› added 11 years ago

99

TIL the Greek name for the Mosquito is Anopheles, translating to “good-for-nothing”

Read more wikipedia.org

via reddit.com

NeDE TIL a German abbot wrote a book on magic in 1499. A century later, it was discovered to be one of the first books on cryptography, carefully encrypted disguised as a book on magic.
pY5yZ TIL of the Great Lego Spill - In 1997 a rogue wave caused a cargo ship to spill 4.8 million Lego pieces into the ocean, many are still being found today
0wWQp TIL George Clooney Uses Nespresso Commercial Money for Satellite to Spy on Sudan Dictator
wLK1W TIL Tom Cruise turned down the lead roll in The Shawshank Redemption because it was the director's first feature film.
0P9N TIL Einstein mediated a hostage situation when, during the WWII aftermath, Berlin University students took several professors captive.