› added 5 years ago

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TIL that having more lifeboats on the Titanic would not have saved more lives. In fact, taking into account the amount of time they had to launch and the amount of crew there were, it’s actually incredible that they managed to launch as many as they did.

awVO0 TIL the idea that carrots promote better vision was a misinformation campaign by the British during WWII. They were the first to use onboard radar technology to shoot down enemy plains in complete darkness. They spread the idea that carrots gave their soldiers "night vision" to hide the tech.
QJ0De TIL Orson Welles War of the Worlds radio broadcast wasn't widely believed but was remade for Ecuador where it mobilized police and military. When the hoax was uncovered a mob burned down the radio station, tragically killing 6 employees that may not have even known it was happening.
e1vD TIL that Clarence Thomas, Supreme Court Justice, broke a continuous 7 year streak of silence during the hearing of cases to make a bad joke about a lawyer’s alma mater.
e0yP4 TIL There is a fictional antibiotic called Kalocin from 1969. Also potential new antibiotics called Halocin and Halicin. Last one named after HAL (a space odyssey). Links to real ones in comments
lwg7 TIL of Sgt Earl Hale. While taking six SS officers prisoner, one slashed Hale’s throat. He survived and remained in the European Theater. Later, General Patton himself would berate him for being out of uniform until he produced a doctor’s note excusing him from wearing the required tie.