› added 12 years ago

231

TIL that Cornell University researchers have solved the origin of the Tungusta explosion in 1908. Sorry, Aliens guy.

Read more news.cornell.edu

via bit.ly

gkX TIL Pamela Adlon from “Louis” did the voice of Bobby Hill from “King of the Hill”, Spinelli from “Recess”, and various voices on “Rugrats”.
PYyMV TIL that during Vostok 4, Russian cosmonaut Pavel Popovich said that he was able to observe thunderstorms from his spacecraft. However, he forgot that the Russian word for thunderstorms was the agreed upon code word for extreme nausea requiring immediate landing, and his mission was cut short.
oRNl8 TIL of the Soka Hoax. A group is given a nonsensical academic paper to judge. All but one in the group are hired to give mostly glowing reviews, persuading the unwitting participant to also give a glow review despite disagreeing. One shill gives a negative review, which everyone also condemns.
KOvE4 TIL: Chess prodigy Bobby Fischer invented a chess variation which randomized the starting positions of the home row pieces to reward creativity over memorization.
VGv0 TIL that Hong Xiuquan, a man thinking he was the younger brother of Jesus, led a rebellion in 1850 to establish his ‘Heavenly Kingdom’ in China. The conflict caused 20 million deaths, more than World War 1.