› added 2 months ago

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TIL that the site for modern-day Vatican City was originally a circus for Roman Emperor Nero called Circus of Nero.

Read more historyofcircus.com

via reddit.com

856K TIL: that the human stomach has more nerve endings than the spinal cord, giving a bit more meaning to gut feeling.
XEAVR TIL Lake Superior's Isle Royale has a lake (Siskiwit) which also has an island (Ryan) which has a seasonal pond (Moose Flats) which contains Moose Boulder making it the largest island in the largest lake on the largest island in the largest lake on the largest island in the largest lake in the world
agVy TIL An anecdote has it that when Philip II sent a message to Sparta saying “If I enter Laconia, I will raze Sparta”, the Spartans responded with the single, terse reply: “If.”
bNV4 TIL William Shakespeare died within a month of signing his will, which begins by claiming himself to be in perfect health. No contemporary source explains how or why he died, though half a century later it was claimed he died of fever after “drinking too hard.”
a8GwM TIL of the "Variable-Incidence" wing solution to increase angle of attack during take-off and landing without hindering pilot visibility of the runway. It works by moving the entire wing up/down like one was shrugging their shoulders. The F-8 "Crusader" from the late 50s is an iconic example.