› added 6 years ago

112

TIL the location of the world's tallest tree is kept secret to keep the tree safe.

Read more wikipedia.org

via reddit.com

roWw TIL that, in medieval Europe, scales were used to weigh suspected witches to determine whether or not they should be burned at the stake
ANDBB TIL that by the middle ages, people had forgotten the Roman Colosseum's original purpose
YpLr TIL that the gold records the RIAA gives to artists are actual gold-plated vinyl records, but they often were made from any record that was handy. Rarely was the plated record actually of the song or album being commemorated.
rNyQy TIL that in 1860 the original 13th amendment to the Constitution was intended to preserve slavery in the states that already had it. Known as the Corwin Amendment, it was an attempt to forestall secession. It was passed by Congress, but ratification by states was suspended when the Civil War began.
EG47 TIL The postmortem for renowned 30’s jazz musician Billy Tipton revealed that he was secretly a woman.