› added 11 years ago

563

TIL one transatlantic flight emits more CO2 than an entire Formula 1 racing season

Read more stanwoodengineering.co.uk

via reddit.com

OG7Y TIL that some birds can be born and exist as gynandromorphs, meaning that they have both genders as well as male and female appearances, divided laterally
jwOM TIL that more people died during the Mao Era in China (49m to 78m) than all World War II casualties included (40m-72m). Making it the most mortiferous event in human history, only topped by the Black Plague in Europe.
8elLa TIL that before Lincoln Center could reward David Geffen's $100 Million donation by renaming "Avery Fisher Hall" to "David Geffen Hall", they had to pay the heirs of Fisher - the original donor - $15 million. Geffen's donation has a provision that requires his name to be on the hall "in perpetuity".
wodn6 TIL When Ottoman envoys, citing a religious custom, declined to remove their turbans when meeting with Vlad (Dracula) the Impaler, Vlad saluted their devotion and decided to strengthen their custom by having three spikes driven through each of their heads, pinning the turbans in place forever.
Ol87 TIL in 1977, the band Pink Floyd tied a giant inflatable pig to a power station as a publicity stunt. The pig broke free, and floated over Heathrow airport, where all flights had to be grounded to avoid collisions with the pig.