› added 6 years ago

152

TIL: British Navy officers play Britney Spears songs to scare off Somali pirates. The rationale of playing these songs is because, supposedly, Somali pirates have a strong dislike for western culture and music, which make Britney Spears’ songs a perfect fit to make them move on quickly.

Read more theguardian.com

via reddit.com

98DM TIL that the flashes of color you see in your eye after you rub them are called phosphenes.
0wAgp TIL that Ahmad Shah Massoud led a resistance to the Taliban that protected 30% of Afghanistan's population. He promoted gender equality, had no reports of human rights abuses under his leadership, and warned about 9/11
Aaxn TIL astronauts have had to relearn how to play the guitar while on the space station because they tend to overshoot the frets due to weightless arms.
PYg9n TIL acetaminophen (aka Tylenol) is clinically effective at treating hurt feelings as well as physical pain.
ZpKrD TIL on March 1st, 1504, Christopher Columbus convinced the inhabitants of Jamaica to keep provisioning him by threatening to take away the moon.