› added 4 years ago

151

TIL an analysis of dozens of ancient civilizations revealed that they only had an average lifespan of 340 years before reverting to a more primitive state, being absorbed into a stronger society, or disappearing completely.

Read more wikipedia.org

via reddit.com

aOk0 TIL that on August 21, 1986, Lake Nyos in Cameroon released a wave of concentrated carbon dioxide that killed around 1,800 people and thousands of animals almost instantaneously. One witness said, “On that day there were no flies on the dead. The flies were dead too.”
VBQo4 TIL that Louis Armstrong was initially considered for the role of King Louie in Disney's 1967 ''Jungle Book'' but one of the writers said 'You know the NAACP is going to jump all over it having a black man playing an ape – it would be politically terrible' so the part went to Louis Prima.
WgMA TIL that Muhammad Ali was invited to North Korea in 1995 with a collection of other athletes. Though he didn’t speak much during the visit, at one function, as officials claimed they could take out the US or Japan whenever they wanted to, Ali declared loudly “no wonder we hate these motherfuckers.”
PYQLZ Today I learned that (contrary to modern portrayals) gladiators were not lean but rather chubby, allowing them to sustain more damage in the arena and continue fighting.
d8bOZ TIL Friends Thomas Cook and Joseph Feeney shook hands in 1992, swearing if either one won the Powerball jackpot, they would split the winnings. Well the power of friendship and a handshake has paid off: 28 years later Tom won €22 million and split the winnings with his friend.