Today I learned

Based on rss feed of reddit's r/todayilearned

Public Key

npub1e206mzksyrymrhlyrn3lgppe9fvax9e6zkvffea5pzyyy7mf8gysqff3ff

NIP-05 Address

todayilearned@noc-social.mostr.pub

Profile Code

nprofile1qqsv48ad3tgzpjd3mljpecl5qsuj5kwnzuaptxy5u76q3zzz0d5n5zgpz3mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfduqs6amnwvaz7tmwdaejumr0dsc4jf5x

Publishing to

relay.damus.io

nos.lol

Author Public Key

npub1e206mzksyrymrhlyrn3lgppe9fvax9e6zkvffea5pzyyy7mf8gysqff3ff

Show more details

Last Notes

2026-08-14 04:36:05 UTC

TIL - Australian Convicts stole a British ship and sailed it to Japan in 1830
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/may/28/australian-convict-pirates-in-japan-evidence-of-1830-voyage-unearthed
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1vnx0bf/til_australian_convicts_stole_a_british_ship_and/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/117/092/002/382/992/871/original/ac9957e95c380169.jpg

2026-08-09 20:22:05 UTC

TIL Sir Mix-a-Lot got the idea for the song "Baby Got Back" after he & his then gf watched one of the Spuds MacKenzie ads for Budweiser that featured "thin, valley girl-esque models". He & his gf decided to dedicate a song to curvy women of color; they sought to "broaden the definition of beauty."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baby_Got_Back
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1vjzyzj/til_sir_mixalot_got_the_idea_for_the_song_baby/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/117/067/410/672/279/950/original/da3b8b2dd6dd162e.jpg

2026-08-09 00:51:05 UTC

TIL the movie Scarface (1983) was a remake of Scarface (1932), whose main character was loosely based on Al Capone. So Tony Montana is essentially a modern Al Capone transplanted into the cocaine world of 1980s Miami.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scarface_(1983_film)
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1vjbfem/til_the_movie_scarface_1983_was_a_remake_of/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/117/062/806/083/670/960/original/84ea930c717e0566.jpg

2026-08-06 03:06:06 UTC

TIL A 2015 study revealed that over 95% of the world’s population has health problems, meaning one in 20 people worldwide (4·3%) had no health problems
https://www.healio.com/news/primary-care/20150608/over-95-of-global-population-suffer-from-health-problems
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1vgs7ei/til_a_2015_study_revealed_that_over_95_of_the/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/117/046/350/081/242/815/original/ee2624ebc17bc604.png

2026-08-06 02:51:06 UTC

TIL that the upper-class of the Roman Empire ate roasted dormice stuffed with nuts. The rodent is still consumed in Slovenia as a delicacy.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_edible_dormouse
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1vgrixj/til_that_the_upperclass_of_the_roman_empire_ate/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/117/046/291/050/735/786/original/4a4ab84d3e96a8eb.jpg

2026-08-01 14:21:06 UTC

TIL that in Georgia, Florida, and North and South Carolina, there is a group of African Americans that preserved much of their culture and language called the Gullah people.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gullah
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1vcobqm/til_that_in_georgia_florida_and_north_and_south/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/117/020/692/688/628/247/original/8e630597a48e97b8.jpg

2026-07-29 03:51:03 UTC

TIL that Ctrl + X not only deletes your text, but also actually COPIES your text
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Control-X
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1v9jrfd/til_that_ctrl_x_not_only_deletes_your_text_but/

2026-07-28 09:21:06 UTC

TIL Nikolaj Waldau(Jamie F Lannister) discovered through a DNA test that his "dad" wasn't his biological father and subsequently learned that his mother had had an affair with a TV producer.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikolaj_Coster-Waldau
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1v8sytv/til_nikolaj_waldaujamie_f_lannister_discovered/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/996/863/800/806/934/original/50202d0f64f3caac.jpg

2026-07-27 17:21:03 UTC

Til that some people grow actual horns like a goats, from their genitals. Vulvar and penile cutaneous horn apparently.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4555894/
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1v86j69/til_that_some_people_grow_actual_horns_like_a/

2026-07-26 04:36:06 UTC

TIL the average white Afrikaner from South Africa has between 5% to 7% African and Asian heritage. This happened from European male colonists marrying and having children with Asian and African Women in the 17th century Cape Colony of the Netherlands.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32089133/
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1v6sog4/til_the_average_white_afrikaner_from_south_africa/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/984/418/517/051/646/original/c69364ed41b2e67c.jpg

2026-07-26 04:21:05 UTC

TIL legendary boxer Sugar Ray Robinson dreamed he’d kill his next opponent and tried to cancel the fight. He fought anyway, the boxer died, and Robinson gave his next four fight purses to the victim’s mother.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugar_Ray_Robinson
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1v6seoq/til_legendary_boxer_sugar_ray_robinson_dreamed/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/984/359/519/944/962/original/4b998accadc51b51.jpg

