing Achilles in Troy, injured his Achilles Tendon, delaying production for several weeks

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



Submitted February 18, 2015 at 08:38PM by dra39437 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wbeqk/til_brad_pitt_while_playing_achilles_in_troy/

TIL that Guinness brewery supported all of it's employees who chose to fight in WW1. They were paid half of their wages while away, and their jobs were guaranteed upon their return. The brewery also sent them care packages containing chocolate and condensed milk.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01s8vf3



Submitted February 19, 2015 at 12:35AM by privlko http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wca2m/til_that_guinness_brewery_supported_all_of_its/

TIL The Simpsons crew sent flowers to South Park studios when South Park parodied Family Guy.

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



Submitted February 18, 2015 at 09:27AM by 022688 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2w9x38/til_the_simpsons_crew_sent_flowers_to_south_park/

TIL that a 1916 amendement to the US Constitution would have put the decision to go to war to a national vote, forcing those who voted "yes" to enlist

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/04/amendment-war-national-vote_n_3866686.html



Submitted February 18, 2015 at 03:47AM by baconinthemakin http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2w8qw6/til_that_a_1916_amendement_to_the_us_constitution/

TIL the French term for Brass Knuckles is "poing américain", which literally translates to "American fist"

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



Submitted February 18, 2015 at 04:07AM by mystical-me http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2w8tnm/til_the_french_term_for_brass_knuckles_is_poing/

TIL that in 1943, after a worldwide search, a mouldy cantaloupe in a Peoria, Illinois market was found to contain the best strain of penicillin for mass production

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penicillin#Mass_production



Submitted February 18, 2015 at 06:40AM by tommytraddles http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2w9d84/til_that_in_1943_after_a_worldwide_search_a/

TIL British officers imprisoned in Colditz castle, an 'escape-proof' Nazi POW camp, tried to escape by tunneling out. They emerged instead in a German colonel's wine cellar, where they proceeded to drink 137 bottles of wine, fill them with urine, and place them back on the shelves.

http://www.pilcrowmagazine.com/blog/colditz



Submitted February 18, 2015 at 05:00AM by syruptrap http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2w90if/til_british_officers_imprisoned_in_colditz_castle/

TIL: that Seattle Mariners is owned by Nintendo (yes that nintendo) and has an app on the 3DS where you can order food at the stadium

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



Submitted February 18, 2015 at 04:42PM by JohnnyArcheaon95 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2wav5c/til_that_seattle_mariners_is_owned_by_nintendo/

TIL of a father who, back in early 2013, hired gamers to kill his son in video games, so that the son would get a life.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/03/chinese-dad-hires-in-game-assassins-to-discourage-son-gaming-habit_n_2404111.html



Submitted February 18, 2015 at 04:46AM by Howzieky http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2w8yqd/til_of_a_father_who_back_in_early_2013_hired/

TIL that John Belushi would sabotage anything written by women when he was on SNL, because he believed women were 'fundamentally not funny'

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/13/john-belushi-sexist-jane-curtain_n_848646.html?



Submitted February 18, 2015 at 06:09AM by blitheandbonnie http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2w99dq/til_that_john_belushi_would_sabotage_anything/

TIL that in 2013, more Americans were killed by toddlers than Terrorists

http://www.opposingviews.com/i/society/guns/toddlers-killed-more-americans-terrorists-did-year



Submitted February 18, 2015 at 03:55AM by baconinthemakin http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2w8rzt/til_that_in_2013_more_americans_were_killed_by/

TIL that 4 states (Vermont, Alaska, Hawaii, and Maine) have laws prohibiting the use of outdoor advertising with billboards.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard#Laws_limiting_billboards



Submitted February 18, 2015 at 01:55AM by MXBQ http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2w8bmt/til_that_4_states_vermont_alaska_hawaii_and_maine/

TIL Coke was sued for the "unwarranted health claims" on their product Vitaminwater. Coke's defense was "no consumer could reasonably be misled into thinking vitaminwater was a healthy beverage."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-robbins/the-dark-side-of-vitaminw_b_669716.html



Submitted February 18, 2015 at 04:16AM by UltFiction http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2w8utv/til_coke_was_sued_for_the_unwarranted_health/

TIL that the gender neutral term for a niece/nephew is a nibling, just like the gender neutral term for a brother/sister is a sibling.

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



Submitted February 17, 2015 at 11:09PM by Seraphinejg http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2w7odf/til_that_the_gender_neutral_term_for_a/

TIL Helena Bonham Carter's maternal grandfather saved thousands of Jews from the Holocaust during World War II

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helena_Bonham_Carter#Maternal



Submitted February 17, 2015 at 06:04PM by rallykv http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2w6qm1/til_helena_bonham_carters_maternal_grandfather/

TIL that in 1972 some of Aircraft Carrier USS Ranger's crew carried out two-dozen acts of sabotage to prevent the ship from returning to Vietnam

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ranger_(CV-61)#1970s



Submitted February 17, 2015 at 04:51PM by Tokyo_Yosomono http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2w6lw2/til_that_in_1972_some_of_aircraft_carrier_uss/

TIL John Tyler the 10th President of the United States has two living grand-children. He was born in 1790.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Tyler#Family_and_personal_life



Submitted February 17, 2015 at 06:25PM by SeanOBriain http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2w6s0b/til_john_tyler_the_10th_president_of_the_united/

TIL that during the 1918 flu pandemic, 62 Boston prisoners volunteered to be injected with infected tissue and sprayed with infectious aerosols with a promise of release if they survived. All of the prisoners lived, but the ward doctor died soon after.

http://losangeles.legalexaminer.com/miscellaneous/a-short-history-of-the-great-swine-flu-epidemic/



Submitted February 17, 2015 at 08:50PM by adamvideo1 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2w75zn/til_that_during_the_1918_flu_pandemic_62_boston/

TIL that a grizzly bear's bite is estimated to be strong enough to crush a bowling ball

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grizzly_bear#cite_ref-101?



