› added 8 years ago

224

TIL the true purpose of Microsoft Solitaire and Minesweeper was to teach mouse-fluency by stealth

Read more mentalfloss.com

via reddit.com

a8vab TIL Rockall is an uninhabited islet in the United Kingdom's exclusive economic zone (EEC). In 1997 the British recognized Rockall wasn't an island and gave up all EEC claims it could have made, Rockall is the only case of a state voluntarily downgrading an insular feature to "a rock".
xV8VB TIL of the ancient Greek stoic philosopher Chrysippus of Soli, who initiated the success of Stoicism. He died of laughter at the age of 73 after witnessing a donkey eating his figs.
R7xv9 TIL the tongue and hyoid bone of this pileated woodpecker wrap around its skull to help cushion the brain while it's pecking for food. The bird's inner-skull contains compressible sponge-like bone, mostly concentrated in the forehead and the back of the skull, which functions as a shock absorber.
vPXpK TIL that Giant pandas have opposable thumbs similar to people (and an extra ‘thumb’ on each front paw in addition)
690b7 TIL of John "Jack's Kirby, goalkeeper for Derby County, who was ordered along with his teammates to give a Nazi salute on their 1934 tour of Germany. He refused.