Today I learned

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Last Notes

2026-07-19 00:21:03 CEST

TIL that during the War of 1812 British officer James Dacre was acquitted by court martial for the loss of his ship after defending himself by noting it had been French-built.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Richard_Dacres_(Royal_Navy_officer,_born_1788)#Aftermath
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1v081bm/til_that_during_the_war_of_1812_british_officer/

2026-07-18 10:21:08 CEST

TIL abuot Qian Xuesen, a Chinese aerospace engineer working at CalTech who was deported from the US to China during the Red Scare under false allegations of communist sympathies. He later played a significant part in the development of China's rocketry and defence industry.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qian_Xuesen
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1uzq117/til_abuot_qian_xuesen_a_chinese_aerospace/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/940/004/941/526/582/original/3581299f965e9fc3.png

2026-07-14 20:36:03 CEST

TIL That Jeff Buckley was so ashamed to be in PEOPLE's '50 Most Beautiful' he bought all the copies he could to hide it
https://ew.com/jeff-buckley-bought-many-copies-of-people-50-most-beautiful-issue-to-hide-it-from-fans-8780588
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1uwh5ly/til_that_jeff_buckley_was_so_ashamed_to_be_in/

2026-07-14 20:21:32 CEST

TIL that in 1964 law enforcement allegedly used the violent Colombo crime family capo Greg Scarpa, known as “The Grim Reaper”, to help solve a missing persons case in Mississippi.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregory_Scarpa
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1uwfm7f/til_that_in_1964_law_enforcement_allegedly_used/

2026-07-14 19:51:11 CEST

TIL Electricity was a well-known phenomenon prior to Benjamin Franklin's kite experiment. The experiment was more about demonstrating that lightning was a form of electricity. The electrical nature of lightning had also been demonstrated a month prior in France by Thomas-François Dalibard.
https://fi.edu/en/science-and-education/benjamin-franklin/kite-key-experiment
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1uweu5v/til_electricity_was_a_wellknown_phenomenon_prior/

2026-07-14 19:36:06 CEST

TIL that Nat Turner interpreted a solar eclipse as a divine signal from God to begin planning his rebellion, the bloodiest slave revolt in US History.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nat_Turner%27s_Rebellion
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1uweast/til_that_nat_turner_interpreted_a_solar_eclipse/

2026-07-11 16:21:03 CEST

TIL Earth's inner core doesn't rotate at exactly the same speed as the mantle and appears to periodically speed up, slow down, and even gradually reverse its motion relative to the mantle as part of an approximately 70-year cycle.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-022-01112-z
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1utl8fi/til_earths_inner_core_doesnt_rotate_at_exactly/

2026-06-13 06:21:18 CEST

TIL that "Anwar Sadat" was a 1981 tribute single released by the British singer and songwriter Roger Cook. The song, which celebrated the Egyptian President, was originally written around 1977 but was shelved until it was released as a memorial song following Sadat's assassination in October 1981.
https://youtu.be/4mSs2441EDw?si=aUnRH87iFBvPe0Kq
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1u4gs8z/til_that_anwar_sadat_was_a_1981_tribute_single/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/740/880/614/467/686/original/084adc17d9aae5f9.jpg

2026-06-09 19:36:09 CEST

Today I learned "I ONLY WANNA BE WITH YOU" by Tommy february6 is a cover!
https://youtu.be/1ZcMbOeTE4M?si=0kdNSsEHpOUNaHgM
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1u1b3pc/today_i_learned_i_only_wanna_be_with_you_by_tommy/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/721/357/244/357/528/original/89460f81eb6bbeb2.jpg

2026-06-04 21:36:03 CEST

TIL Atlantic cod show basic tool use. 56 cod were marked with tags on their fins, and given a self-feeder activated by pulling a string. 3 fish accidentally hooked their tags onto the string and pulled it. These 3 fish slowly learned to deliberately activate the feeder with their tags.
https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00171/28217/26513.pdf
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1twxf4h/til_atlantic_cod_show_basic_tool_use_56_cod_were/

2026-06-04 09:06:05 CEST

TIL in 1822, a man named Gregor MacGregor pulled off one of the most brazen cons in history.
https://youtube.com/shorts/NIufB7lZCOY?si=eouFCn18m4DDPu4H
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1twfumi/til_in_1822_a_man_named_gregor_macgregor_pulled/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/690/568/158/881/505/original/5c5d7927a661c104.jpg

2026-06-02 23:36:04 CEST

TIL in 1985 the Canadian federal government demanded the name of the Jamaican Beef Patty be changed, but the Jamaican community fought back.
https://youtu.be/-PxtCIMeRMY?si=8KbR8lI2SimQ3fhR
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tv4gfp/til_in_1985_the_canadian_federal_government/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/682/664/462/441/349/original/8615eda70e750b8a.jpg

