› added 6 years ago

106

TIL that President William McKinley (who was assassinated) often wore a trademark good luck charm. It was a red carnation worn on his lapel. While meeting with the public a 12 year old girl asked him for the flower. He gave it to her and moments later was shot.

Read more wikipedia.org

via reddit.com

9wk5D TIL that a common male fertility test, Hamster Egg Penetration Test (HEPT) aka sperm penetration assay, uses hamster ovums in place of human ovums to test sperm’s ability to fertilize an egg.
VMJOk TIL There was a campaign to rename the Australian Dollar to 'Dollarydoo' after an episode of The Simpsons. Supporters claimed it would increase demand for the currency.
VMJ8G TIL of a traffic light in United States that is deliberately upside down - In 1920's the Irish community at Tipperary Hill, Syracuse didn't like that the "British" red appeared above the "Irish" green on the light and kept vandalizing it until New York State was convinced to keep it green over red.
ne9RB TIL the earliest known sources of uranium were in Naples, Italy & Jáchymov, Czech Republic. Uranium is 40 times more abundant in the Earth's crust than silver. 1 KG of uranium-235 can produce as much energy as 1.5 million KG of coal.
XEG5D TIL of the usage "Bob's your uncle" meaning "and there you have it". In 1887, the UK Prime Minister Robert "Bob" Cecil appointed his nephew, Arthur Balfour as Chief Secretary for Ireland. Whatever other qualifications Balfour might have had, "Bob's your uncle" was seen as the conclusive one.