› added 1 year ago

56

TIL that the flag commonly believed nowadays to be the official flag of Austria-Hungary was actually their civil ensign, only used by merchant ships and consulates. Austria-Hungary actually had no official flag, often flying the Austrian and Hungarian flags together instead.

Read more wikipedia.org

via reddit.com

ADv4x TIL Wood frogs in Alaska can hold their pee for up to 8 months, during the region's long winters. They relieve themselves once temperatures increase. The urine actually helps keep them alive while they hibernates, with special microbes in their gut turning the urea (urine's main waste) into nitrogen
OdA6 TIL that royal women used to give birth in front of an audience to prove that the child was indeed the fruit of the royal woman’s womb.
lo6Wa TIL Lyndon B Johnson's favorite drink was Fresca soft drinks-- he even had switches installed in the White House offices to summon valet to bring him a Fresca or coffee depending on which button he pressed.
9Dmp TIL Chef Boy-Ar-Dee is spelled that way so that Americans could correctly pronounce “Boiardi.”
awl4N TIL Janis Joplin's will stipulated that $2500 go to throwing a hard-partying funeral for her. The funeral was held in a popular rock venue she used to have shows at and many of her musician friends performed. The 300 attendees got drunk and partied hard.