› added 9 years ago

273

TIL the country we refer to as ‘Mexico’ is actually called the 'United Mexican States’.

Read more edition.cnn.com

via reddit.com

BxQx TIL that if we sort known planets (including extrasolar) by standard primary habitability, Earth is only fifth
4XWp6 TIL that "spousal privilege", which prevents spouses from testifying against each other in a court of law, was abolished in New Mexico on August 30, 2019. As a result, New Mexico is now the only state where spouses lack any protections for confidential statements made during their marriage.
GRPE TIL in 1961 a b-52 broke apart mid air over Goldsboro, North Carolina causing two nuclear bombs to fall. One parachute functioned properly, that bomb survived. When the other bomb hit the ground 5 out of 6 safety devices malfunctioned, a single switch prevented a nuclear explosion.
gM9LL TIL "Mayhem" is felony -- defined as disabling or disfiguring someone, and in 1936 an American heiress was charged with mayhem for ordering doctors to sterilize her 20-year-old daughter as punishment for promiscuity and to steal her inheritance.
WkP9L TIL that in Germany children are literally thrown out of preschools on their last day as a fun celebration of moving on to school