› added 5 years ago

106

TIL Eratosthenes calculated the circumference of the earth ~2200 years ago, and was damn close to the accepted value today. Let Carl Sagan tell you a story.

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96Dr TIL that John McCain broke both arms and a leg, then had his shoulder crushed when his plane went down in North Vietnam. He was then tortured for two years, yet refused the early release offered to him because it did not include all American POWs. He lost 50 pounds and his hair turned white.
1a4VP TIL what the FCC considers "Obscene, Indecent and Profane Broadcasts" is based on subjective "I know it when I see it." judgement calls.
Rb76 TIL that Christians were originally called Atheists by the Roman Empire because they didn’t believe in Polytheism.
PYomw TIL Elijah Wood, Sean Bean, and Orlando Bloom were flying out of Newark airport on September 11, 2001 and saw the world trade center in flames from the air.
xVkgk TIL that after Patton liberated Ohrdruf, the first liberated concentration camp, he brought the mayor and the mayor's wife to see the camp. After they left, they hanged themselves.