TIL that everything alive today (humans, animals, plants, insects, bacteria) shares 355 genes with a microbe that lived 4 billion years ago. We are all related to this microbe.
http://bit.ly/2Vuh332
Submitted May 08, 2019 at 10:24PM by jcgam
via reddit http://bit.ly/2H6QVkx
http://bit.ly/2Vuh332
Submitted May 08, 2019 at 10:24PM by jcgam
via reddit http://bit.ly/2H6QVkx
phys.org
Looking for LUCA, the last universal common ancestor
Around 4 billion years ago there lived a microbe called LUCA: the Last Universal Common Ancestor. There is evidence that it could have lived a somewhat 'alien' lifestyle, hidden away deep underground ...
TIL that scientists are working to confirm an 80 year old theory that you can turn light into matter by creating a "photon-photon collider" using existing technology to demonstrate the process.
http://bit.ly/2oh47sC
Submitted May 08, 2019 at 07:47PM by StcStasi
via reddit http://bit.ly/2VotKMz
http://bit.ly/2oh47sC
Submitted May 08, 2019 at 07:47PM by StcStasi
via reddit http://bit.ly/2VotKMz
phys.org
Scientists discover how to turn light into matter after 80-year quest
Imperial College London physicists have discovered how to create matter from light - a feat thought impossible when the idea was first theorised 80 years ago.
TIL the actor who played Glen Coco in Mean Girls wasn't even supposed to be there and never got paid - he snuck onto the set for free food.
http://bit.ly/2JchKqP
Submitted May 08, 2019 at 10:58PM by funderbunk
via reddit http://bit.ly/2Jr9QJz
http://bit.ly/2JchKqP
Submitted May 08, 2019 at 10:58PM by funderbunk
via reddit http://bit.ly/2Jr9QJz
Dazed
The real-life Glen Coco remembers his time on Mean Girls
Actor David Reale sneaked onto set for a free lunch and became part of teen movie history
TIL that in Classical Athens, the citizens could vote each year to banish any person who was growing too powerful, as a threat to democracy. This process was called Ostracism.
http://bit.ly/1QwGKms
Submitted May 09, 2019 at 01:26AM by pioldpfhh
via reddit http://bit.ly/2DTVC0g
http://bit.ly/1QwGKms
Submitted May 09, 2019 at 01:26AM by pioldpfhh
via reddit http://bit.ly/2DTVC0g
Wikipedia
Ostracism - Wikipedia
procedure under the Athenian democracy in which a citizen could be expelled from Athens for 10 years
TIL that Norman Borlaug saved more than a billion lives with a "miracle wheat" that averted mass starvation, becoming 1 of only 5 people to win the Nobel Peace Prize, Presidential Medal of Freedom, and Congressional Gold Medal. He said, "Food is the moral right of all who are born into this world."
http://bit.ly/2HeJhF0
Submitted May 09, 2019 at 02:29AM by design-responsibly
via reddit http://bit.ly/2VoAOcd
http://bit.ly/2HeJhF0
Submitted May 09, 2019 at 02:29AM by design-responsibly
via reddit http://bit.ly/2VoAOcd
www.worldfoodprize.org
Dr. Norman Borlaug to celebrate 95th birthday on March 25
Dr. Norman E. Borlaug to celebrate 95th birthday
TIL: The Pokemon franchise has generated approximately three times as much money as Harry Potter
http://bit.ly/2G74MZ2
Submitted May 09, 2019 at 12:34AM by jamescookenotthatone
via reddit http://bit.ly/2VUbj1Q
http://bit.ly/2G74MZ2
Submitted May 09, 2019 at 12:34AM by jamescookenotthatone
via reddit http://bit.ly/2VUbj1Q
Wikipedia
List of highest-grossing media franchises
This is a list of the highest-grossing media franchises. This includes media franchises that started as a book, film, video game, comic book, animation, cartoon or television series and have expanded to other forms of media. This list covers every aspect…
TIL During the Prohibition era, the U.S. Government allowed Whiskey to be sold through pharmacies. As a result, Walgreens grew from 20 retail stores to almost 400.
http://bit.ly/1QpfIhc
Submitted May 09, 2019 at 02:26AM by bmore80
via reddit http://bit.ly/2PX1WZU
http://bit.ly/1QpfIhc
Submitted May 09, 2019 at 02:26AM by bmore80
via reddit http://bit.ly/2PX1WZU
Wikipedia
Walgreens - Wikipedia
second-largest pharmacy store chain in the United States
TIL that Lebanon made a massive bowl of hummus to get into the Guiness Book of World Records just so people around the world can recognise that hummus is from Lebanon
https://bbc.in/2AfDAS8
Submitted May 09, 2019 at 06:32AM by uhso
via reddit http://bit.ly/2JtdBy4
https://bbc.in/2AfDAS8
Submitted May 09, 2019 at 06:32AM by uhso
via reddit http://bit.ly/2JtdBy4
Bbc
Who invented hummus?