2026-07-26 04:06:05 UTC

TIL that the towns of Dull, Perth, Boring, Oregon, and Bland, New South Wales form a group known s the "Trinity of Tedium".
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dull,_Perth_and_Kinross
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1v6rp6d/til_that_the_towns_of_dull_perth_boring_oregon/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/984/300/509/946/657/original/291f5953c320125a.jpg

2026-07-26 03:51:05 UTC

TIL Starting the Ford Model T requires turning the crank at the front of the car by hand to start the engine. There is the risk of snapping your forearm if the engine backfires
https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a15142307/how-to-drive-a-ford-model-t/
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1v6rm1h/til_starting_the_ford_model_t_requires_turning/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/984/241/553/719/648/original/270fcb739404df8a.jpg

2026-07-26 03:36:03 UTC

TIL After their family was outsted from power in 1494, Giovanni De Medici & his cousin Giulio, at the time young Cardinals and future Popes, decided to gather a few friends and embark on a road trip across Europe disguised as commoners. During their 6 years on the road, they were arrested twice
https://www.cristoraul.org/ENGLISH/readinghall/THIRDMILLENNIUMLIBRARY/BOOKS/THE-MEDICI-POPES.pdf
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1v6r3vl/til_after_their_family_was_outsted_from_power_in/

2026-07-26 02:51:05 UTC

TIL that Tears For Fears' "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" was banned for broadcast by the BBC for the duration of the first Gulf War (2 August 1990 – 28 February 1991) due to the song's political themes.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everybody_Wants_to_Rule_the_World#Reception_and_legacy
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1v6qrlj/til_that_tears_for_fears_everybody_wants_to_rule/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/984/005/623/120/457/original/1a93442067ca3a58.png

2026-07-26 02:36:07 UTC

TIL that Canada has a national personification known as Johnny Canuck. During WW2, Johnny Canuck fought Nazism in comic books. Like Captain America, one story saw Johnny Canuck fight Adolf Hitler in single combat. In 1975, a new hero, Captain Canuck, emerged as the defender of Canada.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Canuck
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1v6qpdz/til_that_canada_has_a_national_personification/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/983/946/742/460/833/original/9a7cea13f14937e4.jpg

2026-07-26 02:21:02 UTC

TIL there are big ass donkeys called Mammoth Jack Stocks and George Washington played a role in their development
https://breeds.okstate.edu/other-breeds-of-livestock/donkeys/mammoth-jack-stock-donkeys#:~:text=The%20Mammoth%20Jack%20Stock%20was,56%22%20and%20up%20for%20jacks
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1v6qldu/til_there_are_big_ass_donkeys_called_mammoth_jack/

2026-07-26 02:06:05 UTC

TIL that the Kaaba in Mecca has a rainspout on it that is used to divert water from the sloped roof
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mizab_al-Rahma
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1v6q1n1/til_that_the_kaaba_in_mecca_has_a_rainspout_on_it/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/983/828/628/948/232/original/bf5c757a5d1633f5.jpg

2026-07-26 01:51:05 UTC

TIL that, after Greece's Christianization, the Greeks of Eleusis venerated Demeter as "Saint Demetra". Her story had many similarities to the myth of Demeter and the locals decorated her ancient statue with flowers for good harvests. In 1801, Edward Clarke stole her statue and moved it to England.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demeter#Saint_Demetra
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1v6pue1/til_that_after_greeces_christianization_the/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/983/769/669/788/931/original/c8e2be66f26539e7.jpg

2026-07-26 01:36:05 UTC

TIL human breast milk cheese is a thing
https://foodtechconnect.com/2011/01/11/miriam-simun-talks-about-human-cheese-biotechnology-sustainable-food-systems/
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1v6pe3t/til_human_breast_milk_cheese_is_a_thing/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/983/710/667/811/716/original/6af439f8a2c218da.jpg

2026-07-26 01:21:04 UTC

TIL that on February 11, 2013, five TV stations scattered across the United States were hijacked and played an emergency alert saying “Civil authorities in your area have reported that the bodies of the dead are rising from their graves and attacking the living.” The hijackers were never caught.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_Emergency_Alert_System_hijackings?wprov=sfti1
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1v6p3tm/til_that_on_february_11_2013_five_tv_stations/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/983/651/665/813/850/original/ef53ff31ea1fbff2.jpg

2026-07-26 01:06:05 UTC

TIL the mascot in the wildly successful "Mac Tonight" commercial was portrayed by character actor Doug Jones (Hellboy, the Shape of Water)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mac_Tonight
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1v6p2v1/til_the_mascot_in_the_wildly_successful_mac/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/983/592/750/312/746/original/0922813464433cdb.jpg

2026-07-26 00:51:05 UTC

TIL : In 2014, in santa barbara, the city contracted Dan Greding to install "75 minutes parking only" ; he got ticketed for violating the rule while putting up the signs. The ticket was upheld
https://myfox8.com/news/man-gets-ticketed-for-violating-75-minute-parking-sign-he-was-installing/
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1v6olmt/til_in_2014_in_santa_barbara_the_city_contracted/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/983/533/735/693/925/original/bae9550c339011c8.jpg