2026-05-25 02:21:05 CEST

TIL there's a disorder called "ACHOO Syndrome". It's a disorder where the person has to sneeze when in the sun or looking at the sun. Roughly 18-35% of all humans have this disorder.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK109193/
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tmso2p/til_theres_a_disorder_called_achoo_syndrome_its_a/

2026-05-25 01:51:14 CEST

TIL that Nigeria is the second largest consumer of Guinness beer, ahead of its native Ireland. Nigerian Guinness is also almost twice as strong (7.5% ABV) as the Irish version (4.2% ABV).
https://edition.cnn.com/travel/nigerian-guinness-foreign-extra-import
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tmrrby/til_that_nigeria_is_the_second_largest_consumer/

2026-05-25 00:51:05 CEST

TIL Honolulu is the only state capital in USA that has never recorded measurable snowfall in the past 70 years
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_Hawaii
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tmqi9w/til_honolulu_is_the_only_state_capital_in_usa/

2026-05-24 23:36:05 CEST

TIL I learned about an Upstate New York woman who was pulled over for erratic driving and arrested after it showed her blood - alcohol level at 0.33. But she had a similar level later without drinking any beverages. Turns out she had auto - brewery syndrome and the case was dismissed a year later.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/woman-beats-dwi-with-rare-defense-her-body-brews-alcohol/
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tmopow/til_i_learned_about_an_upstate_new_york_woman_who/

2026-05-24 21:21:46 CEST

TIL James Jakob Williams was an African-American man who fought in the Greek War of Independence. He died in 1829, living the last years of his life as free man in a free Greece.
https://www.eefshp.org/en/african-americans-and-the-greek-revolution/
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tmkva7/til_james_jakob_williams_was_an_africanamerican/

2026-05-24 20:22:28 CEST

TIL that in 1955, the US expelled founding JPL rocket scientist Tsien Hsue-shen to China after 5 years of house arrest on unproven espionage charges. He went on to become the father of China's missile and space program.
https://www.lindahall.org/about/news/scientist-of-the-day/hsue-shen-tsien/
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tmiog2/til_that_in_1955_the_us_expelled_founding_jpl/

2026-05-24 19:51:13 CEST

TIL twin astronauts took part in an experiment on the effects of weightlessness. One twin spent time in orbit, the other stayed on Earth.
https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/the-human-body-in-space/
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tmihol/til_twin_astronauts_took_part_in_an_experiment_on/

2026-05-24 18:21:05 CEST

TIL in 1952, doctors at a hospital in New York noticed unexpected behavior in tuberculosis patients on the experimental drug iproniazid such as dancing in the halls and showing renewed vitality. Investigation into its mood elevating effects spurred research that gave rise to modern antidepressants
https://www.brainfacts.org/diseases-and-disorders/mental-health/2019/rethinking-serotonins-role-in-depression-030819
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tmg5v2/til_in_1952_doctors_at_a_hospital_in_new_york/

2026-05-24 18:06:05 CEST

TIL of Jeanne Louise Calment. She's the only person verified to have lived to at least 120. She was born in February 1875, and died on 4 August 1997, making her 122 years old
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeanne_Calment
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tmfl0c/til_of_jeanne_louise_calment_shes_the_only_person/

2026-05-24 17:36:04 CEST

TIL that in 1955 the US deported a co-founder of NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab back to China on unproven espionage suspicions. He went on to build China's entire missile and space program from scratch.
https://www.lindahall.org/about/news/scientist-of-the-day/hsue-shen-tsien/
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tmewca/til_that_in_1955_the_us_deported_a_cofounder_of/

2026-05-24 17:21:26 CEST

TIL during the Irish Potato Famine, the “Gregory Clause” denied relief to tenants owning over a quarter-acre of land. The policy aimed to push small farmers off tiny plots and cut dependence on aid. Some families even destroyed their own homes to qualify for food.
https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/sir-william-gregory-was-detested-for-his-role-during-the-irish-famine-1.4221949
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tmedq4/til_during_the_irish_potato_famine_the_gregory/

2026-05-24 17:06:05 CEST

TIL Dodge Ram trucks used an inline six engine that did everything better than the V8, but customers were not pleased.
https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/2026-ram-1500-hemi-hurricane-v8-i6-comparison-test
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tmebgz/til_dodge_ram_trucks_used_an_inline_six_engine/

2026-05-24 15:06:23 CEST

TIL Among his many other talents and interests, Pope Leo X was reportedly an "excelent musician". He also enjoyed improvising latin verses on the spot
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Leo_X#General_assessment
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tmb3ou/til_among_his_many_other_talents_and_interests/

