TIL the forerunner of the modern bicycle was invented to overcome a horse shortage after a volcanic eruption caused widespread famine, leaving Europe's horses to starve or be slaughtered for meat.
TIL that the on and off buttons were from binary numbering system where “0” is off and “1” is on. So to create the universal power symbol, “0” and “1” were combined to make the power button symbol.
TIL that the swiss have enough bunkers to house the entire countries population fake houses with artillery in them, and bridges that are rigged to blow.
TIL Before the ~1870s, pink was associated with boys and blue was associated with girls. Blue was viewed as a feminine color because of its association with the Virgin Mary while pink was seen as a lighter shade of red, and therefore more masculine.
TIL Finland played a major role in the creation of skateboarding, thanks to the work of architect Alvar Aalto who created iconic "kidney pool" design