› added 7 years ago

80

TIL that Canada declared war on Japan in response to the attack on Pearl Harbor before the United States declared war the next day.

Read more wikipedia.org

via reddit.com

Rnbw TIL an American college student disappeared during spring break in Mexico, only to have his body found in a drug running cult’s ranch with his brain in a cauldron.
wLaD8 TIL during the Han dynasty, unmarried women and their families had to pay a special tax for their singleness. On the other hand, women with babies didn't have to pay taxes for three years and their husbands didn't have to pay taxes for one year.
e0Qkn TIL Pumpernickel bread is believed to derive its name from High German terms that translate to "Devil's fart" or "farting devil." This etymology is accepted by Random House and Merriam-Webster
KYGW9 TIL scientists at Australia’s most famous radio telescope were baffled by signal bursts coming from the direction of distant galaxies for 17 years before they were eventually traced back to someone at the facility opening the door of a microwave oven while it was still running, causing interference
AD1rd TIL in Norse mythology only half of those who die in combat go to Valhalla, the other half go to Fólkvangr