2026-05-24 14:51:17 CEST

TIL that the oldest still active bond is from 1624 and pays about 13 1/2 euros in annual interest.
https://www.npr.org/2024/12/13/nx-s1-4738362/at-400-years-old-this-bond-from-the-1600s-is-still-paying-interest
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tmb0c9/til_that_the_oldest_still_active_bond_is_from/

2026-05-24 12:06:34 CEST

TIL there was an alternate reality game (ARG) from 2006 where an objective was to find a man using just his first name and one photo. It was completed in 2020
https://findsatoshi.com/
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tm7t66/til_there_was_an_alternate_reality_game_arg_from/

2026-05-24 06:21:09 CEST

TIL cancer can get cancer and it's called a hypertumor. hypertumors could theortically get harnessed and used to kill cancer sometime in the future as it steals the initial tumor's nutrients and starves it
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-94852-y
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tm1jhz/til_cancer_can_get_cancer_and_its_called_a/

2026-05-24 04:36:05 CEST

TIL the first Commandant of the Marine Corps, Samuel Nicholas, was a Freemason and that Tun Tavern, where the Marine Corps was founded in 1775 was an active Masonic lodge. Ben Franklin was initiated there in 1730.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Lodge_of_Pennsylvania#The_Tun_Tavern_Lodge
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tlzbo9/til_the_first_commandant_of_the_marine_corps/

2026-05-24 02:51:05 CEST

TIL Obi-Wan Kenobi's home planet is named "Stewjon" a play on the name of "Daily Show" host John Stewart. During an interview about Star Wars, John asked Lucas the name of Obi-Wan's home planet, and he answered Stewjon, jokingly. It was then made canon, after being mentioned in several guide books.
https://screenrant.com/obi-wan-kenobi-home-planet-stewjon-george-lucas-joke/
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tlx4kq/til_obiwan_kenobis_home_planet_is_named_stewjon_a/

2026-05-24 02:06:09 CEST

TIL that Nissan cars, when shown in adverts, often display the number 23. In Japanese, two is NI and three is SAN.
https://www.topgear.com.ph/features/feature-articles/nissan-number-23-importance-a5100-20230622?ref=992400
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tlw3co/til_that_nissan_cars_when_shown_in_adverts_often/

2026-05-23 23:36:33 CEST

TIL the green Teletubby is canonically of African descent.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teletubbies#Main_characters
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tlsn6x/til_the_green_teletubby_is_canonically_of_african/

2026-05-23 18:21:58 CEST

TIL Murad Jacob Kevorkian assisted in the deaths of 130 terminally ill people between 1990 and 1998. He was convicted of second-degree murder and served eight years of a 10-to-25-year prison sentence after broadcasting the voluntary euthanasia of a man named Thomas Youk.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Kevorkian
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tlkrp0/til_murad_jacob_kevorkian_assisted_in_the_deaths/

2026-05-23 14:06:23 CEST

TIL Hall of Fame pitcher Hal Newhouser was so convinced of future Hall of Fame baseball player Derek Jeter’s potential that he quit his scouting job with the Houston Astros in protest after the team ignored his recommendation to draft Jeter first overall in 1992.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derek_Jeter
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tledl6/til_hall_of_fame_pitcher_hal_newhouser_was_so/

2026-05-23 12:36:04 CEST

TIL bdelloid rotifers are microscopic animals that have gone without sex for over 80 million years by stealing genes from bacteria, fungi, and plants, with up to 10% of their genome comes from these foreign sources to fix DNA damage and handle extreme dryness.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bdelloidea?wprov=sfla1
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tlcoei/til_bdelloid_rotifers_are_microscopic_animals/

2026-05-23 12:06:13 CEST

TIL that in 2021, 11-year-old Laney Perdue became the sole survivor of a plane crash thanks to her father, who wrapped her in a bear hug as the plane was going down. When she was recovered alive from the crash, all her injuries were on the opposite side of her body from where her father was sitting.
https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/widow-of-michigan-plane-crash-victim-who-saved-his-daughter-it-was-a-miracle-and-a-tragedy/
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tlc6ep/til_that_in_2021_11yearold_laney_perdue_became/

2026-05-23 11:51:06 CEST

TIL that John Surratt Jr., A conspirator in Abraham Lincoln’s Assassination, fled to Canada, then England, then joined the Papal Guard in Rome, and in Alexandria, Egypt he was arrested. He was sent back to the U.S. for trial, the case was later dropped, He lived in Baltimore until his death in 1916.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Surratt
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tlbvv6/til_that_john_surratt_jr_a_conspirator_in_abraham/

