› added 7 years ago

267

TIL roman concrete can actually grow stronger over time

Read more bbc.co.uk

via reddit.com

8am1G TIL Nikola Tesla, widely known as the inventor of the AC power system, also installed the first hydroelectric plant at Niagara Falls in 1896. It was around this time that Tesla also disavowed coal and oil in favor of renewable energy sources.
b6e64 TIL: Götz von Berlichingen was a German mercenary/"Robin Hood". He lost his right arm in 1504 and had a blacksmith make an iron hand with movable fingers to hold a sword could hold a pen. In 1799, Goethe wrote a biography and included the first use of "kiss my a**". (a plaque commemorates this).
neYVP TIL about Lepersonnite, an extremely rare rare earth mineral only found in Shinkolobwe deposit in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is the only mineral in which the chemical element Gadolinium, otherwise too reactive to exist, is found in nature. 400 tonnes of Gadolinium are produced yearly.
8aO7P TIL that three Lithuanian comedians payed their 15 000Lt (~4500euros) fine in white cents (1, 2 and 5 cent coins). The amount of coins weighed around 700 kilos.
7rZBp TIL during World War II, young black musicians started calling each other "man" as a sign of respect, in part because they were so tired of being referred to as "boy".