› added 8 years ago

400

TIL that sound cancelling headphones work by making a sound exactly 180 degrees out of phase with any unwanted noise. The sound-wave that it sends out interferes with that of the original sound. The two sound-waves cancel each other out and create silence.

Read more electronics.howstuffworks.com

via reddit.com

ywmp TIL, there’s a version of “The Tortoise and the Hare” where everyone dies in a forest fire because the tortoise, having won the race and therefore seen as the fastest, is given the job of warning everyone.
dDkV9 TIL in 2016 a doctor performed surgery on the wrong baby. The mother thought her newborn was going for a routine checkup, but instead found out that a frenulectomy had been performed on her healthy baby. A procedure where the flap of skin under the tongue is clipped to give it more range of motion.
LQ060 TIL of the Order of the Solar Temple, a New Age cult that claimed to be founded on the ideals of the Knights Templar. In 1994, they were responsible for the death of a 3 month old baby in Quebec; some time after, many members committed mass suicide in France, Switzerland and Canada.
1aVXD TIL: When M&M's were first invented, they were adopted by the military as it allowed soldiers to carry chocolate with them that wouldn't melt. It was even included as part of their rations.
b9pAp TIL When Harry Wilson 18 months old, his proud Grandfather bet £50 that he would on day represent Wales in football and was quoted 2500/1 at his local bookmaker. 16 years later he became the youngest ever Wales debutant , netting his grandfather £125,000