Submitted February 17, 2015 at 08:45PM by MisterEagles http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2w75ek/til_that_a_grizzly_bears_bite_is_estimated_to_be/

TIL that a grizzly bear's bite is estimated to be strong enough to crush a bowling ball

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grizzly_bear#cite_ref-101?



Submitted February 17, 2015 at 08:45PM by MisterEagles http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2w75ek/til_that_a_grizzly_bears_bite_is_estimated_to_be/

TIL that a grizzly bear's bite is estimated to be strong enough to crush a bowling ball

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grizzly_bear#cite_ref-101?



Submitted February 17, 2015 at 08:45PM by MisterEagles http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2w75ek/til_that_a_grizzly_bears_bite_is_estimated_to_be/

TIL that a former monk in Spain has spent over 50 years single-handedly building a 40 meter high cathedral made out of junk. He is 89 years old and still at it.

http://www.sobify.com/former-monk-spends-50-years-building-cathedral-junk/



Submitted February 17, 2015 at 07:49PM by tiptoptap35 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2w6zaz/til_that_a_former_monk_in_spain_has_spent_over_50/

TIL Sony has a patent on making viewers yell product names out loud to end TV ads

http://www.fastcodesign.com/1670640/sony-files-patent-to-make-tv-ads-into-video-games



Submitted February 17, 2015 at 09:28PM by admin-mod http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2w7aj9/til_sony_has_a_patent_on_making_viewers_yell/

TIL a man who became paralysed after a motorcycle accident gave money raised for an operation that could allow him to be able to walk again to a young boy who suffered from Cerebral Palsy so the boy could take his first steps.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/real-life-stories/paralysed-dan-black-donates-money-2045907



Submitted February 17, 2015 at 02:00AM by Ruhal_ http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2w42tz/til_a_man_who_became_paralysed_after_a_motorcycle/

TIL when Team Canada's Olympic gold medal-winning goalie Shannon Szabados was invited to take practice with the perennial last-place Edmonton Oilers in the spring of 2014, someone asked her if she was worried about getting hit on by the players. Her response: "Nope, they can't score anyways."

http://o.canada.com/sports/team-canada-goalie-shannon-szabados-suiting-up-for-edmonton-oilers-practice



Submitted February 17, 2015 at 07:42PM by Vranak http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2w6ylw/til_when_team_canadas_olympic_gold_medalwinning/

TIL there were four mass extinction events before the one that killed the Dinosaurs. The most severe killed a staggering 97% of all species. All life on Earth today is descended from the 3% that survived.

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/life/dinosaurs-other-extinct-creatures/mass-extinctions/



Submitted February 17, 2015 at 05:00AM by HipHopAnonymous23 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2w4r0b/til_there_were_four_mass_extinction_events_before/

TIL athletes are more likely to get cavities. Regular exercisers are "mouth breathers", which causes plaque to dry on their teeth

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/09/24/is-exercise-bad-for-your-teeth/?_r=0



Submitted February 17, 2015 at 06:05AM by elysebergz http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2w4za7/til_athletes_are_more_likely_to_get_cavities/

TIL When asked what his IQ was, Stephen Hawking said "I have no idea. People who boast about their IQ are losers.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/12/magazine/12QUESTIONS.html?_r=



Submitted February 17, 2015 at 08:57AM by LowVoltur http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2w5jsi/til_when_asked_what_his_iq_was_stephen_hawking/

TIL TV Show "Seinfeld" made US$2.7 billion on reruns through June 2010 since it went off the air in 1998.

http://nypost.com/2010/06/07/einfeld-rakes-in-2-7-bil/



Submitted February 17, 2015 at 05:34AM by NRGLite http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2w4vd6/til_tv_show_seinfeld_made_us27_billion_on_reruns/

TIL Canadian child killer Peter Woodcock was given intense treatment over many years, deemed safe, and given a weekend pass.Within an hour he had murdered somebody. Claimed treatment "served only to make him more adept at manipulating others"

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



Submitted February 17, 2015 at 08:54AM by Bluest_waters http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2w5jjp/til_canadian_child_killer_peter_woodcock_was/

TIL Michelle Pfeiffer was in a cult before she became a Hollywood actress. Her boyfriend at the time had a role in a movie about The Moonies cult and while researching his role with him, Pfeiffer realized that she was in an actual cult and was being manipulated. She left the cult but won't say how.

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2013/11/michelle-pfeiffer-reveals-time-in-breatharian-cult/



Submitted February 17, 2015 at 06:51AM by ExileOnMeanStreet http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2w54v2/til_michelle_pfeiffer_was_in_a_cult_before_she/

TIL That through a series of experiments in the Polytechnic Institute of New York, a robotic fish ended up becoming the leader of a school of live fish.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120301113345.htm



Submitted February 17, 2015 at 06:07AM by emiliomick http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2w4zi4/til_that_through_a_series_of_experiments_in_the/

TIL: Obesity is strongly correlated with low IQ in children

http://www.webmd.com/parenting/news/20060831/extreme-obesity-in-tots-tied-to-low-iq



Submitted February 17, 2015 at 02:02AM by flappyjew http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2w435u/til_obesity_is_strongly_correlated_with_low_iq_in/

TIL that in 2013, a scientific experiment at Hebrew University of Jerusalem found the evidence for something called "Herding effect" - that on sites like Reddit, 1 early upvote would boost the final comment score by an average of 25 Percent by changing perception of how people look at it

http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/health/a9335/upvotes-downvotes-and-the-science-of-the-reddit-hivemind-15784871/



Submitted February 16, 2015 at 09:37PM by cj_would_lovethis http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2w345t/til_that_in_2013_a_scientific_experiment_at/

TIL there has been a number of long term studies on the possibility of dosing food in radiation as a form of preservation and sterilization. However, while it has been found to be completely safe, there is a large resistance to it because of the negative impression of and confusion over radiation.

