› added 5 years ago

92

TIL China's mass surveillance system, the largest and most intricate in the world, is literally called Skynet.

Read more wikipedia.org

via reddit.com

KYL09 TIL There is a myth that the White Star Line stopped the wages of the Titanic’s crew when it sank on April 15th, which was in line with Board of Trade regulations. They actually paid their staff bonus wages covering what they would have earned had the journey been completed.
9Yag7 TIL to defend a South African city under siege in 1899, a mining engineer from Detroit built a 155' high watchtower with search lights and telephones, a water supply system, a bulk refrigeration plant, two armored trains, artillery shells, a cannon, and also the tools needed to build the cannon
v10NL TIL that the tradition of brides wearing white at their weddings started with Queen Victoria in 1840
MeRd8 TIL that Germany has launched a rocket with yeast on board into space. When the rocket returns the yeast will be used to make beer. Making it effectively space beer.
LQQAd TIL about Eric "The Eel": with having learned to swim only 8 months beforehand, the 22 Equatoguinean was able to compete in the Olympics due to a program in assisting developing countries. Nearly drowning, the crowd of 17,000 people cheered him on as he finished proud to represent his country.