› added 11 months ago

146

TIL that older termites are used as suicide bombers.

Read more science.org

via reddit.com

jN4lN TIL scientists discovered the specific molecule in bees' royal jelly (which worker bees feed to larvae) that aids wound healing, called "defensin-1". Compared to a control, a royal jelly trial & a pure defensin-1 promoted healing of wounds on rats.
yVDKM TIL that the melting permafrost is resulting in the release of “arctic zombie viruses” which are ancient pathogens that were frozen beneath the ice for thousands of years. Currently they pose little threat to humans, but this will change as it continues to melt further.
pYDQp TIL that Princess Elizabeth took her corgi Susan, a gift from King George VI for her 18th birthday, on her 1947 honeymoon. Hidden under carriage rugs during the wedding parade, Susan later joined the couple at Broadlands, even riding in a Jeep driven by Prince Philip.
b9GON TIL about the White Ship disaster that killed 300 people including the heir to the English throne, and sent England into a succession crisis
vLYr TIL, in 1585, a Dutch hellburner filled with 800 tons of gunpowder and rocks killed 800 Spaniards. A tsunami arose in the river, the ground shook for miles around and a dark cloud covered the area. The blast was felt 35 km away in Ghent. It has been described as an early weapon of mass destruction.