› added 9 years ago

255

TIL thousands of afghans share January 1st as their birthday because they don’t know when their real birthday is.

Read more washingtonpost.com

via reddit.com

E1WX0 TIL that the loofah(luffa) is a plant from the cucumber family that when matured and dried becomes very fibrous and is used as a sponge in kitchens and bathrooms.
mDPo TIL that in the 1890’s Emperor Menelek of Ethiopia was impressed by the new method of execution in the USA, the electric chair. He ordered three to be sent to his palace only to learn he needed electricity to use them. He gave two away and used the last chair as a throne.
b6yeZ TIL that cellophane is not made from plastic but is produced from plants - using regenerated cellulose derived from organic materials including wood, cotton and hemp.
oBywr TIL Nintendo's Mario is Named After a Real Life Person, Mario Segale
aMjA TIL that Shasta Beverages, the company best known for all the third-tier sodas you can find at the dollar store, invented the soda can