› added 12 years ago

246

TIL Bath Salts were a huge drug problem in the Soviet Union in the 1970s and 1980s, but the government kept the problem quiet through control of the state-run media. Bath Salts are called “Jeff” in Russia. (resubmitted with correct link)

Read more pbs.org

via reddit.com

7BBp TIL The oldest cat to ever live was named Creme Puff and lived 38 years. Creme Puff’s owner had a second cat named Granpa, who lived 34 years. Both cats were fed a diet of bacon and eggs, asparagus, broccoli, and coffee with heavy cream.
8eKea TIL that in the 1600-1700's Sweden minted coins made out of copper. Given the abundance and low value of copper, the coins were massive. The largest coin, the 10-daler, weighed nearly 44 pounds.
woADP TIL that Beluga Whales can mimic the pattern of human speech. One captive beluga, after overhearing divers using an underwater communication system, caused one of the divers to surface by imitating their order to get out of the water.
R77ll TIL of the Peter principle which states that employees are promoted based on their performance in there current role. Thus, employees only stop being promoted once they can no longer perform effectively, and "Managers rise to the level of their incompetence".
BrnDd TIL that praying mantes eat hummingbird brains: