› added 5 years ago

82

TIL that the term “Peeping Tom” originates from the time Lady Godiva rode her horse naked around Coventry in protest at her husband’s (Earl of Mercia) tax increases. She asked people not to look but a man named Thomas did and according to legend, was struck blind.

Read more wikipedia.org

via reddit.com

nWNZ7 TIL of Ada Blackjack, an indigenous woman sent on an expedition with 4 men to an Arctic island in 1921, within two years she was the sole survivor after facing -50 degree weather, being stalked and hunted by polar bears, and learning to hunt and trap despite no previous knowledge
WGQ4 TIL the Han dynasty of China drilled for natural gas, transported it in pipelines and gas containers and burned it in stoves … in 200 BC
m6ox TIL that India’s richest man lives in a 27-story 400,000 sq ft tower with 4 family members and 600 staff. The 550ft tall building contains a 168-car garage spanning 6 floors, 9 elevators, 4 stories of hanging gardens, a 50-seat theater, an artificial snow room, and 3 helipads, valued at $2bn USD.
EgWNP TIL: Walking Corpse Syndrome is a mental disorder where the person thinks they are dead, do not exist, or exist without organs or blood. Denial of self existence is present in about half of cases, while the other half think they’re immortal.
d1Y8 TIL that when ancient astrologers received an omen that the King would die soon, they simply appointed a new temporary king, and killed him instead