› added 4 years ago

67

TIL about Marvin Creamer an American college professor who became the first person to sail around the world without any navigational equipment. He relied on the sun, stars and moon to guide him instead of a compass, sextent, clock or any other type of navigational instrument.

Read more wikipedia.org

via reddit.com

R7ey8 TIL that Russia, using earthworks and cultivation techniques (and with little glass), pioneered growing citrus trees, known for incredible frost sensitivity, in temperatures down to -30C / -22F. Annual national production of citrus reached almost half a billion pounds in 1950.
wor6M TIL that penguins can drink saltwater thanks to a special gland near their eyes that filters out the salt. This allows them to survive in ocean environments without access to fresh water.
kOW5E TIL that the earliest explosion ever detected is a Gamma-ray burst from 13 billion years ago. At this point in time the universe was only 6% of its current age. It is likely to be an explosion of an early star. The light of this burst passed the earth in 2005.
EgeN0 TIL that Sikh temples can provide a free meal, a safe place, or a temporary shelter if your ever need it. Anyone can visit the temple irrespective of their native language, sexual orientation or religious beliefs abs they will never try to convert you.
lo0j5 TIL that the voice of E.T. was inspired by an elderly lady with a low pitched voice from smoking Kool cigarettes.