› added 1 week ago

21

TIL that the date of Easter used to be so complicated to calculate that church authorities would come up with algorithms to determine it years in advance. Disagreements over the proper algorithm led to Eastern Orthodox churches celebrating Easter on a different date than Western churches.

Read more wikipedia.org

via reddit.com

xAV1 TIL that to eliminate all the elusive invasive goats in the Galapagos, researchers attached a radio-collar to a ‘Judas goat’ who would, because of its gregarious nature, seek out other goats. It was then tracked down, the group killed, but with the 'traitor’ left alive in order to find more goats.
X84X TIL when Norway was occupied by Germany during WWII, the Nazis instituted the Lebensborn program, under which Norwegian women were coerced into having the children of Nazi officers. The most famous Lebensborn child is Frida Lyngstad of the band ABBA.
KYQVa TIL there is an annual fashion show in Australia for ducks
nQL9 TIL That the child actress who played the voice of Ducky in The Land Before Time, Judith Barsi, was murdered by her father after years of jealousy and abuse.
x6ej7 TIL in 1965 U.S. Patent was issued for the "Blonsky Device" It was a centrifugal birthing table. A woman in labor was strapped to a high speed spinning table that would "gently force the baby out."