› added 5 years ago

299

TIL: In 1995, an artist named William Utermohlen was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. He continued to make art for the last few years of his life, both as documentation of his daily life and of his decline in cognitive function. Looking through these pieces, you can trace his cognitive changes.

Read more williamutermohlorg

via reddit.com

5Vy18 TIL Pope Pius XII once asserted in a speech that the Big Bang theory scientifically proved that the universe was created by a divine creator. Horrified, the physicist Georges Lemaître convinced the Pope not to make any further statements connecting his theory and theology.
JYeWV TIL Invented around 1770, the basset horn was pitched a fourth lower than the traditional clarinet (F) and is described to have a rich tone. Mozart liked its sound so much that wrote multiples pieces specifically for his clarinetist friend. As the orchestra started to grow, it fell into obscurity
6k1J TIL that the American flag is reversed on military uniforms because when the soldier/marine/etc marches forward, the US flag must face forward. It must not be seen to be in retreat, therefore, the stars are actually on the right side of the badge, so they face forward direction always.
xVYp1 TIL that newborn baby girls can experience a "mini-period" due to the withdrawal from their mother's estrogen
k9N4 TIL Robert H. Richards IV, who inherited the Du Pont family fortune after the death of John du Pont (of Foxcatcher fame), was convicted in 2009 of sexually abusing his 3-year-old daughter. His 8 year sentence was suspended, as the judge claimed he would “not fare well” in prison