Everyone from the Lebanese to the Turks to the Syrians have tried to claim it.
TIL on February 11, 1992, a man who was likely innocent of a crime for which he was about to be put to death uttered these last words: "I'd like to thank my family for loving me and taking care of me. And the rest of the world can kiss my everloving ass, because I'm innocent."
http://bit.ly/1mtt69V
Submitted May 09, 2019 at 10:26AM by JohnBasedEranset
via reddit http://bit.ly/2VaHLbL
http://bit.ly/1mtt69V
Submitted May 09, 2019 at 10:26AM by JohnBasedEranset
via reddit http://bit.ly/2VaHLbL
reddit
r/todayilearned - TIL on February 11, 1992, a man who was likely innocent of a crime for which he was about to be put to death…
733 votes and 122 comments so far on Reddit
TIL Researchers historically have avoided using female animals in medical studies specifically so they don't have to account for influences from hormonal cycles. This may explain why women often don't respond to available medications or treatments in the same way as men do
http://bit.ly/2YjGwch
Submitted May 09, 2019 at 09:40AM by chercheur17
via reddit http://bit.ly/2H7g7IO
http://bit.ly/2YjGwch
Submitted May 09, 2019 at 09:40AM by chercheur17
via reddit http://bit.ly/2H7g7IO
Medicalxpress
Women's hormones play role in drug addiction, higher relapse rates
Women's hormonal cycles may not only make them more prone to drug addiction but also more affected by triggers that lead to relapse, a new Vanderbilt University study revealed. The findings are especially ...
TIL that a "20% chance of rain" can mean that there is a 20% chance that rain will occur in a given area, or that there is a 100% chance that rain will occur in 20% of a given area, or anything in between.
http://bit.ly/2dLVRjt
Submitted May 09, 2019 at 03:16AM by scottrd9
via reddit http://bit.ly/2HaUKoJ
http://bit.ly/2dLVRjt
Submitted May 09, 2019 at 03:16AM by scottrd9
via reddit http://bit.ly/2HaUKoJ
reddit
TIL that a "20% chance of rain" can mean that there is a 20%...
Posted in r/todayilearned by u/scottrd9 • 2,895 points and 134 comments
TIL that pre-electricity theatre spotlights produced light by directing a flame at calcium oxide (quicklime). These kinds of lights were called limelights and this is the origin of the phrase “in the limelight” to mean “at the centre of attention”.
http://bit.ly/1od2Lu7
Submitted May 09, 2019 at 02:50PM by sober_disposition
via reddit http://bit.ly/2Vdsnvg
http://bit.ly/1od2Lu7
Submitted May 09, 2019 at 02:50PM by sober_disposition
via reddit http://bit.ly/2Vdsnvg
Wikipedia
Limelight - Wikipedia
type of stage lighting once used in theatres and music halls
TIL Bayer used slave labor and tested drugs on prisoners in Auschwitz
http://bit.ly/2l9VQEh
Submitted May 09, 2019 at 12:12PM by 0x0BAD_ash
via reddit http://bit.ly/2VTj8EP
http://bit.ly/2l9VQEh
Submitted May 09, 2019 at 12:12PM by 0x0BAD_ash
via reddit http://bit.ly/2VTj8EP
WAR HISTORY ONLINE
Popular Pharmaceutical Company Bayer Bought Concentration Camp Victims in WWII
Everyone has heard of Bayer, the pharmaceutical company that runs aspirin commercials on television. Not everyone knows, however, of Bayer's dark past.
TIL that Queen Elizabeth II was a mechanic and truck driver during WW2. She's the only female from the royal family in British history to join the armed services.
http://bit.ly/2HdMy7v
Submitted May 09, 2019 at 04:06PM by phthalo-azure
via reddit http://bit.ly/2DXmyw5
http://bit.ly/2HdMy7v
Submitted May 09, 2019 at 04:06PM by phthalo-azure
via reddit http://bit.ly/2DXmyw5
Military.com
Queen Elizabeth II's Time in WWII Makes Her the Most Hardcore Head of State
Queen Elizabeth II is the only head of state to have served in World War II.
