› added 6 years ago

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TIL that the first CIA director stated in a letter to Congress that "high-ranking Air Force officers are soberly concerned about UFOs. But through official secrecy and ridicule, many citizens are led to believe the unknown flying objects are nonsense."

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via reddit.com

nedyW TIL guru nanak promoted women equality in the 15th century.
6lRY TIL that physicist Arthur Eddington was told, “Professor Eddington, you are one of three people in the world who understand relativity.” Eddington remained silent. The reporter continued, “Don’t be modest, Eddington!” Eddington replied, “Actually, I’m trying to think who the third person is.”
e0kkD TIL sea level rise is caused by two main factors, melting land ice (glaciers), and "thermal expansion" the expansion of space between water molecules as the ocean gets warmer. So the ocean is both gaining water molecules, and the water molecules are spreading out and taking up more space.
Brwoe TIL that the blue whale heart rate was measured for the first time last year! It gets as low as 2 beats per minute, raising up to 37 when it resurfaces (more oxygen access). It works at physiological extremes, and explains why the whale never evolved to be even bigger.
e0Q7D TIL that in 2016, boxing promoter John Carden scheduled a boxing match between a pro fighter with 10 matches under his belt and an intellectually disabled man who had never been in a boxing ring before. It was stopped after two rounds.