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



Submitted February 17, 2015 at 12:47AM by MikiLove http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2w3t0y/til_there_has_been_a_number_of_long_term_studies/

TIL: Blue-footed Boobies make "nests" on the ground by encircling their eggs with a ring of poop. If one of the baby boobies steps out of the poop ring the mama booby will no longer recognize it and will fight it off when it tries to come back in.

http://blog.audubonguides.com/2012/06/11/aves-non-grata-the-blue-footed-booby/



Submitted February 16, 2015 at 06:42AM by MC_Billin http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2w10wi/til_bluefooted_boobies_make_nests_on_the_ground/

TIL that Julius Caesar was kidnapped by pirates, mocked his captors until his ransom was paid, then came back with a fleet to kill them all

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_life_and_career_of_Julius_Caesar#Kidnapping_by_pirates



Submitted February 16, 2015 at 12:16PM by shiftace- http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2w1y7r/til_that_julius_caesar_was_kidnapped_by_pirates/

TIL you can survive being in outer space without permanent damage for about half a minute. None of this "exploding in space" in movies is real.

http://www.iflscience.com/10-space-myths-we-need-stop-believing



Submitted February 16, 2015 at 12:59PM by cherryweapon http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2w21d8/til_you_can_survive_being_in_outer_space_without/

TIL George Lucas approached Mark Hamill in 1983 and asked him if he'd like to play an elderly, mentoring Luke to hand the story to the next generation. When Hamill asked "When?", Lucas replied with, "Oh, around 2011."

http://www.inquisitr.com/1640345/star-wars-episode-7-plot-predicted-by-mark-hamill-in-1983/



Submitted February 17, 2015 at 02:24AM by roberttylerlee http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2w461i/til_george_lucas_approached_mark_hamill_in_1983/

TIL there is a word similar to "visualize" except that it applies to hearing: Audiate

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



Submitted February 16, 2015 at 08:02PM by egophony http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2w2tmc/til_there_is_a_word_similar_to_visualize_except/

TIL Crows are monogamous and raise families together. Offspring from previous seasons even remain with the family to help rear new nestlings.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_crow#Reproduction



Submitted February 16, 2015 at 11:52PM by oldswirlo http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2w3llk/til_crows_are_monogamous_and_raise_families/

TIL that Clair Patterson, the geochemist who discovered the Earth's age to be 4.5 billion years old using lead isotopic data from the Canyon Diablo meteorite, also spearheaded the campaigning of the US government to finally ban of the use of lead in gasoline, paint and food packaging.

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



Submitted February 16, 2015 at 05:11AM by DonTago http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2w0qgw/til_that_clair_patterson_the_geochemist_who/

TIL of a plane engine system that will be able to take a person anywhere in the world in four hours. The new system is called SABRE, which is a jet engine that also doubles as a rocket engine. In a commercial plane, 300 passengers will whizz around the world at five times the speed of sound.

http://www.iflscience.com/technology/plane-will-take-you-anywhere-world-4-hours



Submitted February 16, 2015 at 08:42PM by THRASHINGMADNESS http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2w2xsb/til_of_a_plane_engine_system_that_will_be_able_to/

TIL The mother of serial killer Ted Bundy died in 2013 at 88. For many years she refused to believe her son could have murdered dozens of women and told him "You'll always be my precious son" right before his execution

http://blog.thenewstribune.com/crime/2013/01/09/ted-bundys-mother-tacoma-resident-louise-bundy-has-died/



Submitted February 16, 2015 at 03:44AM by veryawesomeguy http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2w0ga2/til_the_mother_of_serial_killer_ted_bundy_died_in/

TIL that China had invented ceramics for teacups so early and they were so satisfied with it, they never had any glass right up until the 19th century. They were therefore left behind right up to the invention of medical science never having: Windows, lights, electronics, telescopes, microscopes etc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0OhXxx7cQg



Submitted February 16, 2015 at 01:42PM by Arb0k http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2w24dg/til_that_china_had_invented_ceramics_for_teacups/

TIL Yale Cost of Attendance is $63,250 but if you cannot afford it then they allow you to attend free of charge through a "need-based grant" Yale does not require students to take out loans to attend.

http://admissions.yale.edu/faq/what-current-tuition-yale



Submitted February 16, 2015 at 07:03AM by AgedTwenties http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2w134k/til_yale_cost_of_attendance_is_63250_but_if_you/

TIL after the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert was announced in 1992, all 72,000 tickets sold out in three hours, even though no performers were announced besides the remaining members of Queen.

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



Submitted February 16, 2015 at 06:41AM by BP0413 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2w10sb/til_after_the_freddie_mercury_tribute_concert_was/

TIL the "Nigerian Prince" scam is deliberately crafted with an outlandish premise and using poor english, because by sending an email that repels all but the most gullible the scammer gets the most promising marks to self-select, reducing "false positive" responses and increasing profitability

http://research.microsoft.com/apps/pubs/default.aspx?id=167719



Submitted February 16, 2015 at 06:28AM by timehack http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2w0zcj/til_the_nigerian_prince_scam_is_deliberately/

TIL that the Dana Carvey Show, which aired just 7 episodes in 1996, had a writing team that included Louis C.K., Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell, Bob Odenkirk, Charlie Kaufman. Robert Smigel, Dino Stamatopoulous (Starburns from Community) and more.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115148/fullcredits?ref_=tt_cl_sm



Submitted February 16, 2015 at 04:01PM by Kakaze http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2w2cki/til_that_the_dana_carvey_show_which_aired_just_7/

TIL a man was cured of HIV in Germany via a bone marrow transplant from a donor whose gene mutation made him immune to HIV. That gene is relatively common in N. Europe. Researchers have speculated that the gene is the result of natural selection during diseases similar to small pox or Black Death

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CCR5



Submitted February 16, 2015 at 05:29AM by Never-On-Reddit http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2w0spp/til_a_man_was_cured_of_hiv_in_germany_via_a_bone/

TIL after cutting phone lines, snipers attacked a California power station, taking out 17 transformers. They disappeared one minute before the police arrived, never to be caught or identified.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/02/05/272015606/sniper-attack-on-calif-power-station-raises-terrorism-fears



