› added 1 year ago

183

TIL that Rüppell's griffon vulture has the highest documented altitude of any bird at 36k feet. Unfortunately this information was discovered after a Boeing 747 took the bird into the engine over western Africa.

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O0n6 TIL British Members of Parliament are not allowed to resign, so they have to be appointed to a fictitious job “Steward of Northstead” which disqualifies them from being an MP
loYQA TIL the Japanese used "nightingale floors" to alert castle lords to enemy attacks. These floors were designed so that walking on them created a shrill chirping noise. To tell friend from foe, the lord of the castle would identify a set rhythm for allies to use when walking on the nightingale floors.
YpDXv TIL Japanese airline, All Nippon Airways in an effort to save costs asked passengers to visit the lavatory before boarding because empty bladders means less weight carried.
E1gGW TIL the most powerful commercial radio station ever was WLW (700KHz AM), which during certain times in the 1930s broadcasted 500kW radiated power. At night, it covered half the globe. Neighbors within the vicinity of the transmitter heard the audio in their pots, pans, and mattresses.
pYZYG TIL Sorcery is punishable by death in Saudi Arabia