2026-07-26 00:36:05 UTC

TIL some societies appear to have gone through much of the Bronze Age using bronze only for weapons or elite art, such as Chinese ritual bronzes, with ordinary farmers largely still using stone tools.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronze_Age
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1v6oj9i/til_some_societies_appear_to_have_gone_through/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/983/474/758/866/050/original/a7edc1c6b9f8e6f5.png

2026-07-26 00:21:05 UTC

TIL that while filming Pilgrimage in early 2015, Jon Bernthal and Tom Holland helped film each others audition tapes for their respective MCU roles.
https://deadline.com/2025/04/jon-bernthal-helped-tom-holland-spider-man-audition-tape-1236372095/
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1v6oajt/til_that_while_filming_pilgrimage_in_early_2015/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/983/415/758/074/815/original/8a93f6d78f3eba17.jpg

2026-07-26 00:06:05 UTC

TIL At least 25 of the Snapple "Facts" are false, outdated, exaggerated or inconclusive
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snapple
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1v6nyv8/til_at_least_25_of_the_snapple_facts_are_false/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/983/356/812/276/705/original/b6b1476f65797ecc.png

2026-07-21 14:21:02 UTC

TIL that chewing gum don't lose flavor; Your brain just gets bored of it and blocks it out. Putting chewing gum aside for 40 minutes will let you taste the flavor again afterwards.
https://thefatduck.co.uk/news/heston-s-three-recipes-to-play-with-senses
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1v2j2nd/til_that_chewing_gum_dont_lose_flavor_your_brain/

2026-07-20 04:36:04 UTC

TIL that a 1993 rap album called Bangin' on Wax was recorded entirely by actual, active rival Bloods and Crips and sold over 500,000 copies, with all proceeds from the initial sales going directly to local schools and community parks
https://shop.rapbay.com/bloods-crips-bangin-on-wax-vinyl/?srsltid=AfmBOoq4aGwmDTq1F0v17lpGpHxfrLCkCQlgZvW229CDmD5HBRB7dKUG
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1v1b8qg/til_that_a_1993_rap_album_called_bangin_on_wax/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/950/444/549/450/208/original/26e22197be1e70fb.jpg

2026-07-19 23:51:06 UTC

TIL that the child of a polar bear and a grizzly bear is called a pizzly bear.
https://polarbearsinternational.org/news-media/articles/pizzlies-grolars-polar-bear-grizzly-hybrid/
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1v14tjg/til_that_the_child_of_a_polar_bear_and_a_grizzly/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/949/324/011/008/629/original/588cfaa94c73ef2b.png

2026-07-11 23:36:05 UTC

TIL that the first versions of "ketchup" were made with mushrooms, not tomatoes. The word first entered English in 1682. Tomato catsup emerged in 1817 which included anchovies and insects. In 1913, a dictionary had "catsup/ ketchup" as a table sauce made from mushrooms, tomatoes, and walnuts.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ketchup
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1utyulo/til_that_the_first_versions_of_ketchup_were_made/

2026-07-11 09:21:34 UTC

TIL that Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence who wrote "all men are created equal," enslaved over 620 people in his lifetime, freeing only two while he lived and five in his will.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Jefferson_and_slavery
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1utf8co/til_that_thomas_jefferson_the_author_of_the/

2026-07-11 04:51:27 UTC

TIL about shirkodama - in Japanese mythology a fictitious human organ located somewhere inside anus, that Kappas like to eat and so hurt people by trying to extract shirikodama from them - according to the same lore a person without their shirkodama is bound to die.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kappa_(folklore)#Shirikodama
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1uta03g/til_about_shirkodama_in_japanese_mythology_a/

2026-07-03 15:51:03 UTC

TIL about the Kentucky Meat Shower. A woman and her husband witnessed chunks of meat falling from the sky. The cause is unknown. One theory is regurgitating vultures. The meat also remains unidentified, with one meat sample identified as lung tissue from a horse or a human infant.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kentucky_meat_shower
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1umhvox/til_about_the_kentucky_meat_shower_a_woman_and/

2026-06-17 03:51:17 UTC

TIL Ty Cobb was an early investor in GM and Coca Cola. Investing $10 million in GM and around $2 million in Coca Cola. Today it, would be worth a little over 1 billion dollars.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ty-cobb-greatest-pro-athlete-132519674.html
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1u7z7fc/til_ty_cobb_was_an_early_investor_in_gm_and_coca/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/763/412/220/518/764/original/1f83003c96daf17b.png

2026-06-14 04:36:03 UTC

TIL that after his voyage to Japan. In December of 1614, English merchant John Saris was discovered to have kept a collection of Japanese erotic art and books. His collection was publicly burnt, he was disgraced, and it ended his career.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Saris#Return_to_England
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1u5beyi/til_that_after_his_voyage_to_japan_in_december_of/

2026-06-13 23:51:05 UTC

TIL about the Herero and Nama genocide which happened in 1904-6 in which Germany exterminated the peoples of Namibia. They did it to compete with Britain and argued they shouldn't be stripped of their colonies because Britain did similar things.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herero_and_Nama_genocide
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1u55idh/til_about_the_herero_and_nama_genocide_which/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/745/480/785/726/515/original/c0dbb272062028fb.jpg