Submitted February 16, 2015 at 03:02AM by canausernamebetoolon http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2w0b1q/til_after_cutting_phone_lines_snipers_attacked_a/

TIL police in west Germany located a man who had a warrant for unpaid fines. They confronted him just as his slot machine struck a jackpot, and he avoided jail time by paying his fine on the spot.

http://www.thelocal.de/20140926/slot-machine-saves-gambler-from-prison



Submitted February 16, 2015 at 05:20AM by Banatepec http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2w0rkw/til_police_in_west_germany_located_a_man_who_had/

TIL Women and men who like the taste of beer are 60% more likely to have sex on the first date

http://www.businessinsider.com/four-statistically-proven-ways-to-identify-weirdos-on-a-first-date-2012-2#if-you-want-to-know-will-my-date-have-sex-on-the-first-date-1



Submitted February 16, 2015 at 03:33AM by MakeYourMarks http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2w0evm/til_women_and_men_who_like_the_taste_of_beer_are/

TIL The Scottish army tried to take advantage of the Black Plague in England through an invasion, but caught it themselves and brought it back to Scotland, killing half of the native population.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/middle_ages/black_01.shtml#six



Submitted February 16, 2015 at 01:43AM by LegaciLeaver http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2w01bv/til_the_scottish_army_tried_to_take_advantage_of/

TIL that there is a Russian cult that worships the character Gadget from the TV show Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers

http://www.odditycentral.com/news/russian-cult-worships-female-cartoon-character.html



Submitted February 16, 2015 at 03:17AM by cnot30 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2w0cvw/til_that_there_is_a_russian_cult_that_worships/

TIL that if humans had eagles' eyes, we could see an ant on the ground from the roof of a 10-story building. You would also have brilliant color vision, UV vision, and an almost 360 degree range of view.

http://www.livescience.com/18658-humans-eagle-vision.html



Submitted February 15, 2015 at 11:26PM by NRGLite http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vzknq/til_that_if_humans_had_eagles_eyes_we_could_see/

TIL the Rothschilds had such an efficient system of couriers that they knew Napoleon had lost at Waterloo a day before the government did. Nathan Rothschild kept it secret and immediately bought up the government bond market. He then sold the bonds for an enormous 40% profit two years later.

https://en.wiki2.org/wiki/Rothschild_family#The_Napoleonic_Wars



Submitted February 16, 2015 at 12:04AM by Tsukamori http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vzp7h/til_the_rothschilds_had_such_an_efficient_system/

TIL that Johnny Cash's estate once refused permission for his hit "Ring of Fire" to be used in a commercial for haemorrhoid cream.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/3498749.stm



Submitted February 15, 2015 at 04:03PM by Honeybadger449 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vymlr/til_that_johnny_cashs_estate_once_refused/

TIL that the Honeyguide bird leads humans (and other large mammals) to beehives. Once the hive is broken and the human has removed the honey, the bird can feed on the beeswax and larvae.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indicator_(genus)



Submitted February 15, 2015 at 07:55PM by LordStormfire http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vz02d/til_that_the_honeyguide_bird_leads_humans_and/

TIL the world's fastest supercomputer (TH-2) requires 24 million Watts of power, but still needs to be about 100,000 times faster to match our 20 Watt brain.

http://motherboard.vice.com/blog/for-one-second-a-supercomputer-mimicked-the-human-brain



Submitted February 15, 2015 at 05:45AM by mar_mouso http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vxa7a/til_the_worlds_fastest_supercomputer_th2_requires/

TIL Steven Spielberg often asks his stars to forego a fee in favour of a percentage of the gross profits. Tom Cruise took 15% of 'Minority Report', amounting to $53.7 million...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minority_Report_%28film%29#Development



Submitted February 15, 2015 at 07:31AM by UrmLewis http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vxl42/til_steven_spielberg_often_asks_his_stars_to/

TIL in 1971, a woman petitioned a Judge for permission to sterilize her "somewhat retarded" daughter. Without a hearing, evidence, or representation for the daughter, the judge granted permission. The daughter later tried to sue the judge, but the Supreme Court voted 5-3 to grant the judge immunity.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stump_v._Sparkman



Submitted February 15, 2015 at 06:59PM by TheCannon http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vyw5m/til_in_1971_a_woman_petitioned_a_judge_for/

TIL WWII Japan killed 4 million more people than the Nazis, practiced Mengele-like human experimentation, cannibalized and tortured POWs, and forced women into military sex slavery

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_war_crimes#Human_experimentation_and_biological_warfare



Submitted February 15, 2015 at 12:43PM by Reddit-Famous http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vyc2e/til_wwii_japan_killed_4_million_more_people_than/

TIL: In 1838, Missouri fought a war against Joseph Smith and the Mormons. The Mormons burned an entire county to the ground, and Missouri's governor ordered the expulsion or genocide of all Mormons.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1838_Mormon_War



Submitted February 15, 2015 at 07:08AM by Wang_Dong http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vxiq5/til_in_1838_missouri_fought_a_war_against_joseph/

TIL when working on "I Am Legend," Will Smith got so attached to his co-star (Abbey the dog), he asked the owner can he buy her. The owner refused.

http://movies.about.com/od/iamlegend/a/legend120707_3.htm



Submitted February 15, 2015 at 08:36AM by Zaldrizes http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vxrfl/til_when_working_on_i_am_legend_will_smith_got_so/

TIL that in Japan, the sales of adult diapers have surpassed the sales of baby diapers.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/adult-nappies-outsell-baby-nappies-4706474



Submitted February 15, 2015 at 02:42AM by Liveabetic-Diabetic http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vwpqj/til_that_in_japan_the_sales_of_adult_diapers_have/

TIL identical twin boys were raised as a brother-sister pair (botched circumcision). The truth came when the one being raised as a girl INSISTED he was a boy; the parents admitted he was the subject of an experiment trying to prove gender identity was nurture, not nature. He later committed suicide.