2026-05-23 00:51:08 CEST

TIL in 1975 the Metric Conversion Act was signed into law. It declares the metric system as the USA’s preferred weights and measures system. However it is not a mandate and all metrification is voluntary. The law has been largely ignored.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metric_Conversion_Act
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tky708/til_in_1975_the_metric_conversion_act_was_signed/

2026-05-23 00:21:29 CEST

TIL in 2017 Perth Zoo was put on lockdown when two orangutans briefly escaped their enclosure. A 5-year-old male orangutan fell over a barrier & into a garden bed outside the enclosure. His mom then simply went to retreive him before using the visitor boardwalk to go back to her exhibit voluntarily.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-28/orangutans-escape-perth-zoo-enclosure/8567134
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tkxn9o/til_in_2017_perth_zoo_was_put_on_lockdown_when/

2026-05-22 21:06:07 CEST

TIL that because his father was born illegitimately, Machiavelli himself did not enjoy full citizenship rights.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niccol%C3%B2_Machiavelli#Life
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tkrqrm/til_that_because_his_father_was_born/

2026-05-22 18:06:29 CEST

TIL a Buddhist flame in Japan has reportedly been burning continuously for over 1,200 years since 806 AD and even survived the destruction of the building housing it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daish%C5%8D-in
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tkmv87/til_a_buddhist_flame_in_japan_has_reportedly_been/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/619/082/703/751/059/original/3db146916483a2a7.jpg

2026-05-22 17:36:05 CEST

TIL The Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC is named for a British man who despite never visited the US left his estate to "to found in Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Smithson
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tklkwk/til_the_smithsonian_institute_in_washington_dc_is/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/618/963/551/022/893/original/57357fb6d89d0cbf.jpg

2026-05-22 17:06:05 CEST

TIL Dennis Hopper was originally cast as Christof (who was eventually played by Ed Harris) in The Truman Show (1998), however he left the production when director Peter Weir fired him after only two days.
https://www.slashfilm.com/1701857/why-ed-harris-replaced-dennis-hopper-truman-show/
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tkla9n/til_dennis_hopper_was_originally_cast_as_christof/

2026-05-22 16:21:10 CEST

TIL the woman who famously ruined a Jesus painting in Spain was actually celebrated. The viral painting drew in thousands of visitors and raised money for an elderly home. The “botched” painting now sits protected behind a piece of glass.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/30/cecilia-gimenez-monkey-christ-mural-dies-spain
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tkjv4n/til_the_woman_who_famously_ruined_a_jesus/

2026-05-22 15:36:13 CEST

TIL neither of the men behind Rich Dad Poor Dad were actually poor — “Poor Dad” was based on Robert Kiyosaki’s father Ralph Kiyosaki, Hawaii’s top education official, while “Rich Dad” was based on Hawaiian hotel and real-estate businessman Richard Kimi.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rich_Dad_Poor_Dad
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tkiyuh/til_neither_of_the_men_behind_rich_dad_poor_dad/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/618/492/210/558/830/original/2f9d3b4cea0fb1a3.jpg

2026-05-22 13:51:13 CEST

TIL Werner Herzog convinced Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni to keep Grogu as a puppet instead of CGI on the set of "The Mandalorian." After watching them shoot a take without the puppet to allow a CGI replacement in post-production, Herzog told them, "You are cowards. Leave it."
https://www.slashfilm.com/1257434/mandalorians-werner-herzog-called-shows-creators-cowards/
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tkgejm/til_werner_herzog_convinced_jon_favreau_and_dave/

2026-05-22 05:51:05 CEST

TIL of the Brécourt Manor Assault. LT Winters of the 506 Airborne and 23 of his men took out an entire battery of German guns. He made it up as he went along. It is now studied at West Point and the War College. It is considered one of the greatest military victories of a small unit in warfare.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Br%C3%A9court_Manor_Assault
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tk6ny5/til_of_the_brécourt_manor_assault_lt_winters_of/

2026-05-22 05:36:05 CEST

TIL the first picture on the Internet was of an all woman band called Les Horribles Cernettes. The women were comprised of employees and girlfriends of CERN scientists.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/first-picture-on-the-internet-turns-20/
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tk6ndf/til_the_first_picture_on_the_internet_was_of_an/

2026-05-22 02:21:53 CEST

TIL that in 2008, Chicago leased its 36,000 parking meters to a UAE-backed private consortium for 75 years for a $1.15 billion payout. The investors made their entire investment back in just 10 years, and are now projected to make over $11 billion by the end of the lease in 2083.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-parking-meters-have-generated-2b-for-private-company-audits-show/3741103/
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tk2mbi/til_that_in_2008_chicago_leased_its_36000_parking/

2026-05-22 02:06:03 CEST

TIL Congress refused to support the preservation of George Washington's Virginia estate or buy it as a historical site in 1853 when it fell into disrepair. The Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association was set up to buy it and restore the now iconic home, becoming the first nationwide women’s organization
https://www.nps.gov/people/ann-pamela-cunningham.htm
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tk1j2u/til_congress_refused_to_support_the_preservation/