TIL During times of war and other crises in Britain, men with seafaring experience would be taken against their will by press gangs to become part of the Royal Navy crew. Sometimes they were taken in the middle of the street and would find themselves trapped on a ship and with no hope of escape.
http://bit.ly/1mUJwqA
Submitted May 09, 2019 at 02:13PM by valerierw22
via reddit http://bit.ly/2YdPfg0
http://bit.ly/1mUJwqA
Submitted May 09, 2019 at 02:13PM by valerierw22
via reddit http://bit.ly/2YdPfg0
Wikipedia
Impressment - Wikipedia
Forced naval service with or without notice
TIL: Sunflower seeds contain about 24 to 27% protein, only slightly less than an equal weight of ground beef. Furthermore, sunflower seeds contain about twice the iron and potassium and about 4 times the phosphorus of beef.
http://bit.ly/2Jw9UYz
Submitted May 09, 2019 at 07:22PM by enginegeek
via reddit http://bit.ly/2JdQMz5
http://bit.ly/2Jw9UYz
Submitted May 09, 2019 at 07:22PM by enginegeek
via reddit http://bit.ly/2JdQMz5
Burpee
How to Grow Sunflowers - Gardening Tips and Advice, Annual Flowers at Burpee.com
Learn how to grow sunflower seeds and plants in your home garden from Burpee.com. Burpee
TIL George Washington had a fear of being buried alive (taphophobia). He requested, if he died, his body be laid out for three days before burial to make sure he was dead before burial.
http://bit.ly/2WyOM7A
Submitted May 09, 2019 at 02:58PM by amansaggu26
via reddit http://bit.ly/2Ve67l0
http://bit.ly/2WyOM7A
Submitted May 09, 2019 at 02:58PM by amansaggu26
via reddit http://bit.ly/2Ve67l0
Wikipedia
Taphophobia - Wikipedia
fear of being buried alive
TIL that a group of embittered singles reserved all the odd-numbered seats at a cinema's primetime screening on Valentine's Day so that couples would be forced to sit apart
http://bit.ly/2Ltrgb8
Submitted May 09, 2019 at 08:02PM by emilylikesredditalot
via reddit http://bit.ly/2E0iawk
http://bit.ly/2Ltrgb8
Submitted May 09, 2019 at 08:02PM by emilylikesredditalot
via reddit http://bit.ly/2E0iawk
the Guardian
Valentine's Day pranksters book odd-numbered cinema seats in China
Couples will be forced to sit apart after group of singles work together to buy up tickets to romantic movie at Shanghai cinema
TIL that Melanophila beetles (known as fire chaser beetles) are able to sense forest fires from 80 miles away and seek them out since burnt wood is the source of nutrition for their young
http://bit.ly/2JdJ1cH
Submitted May 09, 2019 at 05:42PM by peter_bolton
via reddit http://bit.ly/2LxDFuA
http://bit.ly/2JdJ1cH
Submitted May 09, 2019 at 05:42PM by peter_bolton
via reddit http://bit.ly/2LxDFuA
PubMed Central (PMC)
Infrared receptors in pyrophilous (“fire loving”) insects as model for new un-cooled infrared sensors
Beetles of the genus Melanophila and certain flat bugs of the genus Aradus actually approach forest fires. For the detection of fires and of hot surfaces the pyrophilous species of both genera have developed infrared (IR) receptors, which have developed ...
TIL that although they spend 16 hours a day in water hippos can't swim because they are too muscular and sink. Instead they just run around under the surface.
http://bit.ly/2qeOimP
Submitted May 09, 2019 at 06:48PM by chudmuffin0
via reddit http://bit.ly/2vPAB2g
http://bit.ly/2qeOimP
Submitted May 09, 2019 at 06:48PM by chudmuffin0
via reddit http://bit.ly/2vPAB2g
The Atlantic
Hippos Can’t Swim—So How Do They Move Through Water?
The semiaquatic mammal leverages its own buoyancy and bone density to charge through the water.
TIL 2,000 year old seeds were discovered inside an ancient jar in Israel 1963. They were planted in 2005 and a tree extinct for 1,800 years sprouted from the ground.
http://bit.ly/2a6TqnH
Submitted May 09, 2019 at 11:37PM by zeamp
via reddit http://bit.ly/2VUj5Zp
http://bit.ly/2a6TqnH
Submitted May 09, 2019 at 11:37PM by zeamp
via reddit http://bit.ly/2VUj5Zp
Wikipedia
Judean date palm - Wikipedia
The Judean date palm is a date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) grown in Judea. It is not clear whether there was ever a single distinct Judean cultivar, but dates grown in the region have had distinctive reputations for thousands of years, and the date palm was…