› added 10 years ago

110

TIL that the dots in microwave oven doors are to keep radiation from escaping. This is accomplished because the dots are smaller than the wavelength of the radiation in question, creating essentially a faraday cage.

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via reddit.com

xVm65 TIL that bananas are curved because they grow towards sun light and curl when they become too heavy.
V7b8 TIL: Harry Truman, before he became the President, tried to enlist in the Army. He was refused after an eye chart test determined him having 20/400 vision in the left eye (past the standard for legal blindness). He took the test a second time after memorizing the eye chart and got enlisted.
rR6rM TIL Wisconsin has 10 of the top 20 Drunkest Cities in America.
ZpvG4 TIL about escheatment. Traced back in feudal times and still exists in modern times.
XpwR TIL that Zima, the original “malternative,” was made by filtering low-grade lager through charcoal (a process that strips away both color and taste), then adding citrusy flavor to make it palatable. The drink survived until 2008.