› added 1 year ago

37

TIL while viewing a solar eclipse on 18 August 1868, French astronomer Pierre Janssen made an observation that led to the discovery of helium. It was the first time a chemical element was discovered on an extraterrestrial body before being found on the earth.

Read more wikipedia.org

via reddit.com

5E59 TIL president James Madison was only 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighed less than 100 pounds.
a8v5b TIL that when a Roman legion was pulled out of Caledonia ~90AD, they were ordered to destroy the entire garrison and leave nothing of use. They broke every ceramic jar, burned everything flammable, and took great care to hide 7 tons of handmade nails. The nails were not discovered until 1961.
GYAoE TIL there's a scrotum on the coat of arms above Parliament House, Australia.
m1xMP TIL The Welsh flag is a symbol of King Arthur and a prophecy of his return
Yp6dP TIL the weight of the entire internet is calculated to be around 50 grams