› added 7 years ago

97

TIL That before the 1500s, there were no potatoes, corn, tomatoes, and tobacco in Europe nor oranges, bananas, mangoes, and coffee in America

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v1BJ8 TIL that in the early 1800’s the Russians tried to invade Hawaii, which was an independent kingdom at the time. However, a force of natives and American traders expelled them and forced them to return to Russia.
gMR49 TIL about the Glirarium, a Roman jar with holes in it, made for keeping and forcing mice to hibernate for a while, which made them fatter before eating them, making them more tasteful
Br1xk TIL James Earl Ray, MLK’s assassin, was accidentally honored in a Florida plaque supposed to be celebrating James Earl Jones during an MLK Day event. Officials received their plaque and were horrified to discover that it bore an inscription thanking James Earl Ray for “keeping the dream alive”.
LkNjP TIL that NASA had to change condom (used as part of the urination system in space suits) sizes from small, medium, large to large, gigantic, humongous since all of the astronauts picked up large regardless of their size.
nmnB TIL the first car to use a rear-view mirror was driven by inaugural Indy 500 winner Ray Harroun to see the cars catching up behind him