TIL the reason why NASA (and later the Russians) use a specialised space pen instead of pencil in space is because the graphite of pencils is conductive and can cause short circuits and even fires. The pens have been used since the Apollo era and are still being used right now on the ISS.
http://bit.ly/2PJHBqA
Submitted May 05, 2019 at 05:45PM by MistressGravity
via reddit http://bit.ly/2vFT4ye
http://bit.ly/2PJHBqA
Submitted May 05, 2019 at 05:45PM by MistressGravity
via reddit http://bit.ly/2vFT4ye
Wikipedia
Writing in space - Wikipedia
Several instruments have been used to write in outer space, including different types of pencils and pens. Some of them have been unmodified versions of conventional writing instruments; others have been invented specifically to counter the problems with…
TIL Australia is the only continent with more venomous snakes than non-venomous ones
http://bit.ly/2C68h0n
Submitted May 05, 2019 at 02:40PM by BrokenConcerto
via reddit http://bit.ly/2ZXqHK4
http://bit.ly/2C68h0n
Submitted May 05, 2019 at 02:40PM by BrokenConcerto
via reddit http://bit.ly/2ZXqHK4
Wikipedia
Fauna of Australia - Wikipedia
The fauna of Australia consists of a huge variety of animals; some 83% of mammals, 89% of reptiles, 90% of fish and insects and 93% of amphibians that inhabit the continent are endemic to Australia.<rwf name="Williams">Williams, J. et al. 2001. Biodiversity…
TIL that Abraham Lincoln, at 32, fell into a depression so profound that his friends feared he might kill himself, because of the injustice he felt he had done to his wife by having a love affaire with another woman. Lincoln: "I am now the most miserable man living. ... I must die or be be better"
http://bit.ly/2DMWRhK
Submitted May 05, 2019 at 06:35PM by Fotonenboer
via reddit http://bit.ly/2WpB7jp
http://bit.ly/2DMWRhK
Submitted May 05, 2019 at 06:35PM by Fotonenboer
via reddit http://bit.ly/2WpB7jp
reddit
r/todayilearned - TIL that Abraham Lincoln, at 32, fell into a depression so profound that his friends feared he might kill himself…
387 votes and 39 comments so far on Reddit
[TIL] that the Muppets first big break was on The Jimmy Dean Show (the sausage guy) from 1963-66. Rowlf the dog had a 7-10 minute spot with Jimmy every episode. Jim Henson was so grateful he offered Dean 40% of the Muppets, but he turned it down saying he didn't earn it.
http://bit.ly/2LnGxdv
Submitted May 05, 2019 at 08:00PM by dartmaster666
via reddit http://bit.ly/2VNeRTw
http://bit.ly/2LnGxdv
Submitted May 05, 2019 at 08:00PM by dartmaster666
via reddit http://bit.ly/2VNeRTw
Muppet Wiki
The Jimmy Dean Show | Muppet Wiki | FANDOM powered by Wikia
The Jimmy Dean Show was an hour-long variety show hosted by country singer Jimmy Dean which aired on ABC from September 19, 1963 until April 1, 1966. Rowlf the Dog was a regular on the show...
TIL of Hellfire Clubs, 18th century social clubs, extant in UK, where men and women gathered to perform socially unacceptable actions while simultaneously mocking religion, satirically, in a time when it was blasphemous to do so.
http://bit.ly/1HE4ViI
Submitted May 05, 2019 at 06:49PM by deeply__offensive
via reddit http://bit.ly/2WrntMr
http://bit.ly/1HE4ViI
Submitted May 05, 2019 at 06:49PM by deeply__offensive
via reddit http://bit.ly/2WrntMr
Wikipedia
Hellfire Club - Wikipedia
any of several exclusive clubs for society rakes in 18th-century Britain and Ireland
TIL Twinkies were invented as a way to use a Continental Bakery's shortcake pans for the 46 weeks each year outside of strawberry season. In the Depression these were cheap and easy to mass produce.
http://bit.ly/1pBrf2Y
Submitted May 05, 2019 at 05:16PM by raysqman
via reddit http://bit.ly/2vEpU2M
http://bit.ly/1pBrf2Y
Submitted May 05, 2019 at 05:16PM by raysqman
via reddit http://bit.ly/2vEpU2M
Wikipedia
Twinkie - Wikipedia
snack cake
TIL For every mile traveled, motorcyclists have a risk of a fatal accident that is 35 times higher than a car driver.
http://bit.ly/2VisP0c
Submitted May 05, 2019 at 09:15PM by TheIvoryAssassinPub
via reddit http://bit.ly/2PPMCy3
http://bit.ly/2VisP0c
Submitted May 05, 2019 at 09:15PM by TheIvoryAssassinPub
via reddit http://bit.ly/2PPMCy3
Adam S. Kutner & Associates
How do Car Accidents Compare to Motorcycle Accidents? | Adam S. Kutner
How do car accidents compare to motorcycle accidents? Motorcycles are inherently more dangerous than cars. Here are some things to consider when getting on the road.
