› added 1 year ago

51

TIL that the Sojourner Mars rover is named after African American abolitionist Sojourner Truth through an essay contest and not because it was a temporary traveler, or sojourner, to Mars.

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rRb8e TIL Robert Johnson was so good with his guitar that some believe he sold his soul to devil for his talent
DW4J TIL Mount Kosciuszko was thought to be the highest mountain in Australia until Mount Townsend was found to be slightly taller. Rather than re-educating the public that Townsend was the new highest mountain, the New South Wales Lands Department simply switched their names.
yVbpl TIL that they’re called wisdom teeth because they begin to come through our gums when we are young adults, and we become “older and wiser” with the passing of time.
N7BDJ TIL humans were once an endangered species. 1.2 million years ago, at a time when our ancestors were spreading through Africa, Europe and Asia, there were probably only around 18,500 individuals capable of breeding.
jNBbR TIL that there exists a competitive sport which combines boxing with a game of chess every other round.