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



Submitted February 15, 2015 at 09:08AM by Captain-Janeway http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vxuhs/til_identical_twin_boys_were_raised_as_a/

TIL When William Leonard Pickard was arrested, the worlds acid supply decreased by 90%.

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



Submitted February 15, 2015 at 08:11AM by MasterChefRamsey http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vxp03/til_when_william_leonard_pickard_was_arrested_the/

TIL that rival ice cream truck drivers in Glasgow in the 80s sold drugs from their trucks, shot at each other, and committed arson in the Glasgow Ice Cream Wars

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



Submitted February 15, 2015 at 12:26AM by August-11-2013 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vw9t3/til_that_rival_ice_cream_truck_drivers_in_glasgow/

TIL the term "limelight" originated because when heated to 2,400 °C, calcium oxide (quicklime) emits a strong glow. Before electricity this was how theaters lit the stage.

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



Submitted February 14, 2015 at 11:36PM by michaelpinkwayne http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vw3rr/til_the_term_limelight_originated_because_when/

TIL that in the original draft of the Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson had wrote,"We hold these truths to be sacred and undeniable." It was Benjamin Franklin who changed "sacred" to "self-evident" to champion rationality as opposed to religious providence

http://www.theatlantic.com/daily-dish/archive/2008/01/-self-evident/220687/



Submitted February 14, 2015 at 10:44PM by Plainview4815 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vvxt4/til_that_in_the_original_draft_of_the_declaration/

TIL the largest anti-smoking ad campaign "Truth" is funded by the tobacco companies as part of a settlement to be exempted from individual lawsuits stemming from harm caused by tobacco.

https://www.legalzoom.com/articles/tobacco-companies-pay-big-bucks-for-anti-smoking-campaigns



Submitted February 14, 2015 at 10:00PM by maqij http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vvssl/til_the_largest_antismoking_ad_campaign_truth_is/

TIL Researchers in Tokyo have developed a mirror that tweaks the viewer's reflection in real-time to make it look like they're smiling. The projected application for this tech is for use in shopping mall bathrooms, in hopes that happier shoppers will buy more.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2013/08/07/incendiary_reflection_mirrors_make_you_look_happier_than_you_are_so_you.html



Submitted February 14, 2015 at 06:25PM by TheCannon http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vvabi/til_researchers_in_tokyo_have_developed_a_mirror/

TIL: Mortal Kombat II was so popular when it hit the arcades that several of the machines were later installed with deadlock security panels on the back to prevent thieves from ripping the game's motherboard straight out of the machine and taking it home.

http://mortalkombat.wikia.com/wiki/Mortal_Kombat_II



Submitted February 14, 2015 at 05:22PM by BitReplay http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vv6s3/til_mortal_kombat_ii_was_so_popular_when_it_hit/

TIL that when the Nazi Party held its first book burnings, one of the works destroyed was an 1821 play by Heinrich Heine containing the famous phrase "Where they burn books, they will also in the end burn people."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_book_burnings#The_book-burning_campaign



Submitted February 14, 2015 at 11:11PM by Windows7Guy100 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vw0y2/til_that_when_the_nazi_party_held_its_first_book/

TIL: Inspired by the character Lt. Uhura, Mae Jemison joined NASA and became the first African American woman in space, then later became the first real astronaut to appear on Star Trek.

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



Submitted February 14, 2015 at 11:18AM by Silver_Agocchie http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vul1u/til_inspired_by_the_character_lt_uhura_mae/

TIL If Elizabeth II is still reigning as of 9 September 2015, she will surpass Victoria as the longest reigning monarch in British history

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/09/06/elizabeth-set-to-beat-victorias-record-as-longest-reigning-monarch-in-british-history_n_5777134.html



Submitted February 14, 2015 at 10:11PM by Trender_man http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vvtyh/til_if_elizabeth_ii_is_still_reigning_as_of_9/

TIL The idea of having the Olympic torch run from ancient Olympia to the host country was invented by the Nazis for the 1936 Berlin Summer Games.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1936_Summer_Olympics#History



Submitted February 14, 2015 at 07:44PM by Paiste402 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vvft9/til_the_idea_of_having_the_olympic_torch_run_from/

TIL in 1994, the pilot of an Aeroflot Airbus A310 allowed his son to sit at the controls during a flight. The boy inadvertently turned off the autopilot controls, sending the plane into hillside and killing all 75 aboard.

http://aviationknowledge.wikidot.com/asi:aeroflot-flight-593:child-in-the-cockpit



Submitted February 14, 2015 at 08:00PM by TheCannon http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vvh6l/til_in_1994_the_pilot_of_an_aeroflot_airbus_a310/

TIL Darth Vader lost an arm/hand 7 times in total

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Mechno-arm



Submitted February 14, 2015 at 12:35AM by bushleague http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vslax/til_darth_vader_lost_an_armhand_7_times_in_total/

TIL that Benjamin Kyle, a man found unconscious behind the dumpster of a Burger King in 2004, is the only American citizen officially listed as missing despite his whereabouts being known. He has amnesia and doesn't remember who he is.

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



Submitted February 14, 2015 at 06:58PM by ProfessorZ00M http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vvcgn/til_that_benjamin_kyle_a_man_found_unconscious/

TIL Bill Murray and his brothers will call Mitch Glazer (Screenwriter of Scrooged) anytime they watch Roadhouse to let him know Patrick Swayze is having sex with his wife.

http://pagesix.com/2012/10/17/bill-murray-calls-kelly-lynchs-husband-every-time-sex-scene-from-road-house-airs/



Submitted February 14, 2015 at 08:10AM by Plebeian_ http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vu3mu/til_bill_murray_and_his_brothers_will_call_mitch/

TIL that the French spoken words in the Beyonce song "Partition" are almost word-for-word taken from a conversation in the French dub version of the film "The Big Lebowski"

http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2013/12/13/beyonc_french_lyrics_on_partition_did_beyonc_sample_the_big_lebowski.html