TIL: First game of chess against a computer was played in 1952 by Alan Turing. Because there were no computers powerful enough to actually run the program Alan Turing "ran" the program manually on a piece of paper
http://bit.ly/2V4Yzkm
Submitted May 05, 2019 at 10:41PM by Szymas255
via reddit http://bit.ly/2ZZXyh1
http://bit.ly/2V4Yzkm
Submitted May 05, 2019 at 10:41PM by Szymas255
via reddit http://bit.ly/2ZZXyh1
Wikipedia
Turochamp - Wikipedia
chess program
TIL that when the US military tried segregating the pubs in Bamber Bridge in 1943, the local Englishmen instead decided to hang up "Black soldiers only" signs on all pubs as protest
http://bit.ly/2DOFEoc
Submitted May 06, 2019 at 01:51AM by MandrakeThePancake
via reddit http://bit.ly/2Wmqhuw
http://bit.ly/2DOFEoc
Submitted May 06, 2019 at 01:51AM by MandrakeThePancake
via reddit http://bit.ly/2Wmqhuw
Wikipedia
Battle of Bamber Bridge
The Battle of Bamber Bridge was an outbreak of racial violence and mutiny that began in the evening of 24 June 1943 among American servicemen stationed in the British village of Bamber Bridge, Lancashire. Coming just days after the 1943 Detroit race riot…
TIL That Chinese Tourists got so bad the government stepped in and published a How to Guide in order to avoid embarrassment. One of the tips was "Don’t spit phlegm or gum, throw litter, urinate or defecate wherever you feel like it."
http://bit.ly/2ZYAE9V
Submitted May 05, 2019 at 11:59PM by dmkicksballs13
via reddit http://bit.ly/2V480k6
http://bit.ly/2ZYAE9V
Submitted May 05, 2019 at 11:59PM by dmkicksballs13
via reddit http://bit.ly/2V480k6
The Atlantic
Chinese Government Publishes Guide on How to Avoid Being a Terrible Tourist
“Don’t spit phlegm or gum, throw litter, urinate or defecate wherever you feel like it."
TIL that Tuvalu gets 10% of its GDP from leasing its .tv Top Level Domain. This allowed it to able to enter the UN because it could finally afford the $100,000 entrance fee.
http://bit.ly/1LDfh0P
Submitted May 05, 2019 at 11:16PM by royalsoothecork
via reddit http://bit.ly/2WrHq5N
http://bit.ly/1LDfh0P
Submitted May 05, 2019 at 11:16PM by royalsoothecork
via reddit http://bit.ly/2WrHq5N
Wikipedia
Economy of Tuvalu - Wikipedia
national economy
TIL When casting the first Marvel Cinematic Universe film 'Iron Man', Marvel did not want Robert Downey Jr cast as the noscript character. The film's director 'would not take no for an answer' as he knew the character lined up perfectly with RDJ's life.
http://bit.ly/1igi1aO
Submitted May 06, 2019 at 12:24AM by sassinator1
via reddit http://bit.ly/2DQpf2y
http://bit.ly/1igi1aO
Submitted May 06, 2019 at 12:24AM by sassinator1
via reddit http://bit.ly/2DQpf2y
Wikipedia
Iron Man (2008 film) - Wikipedia
2008 superhero film produced by Marvel Studios
❤1
TIL that the candy bar THREE MUSKETEERS was so named because the package originally contained THREE bars: vanilla, chocolate and strawberry. WW2 sugar restrictions led to consolidation into a single chocolate bar.
http://bit.ly/1zE812h
Submitted May 06, 2019 at 03:50AM by raysqman
via reddit http://bit.ly/2Wz1fIo
http://bit.ly/1zE812h
Submitted May 06, 2019 at 03:50AM by raysqman
via reddit http://bit.ly/2Wz1fIo
Wikipedia
3 Musketeers (chocolate bar) - Wikipedia
chocolate bar
TIL that despite bringing in just $462 million at the box office, the 2006 movie "Cars" earned $10 billion in merchandise sales over the next 5 years
http://bit.ly/2J21VmE
Submitted May 06, 2019 at 04:36AM by raptorman556
via reddit http://bit.ly/2DOVlvw
http://bit.ly/2J21VmE
Submitted May 06, 2019 at 04:36AM by raptorman556
via reddit http://bit.ly/2DOVlvw
Wikipedia
Cars (film) - Wikipedia
2006 American computer-animated comedy film produced by Pixar
TIL Hershey's once developed a chocolate bar for the US Army that would remain solid up to 49C (120F) and was poison gas proof but was also very bitter to prevent soldiers from eating it unless in an emergency. Troops called it "Hitler's Secret Weapon" because of what it would do to their bowels.
