› added 10 years ago

68

TIL that in 192, the Roman emperor Commodus declared himself the new Romulus and “re-founded” Rome. He then renamed a bunch of things in his own honor, including the city itself and the names of the 12 months (which he changed to correspond with his 12 names)

Read more wikipedia.org

via reddit.com

5Ynxn TIL that NASA engineers once asked Sally Ride if 100 tampons was enough for a 7 day mission
N7JB1 TIL: The first-ever solar-powered satellite, Vanguard 1, is "the oldest human-made object still in orbit" (plus some of its launch rocket). Launched in 1958, it stopped talking in 1964 but continues orbiting. The three sats older than it (Sputniks 1 & 2, Explorer 1) are no longer in orbit.
6Pl8 TIL That NASA is investigating technology that could lead to a warp drive.
NjkN TIL that the U-bend (P-trap without a 90 degree bend) used in toilets and sinks to prevent sewage gasses from entering the house was invented by Thomas Crapper
jN4ZX TIL During the Korean War, English-born John Koelsch was the first helicopter pilot awarded the Medal of Honor (posthumously) for volunteering to rescue a downed Marine without a fighter escort. He, his crew, and the pilot were all captured, yet Koelsch never broke despite dying in captivity.