2026-06-13 18:21:19 UTC

TIL that in 1990, there was a short lived Brady Bunch hourlong dramedy where Marcia had become an alcoholic, Bobby becomes a paraplegic after a car accident, and Mike was going to die in a helicopter accident with Carol singing at his funeral. And the show had a laugh track.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bradys?wprov=sfla1
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1u4xp2s/til_that_in_1990_there_was_a_short_lived_brady/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/744/183/941/901/232/original/ce7956555ce13e86.jpg

2026-06-13 17:51:03 UTC

TIL about Japans Unit 731. And how many of their experiments weren’t necessarily to help Japan but to test the human bodys limits. It interested me how the US worked with some of the leadership post WWII, when the Cold War started….
https://knowledge.lancashire.ac.uk/id/eprint/48605/1/Dyson%20-%20Final%20Thesis%20-%20Master%20Copy.pdf
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1u4x21k/til_about_japans_unit_731_and_how_many_of_their/

2026-06-13 11:51:06 UTC

TIL that Hollywood adapted Jim Corbett’s famous book Man-Eaters of Kumaon into a 1948 movie, but replaced his real conservation stories with a fictional plot about a killer tiger. The film was a commercial flop, and Corbett famously mocked it by saying that "the best actor was the tiger."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man-Eater_of_Kumaon
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1u4ovem/til_that_hollywood_adapted_jim_corbetts_famous/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/742/649/662/537/805/original/2fc9fca836afe716.jpg

2026-06-12 13:36:03 UTC

TIL armadillo shells are bullet-resistant and can even ricochet shrapnel back toward humans due to their unique combination of bony plates covered by a tough layer of keratin
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1751616110001888
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1u3vgg9/til_armadillo_shells_are_bulletresistant_and_can/

2026-06-10 14:51:03 UTC

TIL wood ants mix tree resin with their own formic acid to make a fungicide stronger than either alone — a rare case of an animal blending two substances into a synergistic antimicrobial "cocktail"
https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.2834
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1u23nky/til_wood_ants_mix_tree_resin_with_their_own/

2026-06-10 02:51:05 UTC

TIL Ethereum was partly inspired by a World of Warcraft nerf that made Vitalik Buterin realize the dangers of centralized control.
https://www.polygon.com/22709126/ethereum-creator-world-of-warcraft-nerf-nft-vitalik-buterin/
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1u1pgkh/til_ethereum_was_partly_inspired_by_a_world_of/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/723/539/331/950/794/original/2b80f7f5792b0cc9.jpg

2026-06-08 17:51:02 UTC

TIL Hungary once had an inflation rate of 41 quadrillion percent.
https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/762605-highest-inflation-rate-ever
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1u0f1qm/til_hungary_once_had_an_inflation_rate_of_41/

2026-06-07 17:51:38 UTC

TIL The world’s oldest cat lived to 38 years and three days old. Creme Puff was the oldest cat to ever live.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creme_Puff_(cat)
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tzij80/til_the_worlds_oldest_cat_lived_to_38_years_and/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/710/092/985/223/946/original/4eccdf83ac6294ae.jpg

2026-06-05 02:21:05 UTC

TIL that Feline calicivirus and human norovirus belong to the same viral family (Caliciviridae) but affect different hosts and cause different symptoms. Because human norovirus is notoriously difficult to grow in labs, FCV is widely used by the EPA as a scientific surrogate for norovirus studies.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2042067/
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tx7pzy/til_that_feline_calicivirus_and_human_norovirus/

2026-06-04 14:06:05 UTC

TIL in 1989 Li Jingwei, at 4 years old, was kidnapped by a neighbor who lured him away by saying they would go look at cars (rare in rural Chinese villages). At age 37, he posted a map of his home village online that he drew from memory, which helped lead to its location & a reunion with his family.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/map-man-family-reunion-abducted-1989-china/
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1two2z1/til_in_1989_li_jingwei_at_4_years_old_was/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/692/219/693/825/817/original/11e4e5f7e4f982c9.jpg

2026-05-29 14:36:05 UTC

TIL Joaquin Phoenix's real name is Joaquin Bottom
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joaquin_Phoenix
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tr38q3/til_joaquin_phoenixs_real_name_is_joaquin_bottom/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/658/363/780/254/014/original/184fc388509996ad.jpg

2026-05-17 11:36:09 UTC

TIL that overthinking grammar while speaking can reduce fluency more than making mistakes
https://www.speaklay.com/why-speaking-practice-matters-more-than-studying-grammar
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tfms20/til_that_overthinking_grammar_while_speaking_can/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/589/708/428/794/102/original/c4c07fa709011d92.jpg

2026-04-09 08:36:02 UTC

TIL the president of the USA has sole authority to authorize a nuclear strike. Senior military figures like generals are in the chain of communication but not the chain of command (they can advise, but have no say in the decision).
https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IF10521
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1sgjqt3/til_the_president_of_the_usa_has_sole_authority/

