› added 3 months ago

19

TIL in 1996, LAC Colombia Flight 028 crashed into a playing field after two engines were shut off shortly after takeoff. The pilot had shut off the engines in order to prank the co-pilot, and they could not be reactivated in time with the low altitude.

Read more wikipedia.org

via reddit.com

wL8KW TIL of Tyke a circus elephant who after years of abuse, killed her trainer and injured her groomer. She bolted out of the arena and roamed the streets of Honolulu for about 30 mins before she was finally put down by police. Tyke became symbolic of circus tragedies and a symbol for animal rights.
0wplp TIL that coffee is credited with helping to spark the Age of Enlightenment in the 17th and 18th century Europe. Before coffee was introduced to that part of the world, people often drank beer/alcohol throughout the day because it was safer than water. Coffee provided a safe alternative to alcohol.
jN4VN TIL that "God bless you" originated in Rome when the bubonic plague was ravaging Europe. Sneezing was one the plague's main symptoms, and it is believed that Pope Gregory I suggested that a tiny prayer in the form of saying, "God bless you" after a sneeze would protect the person from death.
ODB1 TIL when Futurama has Stephen Hawking as a character they do not simulate his voice but actually ask him to voice act
b9MXa TIL Led Zeppelin never had a number one hit.