› added 5 years ago

193

TIL the first monkey sent into space was named HAM

Read more airandspace.si.edu

via reddit.com

N7lXQ TIL the wood frog survives winter by producing an anti-freeze in it's blood from a combination of urine and glucose, allowing it to be 2/3rds frozen, re-animating after it thaws out months later.
NXQg6 TIL American Civil War-era politician Clement Vallandigham died trying to defend a man accused of murder in a bar, who claimed he had accidentally discharged a pistol. Vallandigham attempted to demonstrate what happened... and accidentally shot himself with the pistol.
xLpg TIL that hyenas genetically are cats, not dogs.
Br6bb TIL Albrecht von Wallenstein was the most successful Catholic general of the 30 years war, upon realizing the war was futile and could last decades he tried to organize peace only to be assassinated by his emperor. He was proven right with the war lasting another 14 years and 6 million more dead
pybG TIL that German monks gave up food for Lent, and survived on beer and water alone for 40 days a year.