2026-04-04 23:06:05 UTC

TIL that great apes have 24 pairs of chromosomes while humans have 23 pairs because 2 ape chromosomes fused into 1 human chromosome.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chimpanzee_genome_project
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1scn7gc/til_that_great_apes_have_24_pairs_of_chromosomes/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/348/942/103/362/121/original/b2e95c2872819d1f.jpg

2026-03-29 17:06:05 UTC

TIL McDonald’s runs a training facility called Hamburger University and over 275,000 people have graduated with a degree in Hamburgerology.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamburger_University
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1s701ru/til_mcdonalds_runs_a_training_facility_called/

2026-03-24 03:06:08 UTC

TIL Candiru Fish Swim Up A Stream of Urine Into Men’s Urethras
https://youtu.be/oDu1E4EndJw?si=L4KTsQ-XUbBd21zL
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1s21yyy/til_candiru_fish_swim_up_a_stream_of_urine_into/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/281/938/038/395/554/original/2664431f6b9111f1.jpg

2026-03-22 20:21:09 UTC

TIL the Pulitzer Prize jury selected Gravity’s Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon to receive the 1974 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, however the Pulitzer Advisory Board overruled them, electing instead to not give an award that year to avoid honoring a book they considered “unreadable”, “turgid”, & “obscene”.
https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/history-is-hard-to-decode-on-50-years-of-thomas-pynchons-gravitys-rainbow/
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1s0vnwi/til_the_pulitzer_prize_jury_selected_gravitys/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/274/683/289/162/197/original/94f7e2506855158b.jpg

2026-03-20 16:51:06 UTC

TIL Costco has a company policy that no regular item will be marked up more than 14% over cost & no Kirkland Signature item will be marked up more than 15% over cost. Costco runs "very lean", with overhead costs at 10% of revenue & profit margins at 2% (e.g. it has no PR dept. & buys no outside ads)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costco#:~:text=One%20company%20rule%20states,advertising.%5B120%5D
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1ryzxro/til_costco_has_a_company_policy_that_no_regular/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/262/532/931/526/668/original/6359655df306e285.jpg

2026-03-19 17:51:03 UTC

TIL that Burmese pythons have a compound, pTOS, in their blood that increases more than 1000-fold after a meal. When pTOS was given to obese mice they lost 9% of their body weight after 28 days. This suggests pTOS could pave the way for new anti-obesity drugs.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s42255-026-01485-0
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1ry64l9/til_that_burmese_pythons_have_a_compound_ptos_in/

2026-03-16 20:06:06 UTC

TIL On his way to conquer India in the 1520's, the first Mughal Emperor Babur wrote an autobiography still praised today for its detailed description of Indian culture, geography, Flora & Fauna. A portion of the text is a description of 13 year old Babur's first crush, which was a boy named Baburi
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baburnama#Praise
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1rvkkid/til_on_his_way_to_conquer_india_in_the_1520s_the/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/240/650/479/285/440/original/503103e6de5ecd91.jpg

2026-03-16 19:51:05 UTC

TIL that humans are among the very top mammals for endurance running. While we aren't the best sprinters, our slow-twitch muscles and unique ability to sweat allow us to run steadily for long distances in hot weather to outlast prey.
https://www.ucdavis.edu/blog/humans-are-born-run
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1rvj6wv/til_that_humans_are_among_the_very_top_mammals/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/240/591/429/443/734/original/69f1e214d988b40c.jpg

2026-03-16 16:36:03 UTC

TIL that in 1786 a woman named Margaret Nicholson attempted to assassinate King George III. The attempt failed because she used a dessert knife.
https://heritage.stockton.gov.uk/articles/people/margaret-nicholson-the-would-be-assassin/
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1rvdktb/til_that_in_1786_a_woman_named_margaret_nicholson/

2026-03-16 04:51:06 UTC

TIL that Florida is statistically the coldest and snowiest town in Massachusetts
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida,_Massachusetts
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1rv06sv/til_that_florida_is_statistically_the_coldest_and/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/237/052/562/093/829/original/a2ced24ece6b863d.jpg

2026-03-16 01:21:03 UTC

TIL a fisherman was federally prosecuted for throwing undersized fish back into the sea under a law meant to stop Enron-style document destruction because prosecutors argued a fish counted as a "tangible object."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yates_v._United_States_(2015)
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1ruvu4r/til_a_fisherman_was_federally_prosecuted_for/

2026-03-03 11:51:05 UTC

TIL of Sabbatai Zevi who in the 17th century claimed he was the Messiah, leading to a significant portion of Jews world wide believing him. Only for him to end up converting to Islam.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabbatai_Zevi
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1rjn8pf/til_of_sabbatai_zevi_who_in_the_17th_century/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/165/093/983/929/190/original/e5da5763328075d9.jpg

2026-03-02 05:21:17 UTC

TIL Richard of Shrewsbury was knighted before 2 years old, married at 4, widowed at 8, then likely murdered at 9.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_of_Shrewsbury,_Duke_of_York
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1rijt8e/til_richard_of_shrewsbury_was_knighted_before_2/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/157/898/894/448/242/original/7478419069c9b35b.jpg

