› added 11 years ago

92

TIL Vultures and Condors are not actually closely related, but superficially similar only due to convergent evolution.

Read more wikipedia.org

via reddit.com

Z85AG TIL that maggots can jump by curling their bodies, sticking themselves together and then pumping body fluids into one part until they unstick and explode upwards from the force
4XARa TIL that Buzz Aldrin's nickname arose as a result of his sister, Fay Ann, mispronouncing "brother" as "buzzer", which was then shortened to "Buzz". This became his legal first name in 1988.
LM6m TIL North Korea is believed to have up to 20 secret tunnels designed for a surprise attacks on South Korea
e0oy4 TIL the NORAD set for the movie War Games was at the time time most expensive movie set ever built. It was more advanced than the real NORAD, which was still using technology from the 50s.
R78OQ TIL in 1828, Eastern State Penitentiary opened with a ground breaking agenda to rehabilitate prisoners. Prisoners had a cell each, and were comforted with central heating and flush toilets, something which even the White House didn't have at that time.