› added 10 years ago

136

TIL the modern word ‘museum’ derives the same Latin term which literally means “a place where the Muses are worshiped”. In mythology, the Muses were the embodiment of all knowledge and inspiration related to literature, science, and the arts.

Read more wikipedia.org

via reddit.com

Db9J TIL a sound produced on Earth sounds very different if produced on Mars. The composition and pressure of the Martian atmosphere distort sounds to a lower pitch, and planetary.org has samples for you to hear.
R7dm9 TIL that in the 19th century the theory that bad smells spread disease was widely accepted, therefore the population dumped human waste and garbage into the river to minimize odor in the streets. A particularly hot summer in London, 1858 caused what became known as "The Great Stink of 1858"
6EnkY TIL that there are different dimple patterns, shapes & colours on UK pavement that help the partially-sighted/blind know what kind of junction they are at.
NX01N TIL there is a twelve step group like AA for poor people called Underearners Anonymous
QJJok TIL in modern camel racing, they don't use human riders but robots. It saves weight.