› added 13 years ago

353

TIL the quietest room in the world registers -9 decibels (yes, negative decibels)

Read more minnesota.publicradio.org

via reddit.com

nVgb TIL, in 1962, an intruder climbing the fence at a Minnesota air base set off the “sabotage alarm” in all bases in the area. In one base, due to wrong wiring, the Klaxon was sounded ordering nuclear-armed aircraft to take off, and the pilots believed WW3 has started. The original intruder was a bear.
mJay TIL that close physical proximity may help to increase the levels of Oxytocin in men, thereby increasing the potential for faithfulness among men in monogamous relationships.
yVNOp TIL when the Apollo 13 Saturn IVB upper stage impacted the Moon, the impact was picked up by seismometers put in place during Apollo 12.
oRajr TIL Why Hákarl(shark) is fermented up to seven months before being eaten as a delicacy in Iceland is because it has high amounts of Urea and trimethylamine oxide.
YpmAW TIL: When fingers and toes get pruny from prolonged exposure to water, it's not because they absorbed water directly and became mushy. The water triggers nerves under your skin to dilate blood vessels and skin tension relaxes. People with specific nerve injuries don't have this response.