2026-05-22 01:36:11 CEST

TIL that longtime Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox holds the record for the most ejections in Major League Baseball history. Over a 29 year career as a manager, he was ejected 162 times from a game.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Cox
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tk1cf8/til_that_longtime_atlanta_braves_manager_bobby/

2026-05-22 00:06:17 CEST

TIL that there are over 50 species of plastivore organisms that are capable of consuming and digesting plastics. These include fungi, bacteria, larvae of beetles and moths, and even corals.
https://grist.org/fix/science/wax-worm-plastic-eating-organisms/
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tjz0mf/til_that_there_are_over_50_species_of_plastivore/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/614/835/536/062/343/original/755ff62d8985da91.jpg

2026-05-21 23:51:11 CEST

TIL that the serial killer John Wayne Gacy was politically active and at one point even met former First Lady Rosalynn Carter at a Polish Constitution Day Parade. He was given special security clearance, much to the future embarrassment of the Secret Service.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wayne_Gacy?wprov=sfti1
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tjy746/til_that_the_serial_killer_john_wayne_gacy_was/

2026-05-21 21:36:05 CEST

TIL that in 1959, the U.S. Post Office fired 3,000 letters via a repurposed nuclear cruise missile from a Navy submarine, delivering them 100 miles in 22 minutes. The Postmaster General predicted missile mail would be routine before man reached the moon. It was never attempted again.
https://postalmuseum.si.edu/firing-letters-the-60th-anniversary-of-missile-mail
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tjv0xg/til_that_in_1959_the_us_post_office_fired_3000/

2026-05-21 21:21:47 CEST

TIL That Despite It's Long Lived Cultural Heritage, The Country Of Italy Was Formed In 1861
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unification_of_Italy
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tjub2f/til_that_despite_its_long_lived_cultural_heritage/

2026-05-21 21:06:38 CEST

TIL that the look for some of David Bowie's iconic characters came from costume designer Ola Hudson, who is the mother of Slash from Guns N' Roses.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ola_Hudson
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tjtnya/til_that_the_look_for_some_of_david_bowies_iconic/

2026-05-21 20:51:03 CEST

TIL that in workplace meetings, people who speak earlier are often perceived as more confident and influential than those who speak later, even when saying the same ideas.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_decision-making
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tjtj26/til_that_in_workplace_meetings_people_who_speak/

2026-05-21 20:06:24 CEST

TIL the earliest recorded evidence of the production of soap dates back to around 2800 BC in ancient Babylon
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soap
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tjsd5j/til_the_earliest_recorded_evidence_of_the/

2026-05-21 17:21:29 CEST

TIL while attempting to land a role in The Wire, Idris Elba hid his English accent from series creator David Simon to prove he was "American enough" for the part. In his 4th audition, Simon found out. However, by that time Elba had already impressed Simon enough to convince him to give Elba the role
https://www.pastemagazine.com/tv/idris-elba/idris-elba-hid-english-accent
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tjnhih/til_while_attempting_to_land_a_role_in_the_wire/

2026-05-21 15:36:05 CEST

TIL a dog named Joy was the only member of Nicholas II household to survive the family's execution. The Bolsheviks murdered the former Tsar, his wife,their five children,four retainers, and two other dogs, but spared Joy because he didn't bark. Joy was later rescued and lived out his days in England
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joy_(dog)
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tjkfp0/til_a_dog_named_joy_was_the_only_member_of/

2026-05-21 13:36:03 CEST

TIL in ww2, many Norwegian women gave birth to children with German fathers. After the war ended, both the Norwegian mothers and the 10-12k half German kids born during the war were heavily discriminated against. 14k women were arrested and 5k were placed in forced labor camps for a year and a half.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_children
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tjhcmp/til_in_ww2_many_norwegian_women_gave_birth_to/

2026-05-21 07:36:06 CEST

TIL Mariah Carey started out as a background singer. She landed her first gig singing backup for freestyle singer Brenda K. Starr. Previously, she worked part-time jobs to pay the rent and completed 500 hours of beauty school. She shared a one-bedroom apartment with 4 other women.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariah_Carey
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tjaen5/til_mariah_carey_started_out_as_a_background/

2026-05-21 04:22:09 CEST

TIL that Tom Lehrer - MIT mathematician, satirist, and the guy who wrote both the Harvard fight song and a song teaching kids the periodic table - invented the Jell-O shot in the 1950s to sneak booze into a government Christmas party.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Lehrer
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tj6hvj/til_that_tom_lehrer_mit_mathematician_satirist/