http://bit.ly/2Y8QuwR
Submitted May 06, 2019 at 06:30AM by MistressGravity
via reddit http://bit.ly/2H1lRUq
http://bit.ly/2Y8QuwR
Submitted May 06, 2019 at 06:30AM by MistressGravity
via reddit http://bit.ly/2H1lRUq
Wikipedia
Military chocolate (United States) - Wikipedia
part of standard U.S. military ration
TIL that Rameses II, the most prolific tomb builder and longest reigning pharaoh of ancient Egypt, was a redhead.
http://bit.ly/1TtH8ro
Submitted May 06, 2019 at 12:05PM by Tuhawaiki
via reddit http://bit.ly/2J4D7dB
http://bit.ly/1TtH8ro
Submitted May 06, 2019 at 12:05PM by Tuhawaiki
via reddit http://bit.ly/2J4D7dB
Wikipedia
Ramesses II - Wikipedia
Egyptian pharaoh of the Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt
TIL The highest survivable dose of caffeine on record is a full 100 g, set by a 39-year-old female that attempted suicide by ingesting ~500 200mg caffeine tablets dissolved in water.
http://bit.ly/19BwSTD
Submitted May 05, 2019 at 08:03PM by MrPatinhazz
via reddit http://bit.ly/2Ve5oFf
http://bit.ly/19BwSTD
Submitted May 05, 2019 at 08:03PM by MrPatinhazz
via reddit http://bit.ly/2Ve5oFf
TIL Harry Fusao O’Hara a Japanese expat, volunteered to fight for Britain in World War One, wounded nearly 70 times he remains the only known Japanese national to serve in the RAF.
http://bit.ly/2DSZrTk
Submitted May 06, 2019 at 01:55PM by thornybacon
via reddit http://bit.ly/2V4jSlY
http://bit.ly/2DSZrTk
Submitted May 06, 2019 at 01:55PM by thornybacon
via reddit http://bit.ly/2V4jSlY
The Japan Times
Japanese expat overcame 'color bar' to become decorated war hero for Britain in WWI | The Japan Times
During the early days of World War I, a young Japanese man who had left his country behind seeking a new life enlisted in the British Army to fight the Ger
TIL that researchers at the universities in Durham and Lisbon believe that the essential story of ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ dates back over 5,000 years. This prototype of Jack’s beanstalk antics is classified by folklorists as ATU 328 - The Boy Who Stole Ogre’s Treasure.
http://bit.ly/2vF81R9
Submitted May 06, 2019 at 02:46PM by Kangar
via reddit http://bit.ly/2PQlYF4
http://bit.ly/2vF81R9
Submitted May 06, 2019 at 02:46PM by Kangar
via reddit http://bit.ly/2PQlYF4
Interesting Literature
A Summary and Analysis of ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’
What is the meaning of this classic fairy tale? What is the story of ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ all about? And what is the moral of this story? It’s one of the best-known and best-loved fairy tales i…
TIL in World War II, American soldier John R. Fox died when he deliberately called an artillery strike on himself. Realizing that German troops were overrunning his position, the strike delayed the enemy long enough for other American units to organize a counter attack
http://bit.ly/1ODUj4h
Submitted May 06, 2019 at 04:44PM by BrentonBasedTarrant
via reddit http://bit.ly/302WrNA
http://bit.ly/1ODUj4h
Submitted May 06, 2019 at 04:44PM by BrentonBasedTarrant
via reddit http://bit.ly/302WrNA
Wikipedia
John R. Fox
John Robert Fox (May 18, 1915 – December 26, 1944) was a United States Army first lieutenant who was killed in action after calling in artillery fire on the enemy during World War II. In 1997, he was awarded the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military…
TIL John Belushi's drug dealer was charged with first degree murder for administering the injection that killed him, and later served 15 months in prison after pleading to involuntary manslaughter.
http://bit.ly/2Y38GrM
Submitted May 06, 2019 at 03:46PM by UnforcedErrer
via reddit http://bit.ly/2H6zaTS
http://bit.ly/2Y38GrM
Submitted May 06, 2019 at 03:46PM by UnforcedErrer
via reddit http://bit.ly/2H6zaTS
Wikipedia
John Belushi - Wikipedia
American comedian, actor, and musician