› added 12 years ago

151

TIL a consortium of American and German organizations cut a hole in the side of a 747 to install a 2.5m telescope. This modified plane is flown above most of the atmosphere so infrared observations can be made.

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via reddit.com

1a0kW TIL that, in Texas, the tradition of high school Homecoming includes enormous and flamboyant "mums", an arrangement of ribbons, buttons, charms, and other accouterments; sew into a wearable accessory.
b9kx0 TIL that New Zealand was home to a 12-foot-tall species of bird known as the "giant moa." They were wiped around 1500 AD after settlers found the island and hunted them for food.
GYBGj TIL of the USS New York, a ship in the US Navy forged partially from steel that was salvaged from the World Trade Center after it was destroyed in 9/11. The ship's motto is "Strength forged through sacrifice. Never forget."
wQVW TIL That a bike manufacturer saw a huge drop in shipping damage after it printed a TV on its boxes.
x6Ad0 TiL that nachos were invented by Ignacio Anaya. "Nacho" is the nickname of Ignacio.