2026-05-21 03:36:19 CEST

TIL that televangelist Jimmy Swaggart responded to his first prostitution scandal with a tearful "I have sinned" speech to his congregation, but after his second prostitution scandal he told them, "The Lord told me it's flat none of your business."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Swaggart
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tj5iv9/til_that_televangelist_jimmy_swaggart_responded/

2026-05-20 23:36:19 CEST

TIL of Nakahama "John" Manjirou, the first Japanese to visit the US. Saved from a shipwreck at 14 by a US whaling ship, the young fisherman joined the crew, and later took part in the California gold rush. He went home after 10 years, where he was made samurai and official interpreter.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nakahama_Manjir%C5%8D
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tizjej/til_of_nakahama_john_manjirou_the_first_japanese/

2026-05-20 21:51:06 CEST

TIL that First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln was institutionalized in a psychiatric hospital by her only surviving son. She snuck letters out to her lawyers and sympathizers who helped get her released three months later.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Todd_Lincoln#Institutionalization
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tiwhdu/til_that_first_lady_mary_todd_lincoln_was/

2026-05-20 21:36:04 CEST

TIL Genetically mutated fruit flies which cannot fly are freely available online for easy feeding of pets
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flightless_fruit_fly
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tiw2dz/til_genetically_mutated_fruit_flies_which_cannot/

2026-05-20 20:52:28 CEST

TIL that the "DC" in DC Comics stands for "Detective Comics" which means its offically "Detective Comics Comics" and while they originally officially went by National Allied Publications "Detective Comics" was the name of the Anthology series in 1937 that introduced Batman becoming DC 1977
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DC_Comics
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tiuih6/til_that_the_dc_in_dc_comics_stands_for_detective/

2026-05-20 19:51:03 CEST

Today I learned there was a period of time where cats barely existed on the fossil record. Possible causes range from climate factors to the fact that cats are very big meat-eaters; making them victims of their own success.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat_gap
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tiset2/today_i_learned_there_was_a_period_of_time_where/

2026-05-20 19:36:24 CEST

TIL about the Orca whale Tahlequah, or J35. In 2018, after her calf died shortly after birth, Tahlequah carried the lifeless body on her head and dorsal fin, refusing to let it go for over two weeks.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tahlequah_(orca)
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tis1wv/til_about_the_orca_whale_tahlequah_or_j35_in_2018/

2026-05-20 19:21:05 CEST

TIL in 2010 the son of a sitting judge in Las Vegas stole $1.5M in chips from the Bellagio casino at gunpoint, then stayed at the very hotel he robbed for a week, receiving free rooms and drinks as a high roller. He was later arrested in the hotel after trying to sell the stolen chips online.
https://abcnews.com/Business/alleged-bellagio-gunman-lived-large-hotel-robbed/story?id=12842961
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tirqgx/til_in_2010_the_son_of_a_sitting_judge_in_las/

2026-05-20 19:06:05 CEST

TIL that during most kidney transplants damaged kidneys aren't removed meaning the recipient has three kidneys albeit two barely functioning.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kidney_transplantation
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tiratz/til_that_during_most_kidney_transplants_damaged/

2026-05-20 18:21:39 CEST

Today I learned there there is a non-dangerous wasp here in Florida that only attacks spiders. [It's called the Rusty Spider Wasp.]
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/147347-Tachypompilus-ferrugineus
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tips6y/today_i_learned_there_there_is_a_nondangerous/

2026-05-20 17:06:08 CEST

TIL that the Funk Brothers, a little-recognized motown band, played on more #1 hits than The Beatles, Elvis Prelsley, The Rolling Stones, and The Beach Boys... combined.
https://classic.motown.com/artist/the-funk-brothers/
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tio53s/til_that_the_funk_brothers_a_littlerecognized/

2026-05-20 16:06:32 CEST

TIL that French newborns cry with a rising melody while German newborns cry with a falling melody, matching the intonation of their native language. Babies begin imitating their mother's speech patterns during the last trimester of pregnancy.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19896378/
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1timiau/til_that_french_newborns_cry_with_a_rising_melody/

2026-05-20 14:36:08 CEST

TIL researchers documented 34 cases of wild orcas offering food to humans, including fish, birds and stingrays.
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/orcas-appear-to-be-sharing-their-prey-with-humans-but-what-does-it-mean-180986913/
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tik7yo/til_researchers_documented_34_cases_of_wild_orcas/

2026-05-20 14:06:27 CEST

TIL that after WWII, hay fever became common in Japan due to reforestation policies. The types of trees planted produced a lot of pollen while they were mature.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hay_fever_in_Japan
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tijfnk/til_that_after_wwii_hay_fever_became_common_in/

