› added 10 years ago

200

TIL that when in a double-blind test 21 experienced violinists were asked to compare new and old violins the least-preferred was a Stradivarius.

Read more pnas.org

via reddit.com

KWQJ TIL that NASA observed that astronauts returning to Earth after spending 6 months in space experienced visual acuity changes. A condition they call “Globe Flattening,” believed to be due to a build-up of pressure that changes the shape of the eyeball which changes the optics.
vPyax TIL that artificial raspberry flavoring was originally derived from a beaver's anal gland
9wvvp TIL that the controller which was included with the Xbox game "Steel Battalion" features two full-sized joysticks, three foot-pedals, a dial, a lever, multiple lights, forty buttons, and is three feet long.
16Jk8 TIL As recent as 2020, the US was still awarding purple heart medals that had been produced in 1945 in preparation for the invasion of Japan.
mxK0R TIL Matthew McConaughey's "alright, alright, alright" catch-phrase comes from his role in Dazed and Confused. He came up with it after listening to a Doors album where Jim Morrison kept saying "all right, all right, all right, all right" between songs.