› added 7 months ago

26

TIL I learned of a gamma ray burst that struck earth with such intensity it had the same effects as a powerful solar flair. The source of the burst was over two billion light years away.

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via reddit.com

vodR TIL that 50% of the fuel needed to get to Mars is required just to get out of low Earth orbit.
Z8jQv TIL that despite a diet of up to 7,000 calories per day and weighing up to 400 lbs, sumo wrestlers typically do not suffer from symptoms of obesity due to their intense workout regimens. Upon retirement, however, they must seriously cut calories or become at risk for cardiovascular disease.
WRpL TIL the pressurization of an airplane cabin alters the function of taste buds, causing a decrease of up to 30% in the ability to taste saltiness or sweetness. This is one of the reasons so many people dislike airline food.
kJWpg TIL that the 9/11 landfill was named Fresh Kills
dDLEB TIL that those little cracks you see in dried out soil are called "dessication cracks," or simply "mudcracks."