› added 11 years ago

797

TIL that in the American Civil War Generals were 50% more likely to die in battle than Privates

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via reddit.com

ep6r4 TIL that it is illegal to possess or collect eagle feathers in the United States, and only members of a federally recognized native American tribe may legally possess them.
Bg7kL TIL that the lightning we see is caused by the electricity heating the air to 30,000°C (54,000°F) and turning it into plasma briefly. The sound of thunder is also caused by the transformation of air to plasma, which makes the air expand incredibly quickly.
b9DLj TIL instant coffee pods are ruining the environment because they’re not recyclable. And it’s all due to the company themselves.
gMxyy TIL of the Chinese classical poem “The Lion-Eating Poet in the Stone Den” which manages to tell a weird but completely grammatical and coherent tale using only the word “shi” 92 times in a row.
a84Xy TIL there's a British overseas territory where the average age of first time mothers is 12-15