Submitted February 14, 2015 at 12:44AM by vrphotosguy55 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vsmkf/til_that_the_french_spoken_words_in_the_beyonce/

TIL the first U.S. pennies had the inscription "Mind Your Business".

http://rivergrandrapids.com/the-first-official-us-coin-said-mind-your-business-fact-of-the-day/



Submitted February 13, 2015 at 11:56PM by NerdHeaven http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vsgf6/til_the_first_us_pennies_had_the_inscription_mind/

TIL that a 20-year-old gallon of McDonald's McJordan BBQ Sauce sold for $9,995 simply because it had Michael Jordan's name on it.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/17/mcdonalds-mcjordan-bbq-sauce-sells-ebay_n_1973691.html



Submitted February 14, 2015 at 12:59AM by ion_citat http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vso4x/til_that_a_20yearold_gallon_of_mcdonalds_mcjordan/

TIL that in most legal Nevada brothels, if the customer arrives by cab, the house gets 50%, the cab driver gets 30%, and the prostitute gets 20% of the revenue.

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



Submitted February 14, 2015 at 05:05AM by Snowmittromney http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vtjgh/til_that_in_most_legal_nevada_brothels_if_the/

TIL that as millions of North Koreans go hungry, the country's rulers have taken up the habit of having McDonald’s hamburgers flown in daily from China (on North Korea’s national airline).

https://www.thetrumpet.com/article/8490.7203.0.0/world/military/the-north-korean-threat-intensifies



Submitted February 13, 2015 at 11:10PM by Jayess_James http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vsafv/til_that_as_millions_of_north_koreans_go_hungry/

TIL Popular hotels in New Orleans put grease on balcony support poles during Mardi Gras so drunks can't climb in.

http://www.gonola.com/2012/01/23/mardi-gras-lubrication-the-greasing-of-the-poles.html



Submitted February 14, 2015 at 01:42AM by Chamrox http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vstqt/til_popular_hotels_in_new_orleans_put_grease_on/

TIL most Japanese schools do not employ janitors or custodians. The Japanese education system believes that requiring students to clean the school themselves teaches respect, responsibility, and emphasizes equality.

http://www.ehow.com/about_6127367_do-students-shoes-off-school_.html?dmsp=manual



Submitted February 14, 2015 at 10:13AM by Ze_maestro http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vuffa/til_most_japanese_schools_do_not_employ_janitors/

TIL Earl Sampson, a Florida black man, has been arrested for trespassing 62 times at the convenience store where he works.

http://www.ibtimes.com/who-earl-sampson-meet-florida-man-arrested-62-times-trespassing-work-1483364



Submitted February 14, 2015 at 04:04AM by mike_pants http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vtc0i/til_earl_sampson_a_florida_black_man_has_been/

TIL there was a computer worm that would gain access to Windows XP systems, download a patch from Microsoft to close the vulnerability that it used to infect the system, attempt to delete the infamous Blaster worm (if present) from the system, then delete itself.

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Welchia



Submitted February 14, 2015 at 03:05AM by garglemymarbles http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vt4h1/til_there_was_a_computer_worm_that_would_gain/

TIL California's economy is the size of the bottom 24 states combined. It would rank 8th in the world if it were it's own country - ahead of Italy, Russia, India, and 186 others.

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



Submitted February 14, 2015 at 05:51AM by BryGuyB http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vtomg/til_californias_economy_is_the_size_of_the_bottom/

TIL One out of every 21 New Yorkers is a millionaire.

http://www.businessinsider.com/one-out-of-every-21-new-yorkers-is-a-millionaire-2014-7



Submitted February 14, 2015 at 02:20AM by THRASHINGMADNESS http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vsyj9/til_one_out_of_every_21_new_yorkers_is_a/

TIL Japan's oldest business, temple builder Kongo Gumi, in operation under the founders' descendants since AD 578, went out of business in 2006.

http://www.bloomberg.com/bw/stories/2007-04-16/the-end-of-a-1-400-year-old-businessbusinessweek-business-news-stock-market-and-financial-advice



Submitted February 13, 2015 at 08:38PM by krustynutsack01 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vrr7e/til_japans_oldest_business_temple_builder_kongo/

TIL in 1978, then-NBA center Clifford Ray saved a dolphin's life by using his 45 inch reach to grab a screw the dolphin had swallowed. He received instruction over the phone from a veterinarian, who told him how to reach up and into the dolphin's second stomach to extract the screw.

http://blog.sfgate.com/parenting/2011/08/10/did-clifford-ray-really-save-a-dolphins-life/



Submitted February 13, 2015 at 09:25PM by I_am_from_Kentucky http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vrwqr/til_in_1978_thennba_center_clifford_ray_saved_a/

TIL a 22-year-old woman died after receiving a silicone butt injection in a pay-by-the-hour hotel. The coroner found that the silicone went into her veins and asphyxiated her, and the woman who injected her was charged with manslaughter.

http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20140311/meatpacking-district/woman-arrested-for-killing-22-year-old-with-silicone-butt-injections-nypd



Submitted February 13, 2015 at 08:13PM by Matuas http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vroh3/til_a_22yearold_woman_died_after_receiving_a/

TIL that for the interrogation scene in the movie "Safe House", Denzel Washington volunteered to actually be water boarded, albeit for a few seconds at a time. Co-star Ryan Reynolds called it "one of the most disturbing thing I've ever seen."

http://news.moviefone.com/2012/02/08/denzel-washington-safe-house-waterboard/



Submitted February 13, 2015 at 08:30PM by FriendFoundAccount http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vrqb2/til_that_for_the_interrogation_scene_in_the_movie/

TIL Skype was developed by the same Estonian programmers who created Kazaa.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skype#History



Submitted February 13, 2015 at 07:39PM by elencus http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vrl0n/til_skype_was_developed_by_the_same_estonian/

TIL that, during the Korean war, American soldiers gave the codename "Tootsie Rolls" to 60MM mortar ammo, ana in one occasion they were accidentally sent crates full of candy after their request for more ammo

http://koreanwar-educator.org/memoirs/szymciak/index.htm



Submitted February 13, 2015 at 07:33PM by Lvl100Magikarp http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vrkgr/til_that_during_the_korean_war_american_soldiers/

TIL that America was once constructing a Superconducting Super Collider (SSC) that would have dwarfed the Large Hadron Collider at CERN. It now sits abandoned in the Texas prairie.

http://www.sobify.com/abandoned-architecture-desertron-super-collider-texas/



Submitted February 13, 2015 at 05:41PM by tiptoptap35 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vrbui/til_that_america_was_once_constructing_a/

TIL until the 20th century, Egyptians believed that men menstruated. This was because of Schistosomiasis, an extremely common disease that causes bloody urine.

