› added 12 years ago

102

TIL that after becoming associated with the catchphrase “billions and billions,” Carl Sagan had a unit of measurement named after him. One sagan is equal to at least four billion, since the smallest number that may be described as “billions and billions” must be two billion plus two billion.

Read more wikipedia.org

via reddit.com

0dyL TIL that in 1943, a German soldier refused to shoot down an American Soldier, and actually escorted him off of German grounds back to the North Sea.
KOlP6 TIL that in 1974 the Cleveland Indians held 10 cent beer night with the only rule being you could only buy 6 at a time. The promotion resulted in the fans rioting and both teams using bats to protect themselves from the rioting fans.
KON5R TIL to just be allowed to try out for the US Olympic team for running the marathon, you have to run a marathon in under 2 hours and 19 minutes. That is the same thing as running 26 miles where each mile is done in around 5 minutes and 18 seconds.
epmgE TIL of the Christmas Eve tradition of 'Burning the Ashen Faggot'. Probably pagan in origin, and held in Devon, UK and surrounding counties, the ceremony involves the assembly of a large bundle of ash sticks bound with bands. When each band burns through a drink of cider is taken.
6Eo1l TIL about Matthew (Mack) Robinson who broke the world record in the 200m at the Olympic games 1936 in Berlin just to lose against Jesse Owens who ran 0.4 seconds faster. Besides that Macks little brother made a career for himself. His name - Jackie Robinson.