› added 8 years ago

518

TIL that sign language includes very few words about astronomy, making it hard for those who are deaf to talk about space. The International Astronomical Union just created about 50 signs to replace words like "constellation" that previously had to be spelled out letter by letter.

Y7XYv TIL that in 1933, yo-yos were banned in Syria, because many locals superstitiously blamed the use of them for a severe drought.
e0D56 TIL during WW2, captured German officers were sent to Britain as POWs and lived in luxury in Trent Park to make them feel relaxed. However, they were being listened to by 100 ‘listeners’. They revealed secrets about the holocaust, events in Berlin, Hitler's madness and V2 rocket bases.
4k1PJ TIL pilot error is a leading cause of airplane crashes. In 2004, it was cited as the primary reason for 78.6% of disastrous general aviation accidents. Some causes are fatigue, faulty memory, and poor interpersonal communication. Using checklists has reduced risks over time.
5rx9 TIL: Woodrow Wilson’s vice president, Thomas Marshall, was known for his sense of humor. One of his favorite jokes was about a woman with two sons, one of whom went to sea and one of whom was elected vice president; neither was ever heard of again.
neE9 TIL The reason the Allies knew about atrocities at Auschwitz was Polish captain Witold Pilecki, who let himself be captured, prepared inmates to uprise, distributed extra food, and built a secret radio transmitter. Pilecki was unknown until 1989, but was given Poland’s highest decoration in 2006.