› added 2 years ago

132

TIL of Connections, a 1978 science education TV series created by science historian James Burke. The series contends that one cannot consider the development of any particular piece of the modern world in isolation but rather that interconnected isolated events is what drives history and innovation.

Read more beatlyzer.com

via beatlyzer.com

QJXbE TIL the US once printed paper money in cent denominations. Known as 'fractional currency', it was introduced in 1862 because people were hoarding coins for their precious metals. Issued in denominations of 3, 5, 10, 15, 25, and 50 cents, they are still technically legal tender (spendable) today.
KOeEE TIL about the Troxler Effect, which causes our brains to tune out the non-relevant parts when faced with an abundance of visual stimulation. It can lead to optical illusions, including "monsters in the mirror" if you stare at one spot in your reflection for too long.
6985m TIL that if all the world’s bacteria were laid end-to-end, they would reach 10 billion light-years in length. However, at 75 times thinner than a human hair, it would still be invisible to the naked eye. The length could wrap the Milky Way more than 20,000 times, creating a 2cm wide visible ribbon.
v1Xn7 TIL, Students as young as six must use a 2,500 foot rickety bamboo ladder to attend school in a Chinese Southwest Sichuan Province.
k6v7 TIL that bubble algae, which can grow up to nearly 2 inches in diameter, is one single cell. It’s one of the largest single-celled organisms.