› added 12 years ago

129

TIL the world’s first film star was a prostitute

Read more wikipedia.org

via reddit.com

wodZo TIL about Dr. John Hinds was a Northern Irish doctor known for his contributions to prehospital care and high-speed motorcycle trauma medicine. He died in a motorcycle accident.
lopZA TIL about Project Pigeon where psychologist B.F. Skinner developed pigeon-guided missiles for World War II. He put pigeons in the nose cones of missiles and trained them to peck at targets. It was effective but never got off the ground because nobody took them seriously and radar became popular.
vPL97 TIL that the Danakil Depression in Ethiopia is one of the hottest and most inhospitable places on Earth, with temperatures often exceeding 50°C (122°F). Despite this, it’s home to vibrant acidic pools, salt flats, and even microorganisms that survive in extreme conditions.
dbwB TIL the CIA rigged the 1958 Nobel Prize selection for literature by buying thousands of copies of “Doctor Zhivago” in Europe. The CIA also printed pocket copies of the book and distributed them to Soviet tourists in the West.
4w4a TIL there is a long forgotten 13th sidereal zodiac sign, Ophuchicus “the snake holder” Nov. 29-Dec. 17. It was cut out by the Babylonians who wanted 12 signs for compatibility with their base 60 number system.