› added 5 years ago

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TIL that Cement is the most widely used material in existence and is the second most consumed resource on earth, behind water.

Read more bbc.com

via reddit.com

6MGl TIL that, in the late 980’s, Vladimir the Great chose to Christianize Russia rather than Islamisize it partly due to Islam’s ban on alcohol, saying, “Drinking is the joy of the Rus’, we can’t go without it.”
oBOYr TIL sound can be focused into a singular spot with an acoustic lens like light with an optical lens
9wkOm TIL that Elephant Seals were thought to be extinct by 1884. In 1892 an expedition from the Smithsonian found what could have been the last 8 individuals on Guadalupe Island of which the expedition killed 7 for their collection.
LkNjP TIL that NASA had to change condom (used as part of the urination system in space suits) sizes from small, medium, large to large, gigantic, humongous since all of the astronauts picked up large regardless of their size.
6E9xY TIL of a form of medieval torture, where the victims feet were covered in salt water and then a goat would start licking them. Sometimes the laughter and stress from the intense tickling resulted in a heart attack or a brain hemorrhage.