› added 6 months ago

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TIL that In 1859, a solar storm called the Carrington Event was so powerful that telegraph systems worldwide burst into sparks, shocking operators and even catching paper on fire. Auroras were seen as far south as the Caribbean, and some thought it was the end of the world.

4krgo TIL the first animals to receive formal scientific names were spiders. Carl Alexander Clerck published 'Svenska Spindlar' (Swedish Spiders) in 1757, becoming the first person to consistently apply Linnaean binomial nomenclature to animals.
e0Byk TIL that in the "Cookie Monster" study, experimenters randomly appointed one person the leader of a small group. When an experimenter brought in a plate of 5 cookies, the "leaders" were more likely to take a second cookie, and to eat with their mouths open and get crumbs all over the place.
0d89v TIL Emperor Tiberius once personally solved a murder case: A senator's wive fell out of a window and after hearing the husband's testimony, Tiberius decided to personally examine the scene, where he discovered evidence of struggle and later reported to the Senate. The husband was found guilty
v1pm8 TIL In the original Pulp Fiction script, Vincent actually shoots Marvin in the throat first - then he and Jules have an entire argument over what to do next while Marvin gurgles & listens in horror
kmOE TIL the Michelangelo’s ‘David’ was made from a single, 6 ton piece of marble that was twice discarded by other sculptors. Also, he is left-handed…