› added 2 years ago

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TIL that the Doomsday Vault contains samples of opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) and catnip (nepeta cataria) seeds.

Read more seedvault.nordgorg

via reddit.com

pYMle TIL that William E. Boeing bought the Heath Shipyard in Seattle in 1910 and transformed the boatyard into his first airplane factory. Working from a tent hangar, his first plane - the Boeing Model 1 - was built from spruce and canvas by former shipwrights and took flight in 1916.
GnQE TIL 2 ancient cities in China were drowned in 1959 by a man-made lake and were forgotten about until discovered in 2001 by a tourist diving company. The cities remain intact and in good condition.
N7Qy1 TIL In 1979 the Black-footed ferret was declared extinct. In 1981 the species was rediscovered when a dog in Meeteetse, Wyoming brought a dead ferret home. A small population was found and today the Black-footed ferret is making a comeback.
EgMBd TIL the Fermi Paradox arose as part of a casual conversation in the 1950s when Enrico Fermi asked "But where is everybody?" referring to extraterrestrial life
GAJjE TIL that Kirk Douglas and his wife lived to a combined age of 205