2026-03-01 20:51:05 UTC

TIL that Philo Farnsworth, the man who invented television, only appeared on a TV program one time. In 1957 he appeared on the quiz show I've Got A Secret. His secret was "I invented electronic television", which stumped the panel. For winning he received $80 and a carton of cigarettes.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philo_Farnsworth#TV_appearance
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1ri8815/til_that_philo_farnsworth_the_man_who_invented/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/155/892/681/158/303/original/94e43ab602a9f0e4.jpg

2026-03-01 05:06:05 UTC

TIL that as of February 2026, Starlink has officially hit the 10,000-satellite milestone, making up 65% of all active satellites. Scientists warn that a single major solar storm could knock out their navigation and trigger a "Kessler Syndrome" chain reaction, trapping humanity on Earth.
https://www.advanced-television.com/2026/02/27/starlink-deploys-500th-satellite-of-2026/
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1rhoa8l/til_that_as_of_february_2026_starlink_has/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/152/176/806/690/493/original/21079c726fe23642.jpg

2026-02-28 23:06:04 UTC

TIL Jim Carrey has said that “Jim Carrey” doesn’t actually exist , calling his identity just an idea and saying “we don’t exist, there’s just things happening.”
https://the-talks.com/interview/jim-carrey/
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1rhgmqz/til_jim_carrey_has_said_that_jim_carrey_doesnt/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/150/761/192/499/695/original/9a4dcc025e7e98f9.jpg

2026-02-28 16:06:05 UTC

TIL that American women with Bachelor's degrees earn significantly less than men with Bachelor's degrees in the same field; for example, women with a degree in computer science earned a median $91,990 in 2022 while men with a degree in computer science earned $115,500
https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2023/12/education-does-not-resolve-gender-wage-gap.html
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1rh68ml/til_that_american_women_with_bachelors_degrees/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/149/109/689/476/671/original/fad03168537c1717.jpg

2026-02-28 04:51:10 UTC

TIL the room used to collect sperm at a sperm bank is called a masturbatorium
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sperm_bank#Collection
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1rgtb40/til_the_room_used_to_collect_sperm_at_a_sperm/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/146/455/835/849/746/original/482b2a4482535a86.jpg

2026-02-26 17:21:19 UTC

TIL about the Herxheim archaeological site, where around 5000 BC over 1000 people were brought in, often from a great distance, to be killed and likely eaten
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herxheim_(archaeological_site)
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1rffznk/til_about_the_herxheim_archaeological_site_where/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/138/080/974/115/842/original/41802df2bf47ad7f.jpg

2026-02-25 10:21:08 UTC

TIL: Weighing up to 66 pounds and measuring nearly 20 inches, the Seychelles sea coconut is the largest seed on the planet
https://www.ecoticias.com/en/weighing-up-to-66-pounds-and-measuring-nearly-20-inches-the-seychelles-sea-coconut-is-the-largest-seed-on-the-planet/27774/#google_vignette
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1re9cdk/til_weighing_up_to_66_pounds_and_measuring_nearly/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/130/766/368/095/741/original/69d6ab8957f1f833.jpg

2026-02-24 12:51:03 UTC

TIL that humans can learn to “echolocate” like bats, using clicking sounds or listening to echoes from their surroundings to sense objects, distances, and surfaces around them
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_echolocation
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1rdf01c/til_that_humans_can_learn_to_echolocate_like_bats/

2026-02-22 16:21:06 UTC

TIL 53% of Americans think they're "cool".
https://wcmspi.com/2024/03/05/do-you-think-youre-cool-most-americans-say-yes-they-are/
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1rbpahi/til_53_of_americans_think_theyre_cool/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/115/194/899/170/478/original/2bfe03162baf0a2e.jpg

2026-02-22 06:06:04 UTC

TIL that the first airliner collision took place on the 7th of April 1992, when a Grands Express Farman Goliath flies into the path of a Daimler Airways de Havilland DH18A over Poix in northern France. The 2 crew and 3 passengers of the Goliath are killed, as well as the 2 crew of the DH18A.
https://zonamancha.ayeryhoyrevista.com/hace-100-anos-abril-1922-primer-choque-de-aviones-comerciales/
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1rbdv0s/til_that_the_first_airliner_collision_took_place/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/112/776/506/516/815/original/4bee6d2249d7c8b7.jpg

2026-02-21 13:06:07 UTC

TIL the iPad started development before the iPhone, despite releasing 3 years later.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPad#History
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1raq63q/til_the_ipad_started_development_before_the/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/108/765/883/279/810/original/eedfd461cc515e53.png

2026-02-20 21:21:03 UTC

TIL Aston Martin are launching an SUV. It makes me sad to see..
https://www.astonmartin.com/en/models/dbx707
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1ra7vy6/til_aston_martin_are_launching_an_suv_it_makes_me/

2026-02-20 13:36:03 UTC

TIL red Power Ranger Skylar Deleon murdered Tom and Jackie Hawks by tying them to their own yacht anchor and throwing them overboard into the Pacific Ocean. The Hawks have never been found.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murders_of_Thomas_and_Jackie_Hawks
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1r9vf3p/til_red_power_ranger_skylar_deleon_murdered_tom/

