› added 10 years ago

75

TIL there is a long-standing and heated territorial dispute between Canada and Denmark over an uninhabited island. Interestingly, if the island is split in half as recently proposed, it would double the number of land borders of each country.

Read more wikipedia.org

via reddit.com

awYVo TIL about the Zwentendorf Nuclear Power Plant, Austrias first power plant that was build in the 70s for nowadays 1.4 billion euros, completed, but never went into operation because it was stopped last minute by a referendum with 50.5% against it. Now it is a training station & tourist attraction.
0NgM TIL that the Oarfish is the likely source for most sea serpent tales. And although it’s a deep water species its not to uncommon to see one.
Lkby9 TIL After president Harding died of a heart attack, VP Calvin Coolidge was visiting family with no electricity or telephone. He heard of Harding's death by messenger at 2:45 AM. He got dressed, prayed, and met with reporters downstairs and took oath next to a kerosene lamp. He then went back to bed.
xkj0 TIL In 1945, Japanese radar operators detected a small number of incoming US planes (which carried the nuclear bombs to be dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki), but decided not to intercept them as the small number of planes were not seen as a threat.
jG5v TIL there is a real life “Van Wilder” who attended his university for 16 years and did not graduate despite having enough credits completed for 9 majors and 5 minors.