› added 12 years ago

308

TIL the efficiency of LEDs doubles every 36 months.

Read more popularmechanics.com

via reddit.com

Brmd TIL Hummingbirds are continuously hours away from starving to death, and are able to store just enough energy to survive overnight.
lorNr TIL The Verrazano Narrows Bridge in New York, and other long suspension bridges like it, are built with the curvature of the earth in mind. The two towers are 41 mm farther apart at the top than at the base, which makes the bridge not fall over.
j6oVM TIL that Pluto Time is the time of day when the light on Earth is comparable to how bright it gets on Pluto.
PYMQn TIL we have three types of tears - basal, reflex and psychic. Psychic tears, the ones we produce when we are sad, have a different chemical make up than the other two and contain a natural painkiller, leucine enkephalin, which is perhaps why we feel better after we cry.
6E6gY TIL that when Socrates was found guilty of impiety and corruption of the youth, his punishment was put to a vote. He had the choice to suggest an alternative to death, but instead nominated that Athens provide him free meals for the rest of his life.