› added 1 year ago

184

TIL that "Stendhal syndrome" is a psychosomatic condition involving rapid heartbeat, fainting, confusion, and even hallucinations, allegedly occurring when individuals become exposed to objects, artworks, or phenomena of great beauty.

Read more bbc.com

via reddit.com

vD8R TIL In 2007, in response to an increase in pedestrians wearing headphones being hit by cars, NY proposed making it illegal to cross the street with headphones. Australian State Traffic Commander, Chief Superintendent responded, “You can’t legislate stupidity” and Australia ran a warning-ad instead.
Lkep0 TIL of Shabani, a gorilla at a Japanese zoo considered so handsome that he became an internet sensation in 2015 when women began flocking to the zoo to gaze at him. They vied to get his attention and took photographs which they shared on social media.
DWwr TIL “A crafty ant species builds a trap dotted with foxholes for surprise attacks on an insect. They stretch their victim out like a medieval criminal on a rack as more ants swarm in for the kill.”
DdbJ TIL carob seeds were used to verify the purity of gold. A solidus (pure gold coin) would equal 24 carob seeds. Any variation indicated impurity. Carat, the measure of purity of gold, is derived from Carob seeds and even today pure gold is called 24 carat.
Y7LQ7 TIL James Longstreet, one of the foremost Confederate generals of the American Civil War and the principal subordinate to General Lee, became an anathema to many Confederates post-war due to his support for the Republican Party as well as critical comments he wrote about Lee's wartime performance