› added 8 years ago

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TIL that if our solar system out to Neptune were the size of a US quarter, the Milky Way would be approximately the size of the continental United States.

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via ift.tt

x6AM1 TIL that the Golden Record sent to outer space by NASA also carries an hour long recording of the brainwaves of Ann Druyan who thought of many topics, including Earth's history, civilizations and the problems they face, and what it was like to fall in love, in addition to music and scientific images
XEdxR TIL that JRR Tolkein fought in the Battle of the Somme
5OEn TIL the McRib bun contains a chemical “azodicarbonamide” which is also used to make gym mats and shoe soles. This compound is banned in Europe and Australia as a food additive.
woPrJ TIL New York City is owed over $1 billion in unpaid parking tickets and speeding fines
W7QEX TIL that Soviet revolutionary Leon Trotsky was not at the funeral of Vladimir Lenin, despite being among the USSR's top leadership at the time of his death. Trotsky later claimed he had deliberately been told the wrong date for the funeral.