› added 1 day ago

TIL there is a type of lightning called an upward leader, where a charge starts from the ground and goes up to meet a step leader, which is a charge on its way down from the sky.

Read more rmets.org

via reddit.com

D4GJ TIL that while most Americans think violent crime is worsening, violent crimes occur three times less than they did in 1973
d8g1Q TIL that one in every 5,000 babies is born without a butthole. This condition is called “imperforate anus” and the baby has to have one created manually in the hospital. The cause of this is not fully understood but it is believed to be caused by abnormal development of the rectum.
R5L07 TIL multiple recent studies have shown detrimental roles played by maltodextrin in the intestinal environment, suggesting that this broadly used food additive may play a role in the rapid increased incidence of chronic inflammatory disorders
R7Kl6 TIL about Crown Prince Shah of Nepal who was named king, though he was in a coma after his suicide attempt, which took place after murdering his father King Birendra
XEAKP TIL a former schoolteacher hit 3.2 million miles with the car he bought in 1966. Road-tripping Irv Gordon passed away recently, holding the world record of highest vehicle mileage with his Volvo P1800S