› added 4 years ago

157

TIL that Abraham Lincoln was almost in a saber duel with James Shield on September 22, 1842 until John J. Hardin and Dr. R.W. English ceased the hostilities between the two.

Read more historynet.com

via reddit.com

jNg7n TIL that critically acclaimed author Brandon Sanderson is also a lecturer at BYU and posts his lectures for free on YouTube for any aspiring authors/curious people
l7KdK TIL that some people can voluntarily contract their tensor veli palatini—a muscle near the ear and throat—which opens the eustachian tube (normally closed), making a clicking sound (same as when you swallow or yawn) which equalizes the pressure in the middle ear. This is useful for freedivers.
4Orb TIL: scientists have invented a gel that can be directly squirted into an open wound to instantly stop bleeding. It was inspired by medpacs in videogames.
6EXxl TIL a Japanese twitter user had his account permanently suspended for making a death threat against a mosquito
1aRKW TIL that dark roast coffee actually has less caffeine than light roast coffee (per scoop) due to the roasting process it goes through.