2026-05-20 07:36:13 CEST

TIL the fastest ocean liner ever built was the SS United States, which operated from 1952 to 1969. Its first voyage from New York City to the UK took three days, averaging 41 mph (66 km/h), and the record has not been broken since.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_United_States#Maiden_voyage
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tibyvq/til_the_fastest_ocean_liner_ever_built_was_the_ss/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/605/280/128/109/959/original/0a752392b17f45df.jpg

2026-05-19 17:36:15 CEST

TIL that in 2003 episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show, a segment appeared claiming that adolescents were having "rainbow parties" where girls would use different colors of lipstick and perform oral sex on a male. There was never any evidence to show that these parties ever took place amongst teens
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainbow_party_(sexuality)
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1thpnt1/til_that_in_2003_episode_of_the_oprah_winfrey/

2026-05-19 17:21:05 CEST

TIL that the voice actor who played Winnie the Pooh, Sterling Holloway, also voiced the Cheshire Cat, Kaa from The Jungle Book, and the Stork in Dumbo. Disney kept hiring the same guy for decades because his voice was just that distinct.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sterling_Holloway
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1thonz7/til_that_the_voice_actor_who_played_winnie_the/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/601/917/604/827/248/original/a0fad74b1824576f.jpg

2026-05-19 16:21:05 CEST

TIL that Southwest Airlines Flight 1248 slid off the runway into an intersection because Midway was built before rules were made about distance between the runway and other objects. The weather was bad enough that one pilot remarked "I picked a bad day to stop sniffin glue" referring to "Airplane!"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southwest_Airlines_Flight_1248
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1thns2j/til_that_southwest_airlines_flight_1248_slid_off/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/601/681/683/206/722/original/6b31d7929e28cafc.jpg

2026-05-19 15:51:06 CEST

TIL: The United States operates an estimated 750 to 861 military bases and facilities across more than 80 foreign countries and territories-accounting for roughly 75-85% of all foreign military bases globally
https://www.visualcapitalist.com/mapped-every-known-u-s-military-base-overseas/
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1thmvwi/til_the_united_states_operates_an_estimated_750/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/601/563/777/340/088/original/8b44b49c3b3a2060.jpg

2026-05-19 15:06:46 CEST

TIL that 32 bit time will run out in 2038, while 64 bit time will run out approximately 292 billion years from now
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Year_2038_problem
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1thlykx/til_that_32_bit_time_will_run_out_in_2038_while/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/601/389/125/413/122/original/33a2e34affe57966.jpg

2026-05-19 12:51:03 CEST

TIL about Pork-Cat syndrome, where a person who is allergic to cats has a reaction to pork. A protein in pork is so structurally similar to a protein in cat dander that the body mistakes the pork for the dander
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pork%E2%80%93cat_syndrome
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1thiy7t/til_about_porkcat_syndrome_where_a_person_who_is/

2026-05-19 07:21:11 CEST

TIL that the The clitoris is the only known human organ that has the singular purpose of providing pleasure and has more than 10,000 nerve fibers.
https://news.ohsu.edu/2022/10/27/pleasure-producing-human-clitoris-has-more-than-10-000-nerve-fibers
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1thcmgw/til_that_the_the_clitoris_is_the_only_known_human/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/599/558/638/032/582/original/89f843871c570ced.jpg

2026-05-19 05:21:08 CEST

TIL Sandy Island a non-existent island in the Pacific Ocean, appeared on maps for over a century. In 2012 Australian scientists sailed to its recorded location and discovered there was nothing there but deep ocean leading it to be labeled a phantom island.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandy_Island,_New_Caledonia
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1th9uyg/til_sandy_island_a_nonexistent_island_in_the/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/599/086/679/239/424/original/e1eecc6b8d9d4526.png

2026-05-19 04:21:05 CEST

TIL about Browser, the library cat. Adopted by a White Settlement, TX library in 2010, Browser was evicted from the library by the local govt in 2016, provoking a backlash that resulted in a unanimous decision permitting him to stay. Browser outlived the councilmember that voted to evict him.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Browser_(cat)
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1th8lpe/til_about_browser_the_library_cat_adopted_by_a/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/598/850/545/277/390/original/8558911504351252.jpg

2026-05-18 23:21:03 CEST

TIL about The Straw Hat Riot of 1922 in NYC, caused by men wearing straw hats past the socially acceptable date of September 15. It lasted eight days, leading to many arrests and injuries. Gangs of teens wielded large sticks, beating those who resisted giving up their hat.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straw_Hat_Riot
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1th0q0w/til_about_the_straw_hat_riot_of_1922_in_nyc/