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



Submitted February 13, 2015 at 01:46AM by AirborneRodent http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vopsh/til_until_the_20th_century_egyptians_believed/

TIL There is evidence that many prisoners were abandoned in their cells during Hurricane Katrina, while the guards sought shelter. Hundreds of prisoners were later registered as "unaccounted for."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Katrina#New_Orleans



Submitted February 13, 2015 at 02:39AM by Suzie157 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vox2r/til_there_is_evidence_that_many_prisoners_were/

TIL famous actor Chris Pratt used to be a Coupon Salesman, a Stripper and homeless in Maui in his early years, he says “We just drank and Smoked Weed and worked minimal hours, just enough to cover gas, food, and fishing supplies.”

http://dailybuzzinsider.com/guardians-of-the-galaxy-star-chris-pratt-shares-rags-to-riches-story/



Submitted February 13, 2015 at 07:30PM by cj_would_lovethis http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vrk5y/til_famous_actor_chris_pratt_used_to_be_a_coupon/

TIL There have been 18 incidences of theft or loss of highly enriched uranium and plutonium confirmed by the International Atomic Energy Agency in the last 12 years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_terrorism#Incidents_involving_nuclear_material



Submitted February 13, 2015 at 06:45PM by r3ll1sh http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vrg7y/til_there_have_been_18_incidences_of_theft_or/

TIL In 1945, a B-25 bomber pilot crashed into the Empire State Building's elevator shaft, snapping the cable. By the time the carriage reached the bottom, a thousand feet of cable had piled up beneath it acting like a spring, which allowed the lone occupant in the car to escape injured but alive.

http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2008/04/21/up-and-then-down?currentPage=all



Submitted February 13, 2015 at 08:17PM by moumouren http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vrou0/til_in_1945_a_b25_bomber_pilot_crashed_into_the/

TIL: There is a tree in Africa that is called "Bloodwood trees" because its sap is blood red.

http://www.amusingplanet.com/2014/05/the-bloodwood-tree.html



Submitted February 13, 2015 at 03:25AM by Philosophile42 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vp3ay/til_there_is_a_tree_in_africa_that_is_called/

TIL the Thirteen Club met in the 1880s to debunk the superstition about the number 13 by dining 13 to a table, walking under ladders, and spilling salt on Friday 13th. They had 5 US Presidents as members, Chester Arthur, Grover Cleveland, Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt.

http://mentalfloss.com/article/29502/club-more-us-presidents-skull-and-bones



Submitted February 13, 2015 at 03:37PM by GildedAdder http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vr4gc/til_the_thirteen_club_met_in_the_1880s_to_debunk/

TIL on two separate occasions, Keanu Reeves has had a female stalker break into his home. The second stalker undressed, took a shower, and then swam naked in his swimming pool.

http://ca.eonline.com/news/582215/keanu-reeves-home-visited-by-second-female-home-intruder-but-this-one-was-naked-report?utm_source=eonline&utm_medium=rssfeeds&utm_campaign=imdb_topstories



Submitted February 12, 2015 at 11:04PM by CatAbyss http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vo5v3/til_on_two_separate_occasions_keanu_reeves_has/

TIL there is a tree named Pando that is technically an entire forest. It is a clonal colony of 4700 aspens's that all share the same root system.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pando_%28tree%29



Submitted February 13, 2015 at 12:31AM by quadriplegic_cheetah http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2voh6a/til_there_is_a_tree_named_pando_that_is/

TIL New York City residents are among the healthiest, longest living Americans. This is due in part to the large amount of walking NYC-ers are forced to do.

http://nymag.com/news/features/35815/index1.html



Submitted February 12, 2015 at 11:41PM by Bluest_waters http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2voal0/til_new_york_city_residents_are_among_the/

TIL that "LES1", a satellite that had been abandoned in 1967, recently started transmitting again, after its batteries decayed, shorting the solar panels straight to the electronics

http://www.southgatearc.org/news/february2013/radio_archeology.htm#.UTnBuhzwioM



Submitted February 13, 2015 at 01:17AM by Pipinpadiloxacopolis http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vomtl/til_that_les1_a_satellite_that_had_been_abandoned/

TIL that Mr Rodgers, when receiving his Lifetime Achievement Award at the 1997 Daytime Emmys, asked his audience to take "ten seconds to think of the people who have helped you become who you are", causing many to cry.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Rogers#Emmys_for_programming



Submitted February 13, 2015 at 12:48AM by Top_Hat_Matt http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2voj79/til_that_mr_rodgers_when_receiving_his_lifetime/

TIL when a factory worker from Wonka was asked about the production of Nerds candy, he said "Basically we start off with a sugar crystal and we just keep coating it with more sugar."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nerds_%28candy%29#Production_Process



Submitted February 13, 2015 at 02:08AM by DyJoGu http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vospa/til_when_a_factory_worker_from_wonka_was_asked/

TIL Tarantulas and other spiders lack leg extending muscles, and rely on the blood pressure spike from a heartbeat to 'reinflate' the leg back to its extended position. This is why spiders curl up when they die.

http://animagraffs.com/tarantula/



Submitted February 13, 2015 at 12:21AM by ProjectGO http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vofva/til_tarantulas_and_other_spiders_lack_leg/

