› added 12 years ago

138

TIL that King Abdullah II of Jordan is a direct descendent of the prophet Muhammad, also once made a cameo in Star Trek.

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via reddit.com

kODW TIL Pete Conrad’s first words on the Moon were said in order to win a $500 bet proving that astronauts are not given a script of what to say when stepping off the ladder.
7r65b TIL Some lightning rods on the tops of buildings were made with radioactive materials. It was thought that the surrounding air, ionized by radiation would be more conductive and make the lightning rods more effective
ejb TIL F. Scott Fitzgerald’s wife’s name was Zelda, and the video game character was named after her.
dEG9 TIL the water speed record hasn’t been broken in over 35 years. The reason, an 85% fatality rate.
R5nLQ TIL that in 1846 Christian Friedrich Schönbein discovered a formula for nitrocellulose when working in his kitchen. He spilled nitric acid and sulfuric acid on the kitchen table, wiped it up with a cotton apron, then hung it on the stove door to dry. As soon as it was dry, the apron ignited.