› added 11 years ago

99

TIL, 30 years ago on this day Sept. 26th 1983. A Russian Colonel named Stanislav Petrov, now known as The man who saved the world, averted WW3. A Soviet early warning satellite detected nuclear launches from the US. Petrov trusted his instincts that the computers were malfunctioning and did nothing.

Read more wikipedia.org

via reddit.com

e1PE TIL that Willy Brandt, German Chancellor between 1969 and 1974, resigned when it was found out that one of his chief advisors was a spy for the Soviet-controlled GDR
BxJk TIL in Ancient Persia, the men used to debate ideas once sober and once drunk, because the idea needed to sound good in both states in order to be considered a good idea.
Z8emo TIL that corn is a grain, a vegetable and a fruit
GQMG TIL that making references to the Bible,the Constitution,and US Supreme court decisions, are indicators you may be part of a domestic terrorist movement.
v1DP7 TIL that cheetahs are so instinctively shy animals, especially in captivity, that they even fail to procreate. And so for years, conservationists have been giving cheetahs emotional support dogs who are raised with them and help them socialise and reduce anxiety.