TIL the movie "Fury" is the first movie since '46 that used an original German Tiger I tank. They also used ten original Sherman tanks. Even though it is fiction it is regarded as one of the most realistic WWII movies.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fury_%282014_film%29#Portrayal_of_history



Submitted February 13, 2015 at 02:32AM by renszor http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vow4u/til_the_movie_fury_is_the_first_movie_since_46/

TIL John Wick was directed by two of Keanu Reeves' former stunt doubles.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wick_%28film%29



Submitted February 12, 2015 at 11:36PM by fatty_fatshits http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vo9w2/til_john_wick_was_directed_by_two_of_keanu_reeves/

TIL Freddie Mercury was ashamed to admit that his favorite song was one that he wrote -- "Somebody to Love". He often avoided the question because he didn't want people to think that he preferred his own music and have his words turned around in print.

http://www.freddiemercury.com/askphoebe/index.php/blog-11/



Submitted February 12, 2015 at 10:43PM by BP0413 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vo36n/til_freddie_mercury_was_ashamed_to_admit_that_his/

TIL A goat was once arrested in Nigeria after vigilantes claimed it was an armed robber who turned himself into a goat with black magic.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2009/01/24/us-goat-idUSTRE50M4XT20090124



Submitted February 12, 2015 at 08:56AM by bankergoesrawrr http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vm3xd/til_a_goat_was_once_arrested_in_nigeria_after/

TIL that in the 1957 film "12 Angry Men" the focal length of the lenses in the cameras used were gradually increased to create a feeling of claustrophobia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/12_Angry_Men_%281957_film%29?a#Production



Submitted February 12, 2015 at 09:47PM by The_CT_Kid http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vnvy5/til_that_in_the_1957_film_12_angry_men_the_focal/

TIL that there is a secret train platform beneath the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York

http://gothamist.com/2011/11/07/photos.php#photo-1



Submitted February 12, 2015 at 06:14PM by tiptoptap35 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vnag6/til_that_there_is_a_secret_train_platform_beneath/

TIL St. Lawrence was roasted to death on a hot grill. In defiance he said "Turn me over - I'm done on this side!". He is now Patron Saint of Comedians

http://ascentofcarmel.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/why-st-lawrence-is-patron-saint-of.html



Submitted February 12, 2015 at 08:39PM by Jim_Broadbean http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vnnsn/til_st_lawrence_was_roasted_to_death_on_a_hot/

TIL Coolio was robbed by his "fans" at a concert in England. They all moved when he attempted to stage dive and then stole his shoes, jewelry, and accessories.

http://www.thisis50.com/profiles/blogs/coolio-robbed-of-his-jewelry



Submitted February 12, 2015 at 10:12AM by ajohnson360 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vmc8h/til_coolio_was_robbed_by_his_fans_at_a_concert_in/

TIL jams are made from fruit, while jellies are made from juice. Preserves have chunks of fruit, conserves have dried fruit or nuts, and marmalades have peel and pulp. Fruit butters are slow cooked to a smooth consistency.

http://www.seriouseats.com/2014/08/difference-between-jam-jelly-compote-conserve-apple-butter-preserves-types.html



Submitted February 12, 2015 at 07:36PM by garglemymarbles http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vnhbo/til_jams_are_made_from_fruit_while_jellies_are/

TIL In 1995 a 6 year old Tibetan boy was named the eleventh Panchen Lama, detained by the People's Republic of China, and never seen again.

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



Submitted February 12, 2015 at 11:12AM by frrrrt http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vmi55/til_in_1995_a_6_year_old_tibetan_boy_was_named/

TIL there is a plant that is able to simultaneously produce both tomatoes and potatoes, cleverly named the "Ketchup 'n' Fries" plant

http://www.territorialseed.com/product/grafted-tomtato-ketchup-n-fries/new_for_spring_2015



Submitted February 12, 2015 at 10:12AM by PublicAnimal1 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vmcaj/til_there_is_a_plant_that_is_able_to/

TIL that the word "avocado" comes from the Aztec "ahuacacuahatl," which translates to "testicle tree."

http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/01/the-selling-of-the-avocado/385047/?single_page=true



Submitted February 12, 2015 at 01:44AM by okiedokeguy http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vklln/til_that_the_word_avocado_comes_from_the_aztec/

TIL that in Alabama, people say "TGFM", Thank God for Mississippi. It is a reference to the fact that, although Alabama has many problems, it's neighboring state is worse off.

http://www.al.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/10/is_thank_god_for_mississippi_r.html



Submitted February 11, 2015 at 09:34PM by QuesoDog http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vjod9/til_that_in_alabama_people_say_tgfm_thank_god_for/

TIL That so many Purple Hearts were made in anticipation of the invasion of Japan that every Purple Heart since World War II has come from that stock.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Downfall#Estimated_casualties



Submitted February 11, 2015 at 06:48PM by bantha121 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vj6o8/til_that_so_many_purple_hearts_were_made_in/

TIL, in a 60's government funded LSD study, "26 men unleashed a slew of widely embraced innovations shortly after their LSD experiences, including a mathematical theorem for NOR gate circuits, a conceptual model of a photon, a linear electron accelerator beam-steering device," [and more....]

http://www.themorningnews.org/article/the-heretic



Submitted February 12, 2015 at 09:39AM by Cryptolution http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vm8rq/til_in_a_60s_government_funded_lsd_study_26_men/

TIL: A study showed reading text in a font slightly more difficult to read (ex: Comic Sans) found students remembered more than reading in easier fonts (ex: Arial)

http://www.princeton.edu/main/news/archive/S28/82/93O80/



Submitted February 11, 2015 at 09:29PM by TravisO http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vjnpa/til_a_study_showed_reading_text_in_a_font/

TIL the slang "Eskimo Brothers" - meaning friends have slept with the same girl - derives from the old tradition of Eskimos gifting their wives to their guests for the night

http://www.uaf.edu/files/apua/Rubel1961.pdf



Submitted February 12, 2015 at 06:05AM by BigolBooty22 http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vlk35/til_the_slang_eskimo_brothers_meaning_friends/