2026-05-18 20:51:07 CEST

TIL that the son of the man who welcomed the puritans and fed them when they were starving had his head cut off and put on a spike for 20 years at the same location as the first thanksgiving.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metacomet
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tguw4c/til_that_the_son_of_the_man_who_welcomed_the/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/597/081/169/058/313/original/294fa2429ef400cd.jpg

2026-05-18 03:36:09 CEST

TIL Prince was the original choice to play the role of Ruby Rhod in The Fifth Element, which Chris Tucker ended up playing, but he backed out because Jean Paul Gaultier’s costumes were ‘too effeminate.’
https://www.dazeddigital.com/artsandculture/article/35860/1/how-prince-almost-ended-up-in-the-fifth-element
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tg7jis/til_prince_was_the_original_choice_to_play_the/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/593/011/565/350/852/original/65090e9e40bc46f7.jpg

2026-05-18 03:06:06 CEST

til that your brain literally washes itself while you sleep. the brain cells actually shrink in size so cerebrospinal fluid can rush in and flush out all the toxic proteins built up during the day
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glymphatic_system
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tg6wef/til_that_your_brain_literally_washes_itself_while/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/592/893/347/420/184/original/e135078996157ea8.jpg

2026-05-18 01:51:03 CEST

TIL in 2005, Nintendo Power (At the time published by Nintendo of America) considered Superman 64 the worst game ever released on one of their platforms. Nintendo's statement in the magazine was "Why have you forsaken me?"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_video_games_notable_for_negative_reception
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tg4ust/til_in_2005_nintendo_power_at_the_time_published/

2026-05-18 01:36:06 CEST

TIL Peter Mayhew, who played Chewbacca, was escorted by crew members wearing brightly colored vests and told not to wander off set wearing his costume while on location for 'Return of the Jedi' Endor scenes, so that hunters in the California redwood forests would not mistake him for Bigfoot.
https://www.wytv.com/news/nugget-of-knowledge-chewbacca-mistaken-for-bigfoot/
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tg4qxr/til_peter_mayhew_who_played_chewbacca_was/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/592/539/510/824/507/original/d45fcfd159989e46.png

2026-05-18 00:51:03 CEST

TIL Garry Watson, Last living Silent film actor, died at 97
http://www.findagrave.com/memorial/300363780/garry-armand-watson
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tg40mn/til_garry_watson_last_living_silent_film_actor/

2026-05-18 00:06:06 CEST

TIL that space helmets have a small piece of Velcro stuck to the inside so that astronauts can scratch their noses during spacewalks.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_suit#Other_features
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tg26o9/til_that_space_helmets_have_a_small_piece_of/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/592/185/615/059/100/original/a37e9b48c345bb08.jpg

2026-05-17 18:51:55 CEST

TIL Margot Robbie convinced Martin Scorsese to cast her in The Wolf of Wall Street by hauling off & giving Leonardo DiCaprio an improvised "thunderclap of a slap on the face" during her first audition that stunned DiCaprio & Scorsese. Both men burst out laughing afterwards and thought it was great.
https://mashable.com/article/margot-robbie-slap-audition
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tfuca8/til_margot_robbie_convinced_martin_scorsese_to/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/590/949/843/316/112/original/f5fce6fe16a8f09b.jpg

2026-05-17 14:36:10 CEST

TIL about Kate Saunders, the first woman to use an ejector seat in the UK, suffering a broken leg and pelvis. She was seriously ill with 28% burns; the ejection seat was typically designed for the weight of a male; a lighter female would, likely, have more acceleration.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambridge_University_Air_Squadron#Notable_members
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tfnpp1/til_about_kate_saunders_the_first_woman_to_use_an/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/589/944/505/613/204/original/9383165bd0afefae.png

2026-05-17 04:51:03 CEST

TIL that the last male heir of the Roman Imperial line, traceable back to Julius Caesar, died in 1508 as a common soldier in Rome.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantine_Palaiologos_(Papal_Guard)
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tfcfx8/til_that_the_last_male_heir_of_the_roman_imperial/

2026-05-17 04:36:21 CEST

TIL a man digging a swimming pool in his backyard accidentally uncovered a hidden stash of gold worth around $800,000 — including rare coins and treasure believed to have been buried for decades.
https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/archaeology/a70897073/hidden-backyard-treasure-found/
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tfcbyh/til_a_man_digging_a_swimming_pool_in_his_backyard/

2026-05-17 02:06:04 CEST

TIL a man watching an episode of the "Antiques Roadshow" noticed a Navajo blanket, that was similar to one his grandma left him (and had been sitting in his closet for years), be appraised for $300K-$500K. He then got his blanket authenticated and put it up for auction where it sold for $1.5 million
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/11/20/krytzer-sold-navajo-blanket-thought-to-be-worthless-for-1-point-5-million.html
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tf96mm/til_a_man_watching_an_episode_of_the_antiques/