› added 11 years ago

87

TIL that gold gets its color from special relativity. Relativistic contraction shrinks the gap between the s and d orbitals, allowing gold to absorb blue instead of ultraviolet. If not for relativity, gold would appear more silver in color.

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xVG1D TIL that the USSR used the phrase "And you are hanging Blacks" to criticize the hypocrisy of the US pointing fingers at Soviet human rights abuses while still perpetrating lynchings.
e09j4 TIL the Lancia Gamma had such a badly-designed engine that even turning the steering to full lock could cause high strain on the timing belt, leading to it snapping and causing significant engine damage.
yQXpw TIL about the Crypt of Civilisation time capsule at Oglethorpe in Atlanta, the oldest millennial time capsule conceived in 1936 that is set to be opened in 8113
JJ58 TIL that a scientist once wore glasses with flipped lenses so everything was upside down. After a while, his brain flipped the image so he could see normally again. However, when he took the glasses off, he’s brain continued doing this and his normal vision remained flipped.
ZgGY TIL that more than 900 workers have already died building Qatar’s World Cup infrastructure. The International Trade Union Confederation says that if conditions don’t improve, at least 4,000 migrants will die before kick-off.