2026-02-20 10:36:05 UTC

TIL that Oxford University is older than the Aztec Empire.
https://www.ox.ac.uk/about/organisation/history
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1r9roh1/til_that_oxford_university_is_older_than_the/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/102/513/664/018/035/original/f8393c697ca18c2c.jpg

2026-02-20 10:06:04 UTC

TIL a German double agent informed the FBI on 12 August 1941 of the impending attack on Pearl Harbor. Either the FBI chief J. Edgar Hoover did not report this fact to his superiors, or they, for reasons of their own, took no action.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Du%C5%A1ko_Popov
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1r9r8ai/til_a_german_double_agent_informed_the_fbi_on_12/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/102/395/626/326/510/original/a3c3a173c277151a.jpg

2026-02-19 14:36:02 UTC

TIL the 1904 Olympic Marathon in St. Louis was a disaster: The first "winner" hitched a car ride for 11 miles, the actual gold medalist was revived with rat poison and brandy, and another runner was chased a mile off-course by wild dogs.
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-the-1904-marathon-became-one-of-the-weirdest-olympic-events-of-all-time-14910747/
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1r90lcd/til_the_1904_olympic_marathon_in_st_louis_was_a/

2026-02-19 11:06:03 UTC

TIL our galaxy, in part, is flavoured like raspberries and scented of rum. In 2009 scientist performed telescopic spectroscopy on the Sagittarius B cloud at the centre of our Milky Way and found Ethyl Formate - which gives raspberries their distinct flavour and has a faint rum scent.
https://analyticalscience.wiley.com/content/article-do/raspberry-flavoured-galactic-centre-hint-rum
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1r8wc0m/til_our_galaxy_in_part_is_flavoured_like/

2026-02-07 21:06:05 UTC

TIL in China an Emperor arrested a victorious General Zhang Yanze for War Crimes. Survivors of the pillaged City beat him up, uncuffed him by cutting off his hands, beheading him, cutting out his heart to sacrifice to his Victims. The common folk rushed in to break open his skull and eat his flesh.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhang_Yanze
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1qyoc9b/til_in_china_an_emperor_arrested_a_victorious/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/031/380/841/350/156/original/088408ab467f87bd.jpg

2026-02-07 09:06:05 UTC

TIL about 'atmospheric rivers'...these narrow bands of water vapor in the sky that can transport twice the volume of the Amazon River. The 'Pineapple Express' is a famous one that draws moisture from near Hawaii and slams the US West Coast with devastating storms, flooding, and mudslides
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pineapple_Express
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1qy92a0/til_about_atmospheric_riversthese_narrow_bands_of/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/028/549/689/900/824/original/29086a97de404e22.png

2026-02-07 05:21:05 UTC

TIL that 44% of the world's adult population has never consumed alcohol
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teetotalism
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1qy52nt/til_that_44_of_the_worlds_adult_population_has/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/027/664/986/060/036/original/ca9d926dc2ae6b74.png

2026-02-06 17:51:04 UTC

TIL that David Hasselhoff has released 15 albums of music
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_works_by_David_Hasselhoff
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1qxmvc4/til_that_david_hasselhoff_has_released_15_albums/

2026-02-04 07:21:03 UTC

TIL Many people don't know that if you are nearsighted, you can squint and use your finger to help you see better (when for some reason you don't have your glasses with you). Also, TIL that this action can be mistaken for a rude gesture (I've been doing this my whole life, my cousins are Kazakhs)
https://vision-and-hearing.wonderhowto.com/how-to/vision-hack-see-clearly-without-your-glasses-contacts-0154635/
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1qvhph3/til_many_people_dont_know_that_if_you_are/

2026-01-31 04:36:04 UTC

TIL that Daylight Saving Time (DST) actually reduces deer-car collisions. This happens as DST shifts commuting peak hours to daylight, resulting in lower overlaps with deers which are most active at dusk.
https://www.washington.edu/news/2022/11/02/deer-vehicle-dst/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1qrsnms/til_that_daylight_saving_time_dst_actually/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/115/987/851/801/445/801/original/e298e87c44791455.jpg

2026-01-29 08:36:05 UTC

TIL about Xenoturbella, an organism without brain, eyes and organs with just one hole (for food to get in and out again). It just slides through the deep sea floor, existing for no clear reason
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenoturbella
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1qq31de/til_about_xenoturbella_an_organism_without_brain/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/115/977/470/944/796/190/original/f76687064a167036.jpg

2026-01-28 11:51:04 UTC

TIL that due to chemical polymorphism and the resulting contamination of production lines worldwide, Ritonavir, an HIV medication, was withdrawn from the market temporarily
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ritonavir#Polymorphism_and_temporary_market_withdrawal
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1qp97b9/til_that_due_to_chemical_polymorphism_and_the/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/115/972/575/362/937/564/original/a323065e3219bcc2.png

2026-01-28 08:06:03 UTC

TIL Serial Killer Ed Kemper once accidentally locked himself out of his car while his victim and gun were still inside. She let him back in, where he proceeded to murder her.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_Kemper#Aiko_Koo
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1qp4p7u/til_serial_killer_ed_kemper_once_accidentally/

2026-01-28 07:21:03 UTC

TIL in 1966, it was proposed that the US should bomb the dikes and dams in Vietnam in order to disrupt food supply. It would have killed 200,000 people. The idea was rejected.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proposed_bombing_of_Vietnam%27s_dikes
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1qp3w7r/til_in_1966_it_was_proposed_that_the_us_should/

2026-01-25 13:06:04 UTC

TIL great white sharks have never been documented mating in the wild, not once, by any scientist or diver, despite how commonly they are seen. Zero confirmed footage or direct observations exist.
https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/fish/how-do-great-whites-mate
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1qmidzb/til_great_white_sharks_have_never_been_documented/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/115/955/883/339/655/022/original/0615950b31d0b985.jpg

2026-01-16 09:51:17 UTC

TIL that between c. 1966 and c.1975, Danish authorities forcibly sterlized thousands of Greenlandic Inuit women and girls in an effort to control birth rates.
https://www.cfr.org/blog/women-week-denmark-issues-apology-greenland-over-forced-sterilization
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1qebp7h/til_that_between_c_1966_and_c1975_danish/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/115/904/156/595/756/592/original/e5346734fb83bb19.jpg

2026-01-14 14:51:24 UTC

TIL David Rockefeller had 7 heart transplants before his death at 101 years of age
https://telegrafi.com/en/the-billionaire-who-could-not-buy-eternity-even-though-he-changed-his-heart-seven-times/
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1qcp71j/til_david_rockefeller_had_7_heart_transplants/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/115/894/012/024/902/248/original/9533914000e454ad.jpg

2026-01-14 12:51:17 UTC

TIL Sega published a game called Segagaga, a role playing game where the player is tasked with preventing Sega from losing the home console market. The game was released 2 days before the Dreamcast was discontinued.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Segagaga
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1qcm62t/til_sega_published_a_game_called_segagaga_a_role/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/115/893/539/655/486/264/original/6bee42106b5b7515.jpg

2026-01-14 09:06:17 UTC

TIL Voltaire had enough money to sit around and think all day because he noticed a flaw in the national lottery which he exploited to win half a million livre, worth as much as $120 million today by some measures
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/voltaire-enlightenment-philosopher-and-lottery-scammer-180967265/
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1qcih2h/til_voltaire_had_enough_money_to_sit_around_and/

2026-01-04 21:06:05 UTC

TIL Britain occupied Iceland during WWII, violating their sovereignty and neutrality. Massive infrastructure projects were conducted to build roads and hospitals for potential defense of the island, which led to an economic boom. At one point foreign troops made up 25% of the population.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion_of_Iceland
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1q414qa/til_britain_occupied_iceland_during_wwii/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/115/838/862/335/561/725/original/2856a98705b75280.jpg

2026-01-03 20:06:05 UTC

TIL that Lonnie Johnson, the inventor of the Super Soaker, is a former NASA nuclear engineer. He used the millions he made from the toy to fund research into the "Johnson Thermo-Electrochemical Converter," a device that turns heat directly into electricity.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lonnie_Johnson_(inventor)
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1q34df1/til_that_lonnie_johnson_the_inventor_of_the_super/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/115/832/964/045/946/114/original/265360d2c96a02b1.jpg

2026-01-02 23:51:06 UTC

TIL despite popular culture portraying psychedelic mushrooms as ancient, widespread, and used by shamans for thousands of years, there is limited anthropological and historical research to support this, with the only reliable evidence showing they were used ritualistically in pre-Columbian Mexico.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psilocybin#History
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1q2e3nt/til_despite_popular_culture_portraying/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/115/828/186/539/718/011/original/458ed86963a33fb0.png

2025-12-31 17:51:03 UTC

TIL the first major battle post WW2 involving the Italian Army took place at a pasta factory in Somalia in 1993.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Checkpoint_Pasta
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1q0ip01/til_the_first_major_battle_post_ww2_involving_the/

2025-12-31 09:36:11 UTC

TIL Mary Lincoln accepted bribes and kickbacks, sold permits and pardons, engaged in extortion, and peddled influence.
https://www.historyonthenet.com/how-the-broken-marriage-of-abraham-and-mary-todd-lincoln-saved-the-civil-war#:~:text=To%20discuss%20the%20incredibly%20story,so%20much%20practice%20at%20home.
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1q080p1/til_mary_lincoln_accepted_bribes_and_kickbacks/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/115/813/500/264/952/538/original/4378ff66e77517c7.jpg

2025-12-31 01:51:05 UTC

TIL that Rib Hadda, King of Byblos (c. 1350 BC) sent so many unsolicited clay tablets to Akhenaten, Pharaoh of Egypt, that the latter sent an annoyed reply telling him to stop
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rib-Hadda
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1pzzyvw/til_that_rib_hadda_king_of_byblos_c_1350_bc_sent/
https://noc.social/system/media_attachments/files/115/811/671/396/968/881/original/f5a3ae69013c6b2f.jpg