› added 8 years ago

311

TIL that Eli Whitney’s cotton gin is short for “cotton engine”.

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via ift.tt

kyJ5 TIL that whales were originally land mammals similar to hippos. It wasn’t until after many millions of years had passed that they began to live in water.
M7wkV TIL that some Paramecium contain kappa particles. These are actually symbiotic bacteria that produce a toxin that kills Paramecium that lack kappa particles.
YpVRB TIL that popular jock jam "Whoomp There It Is" was released two months before "Whoot There It Is", a separate song with the exact same chorus and lyrics by a different artist who was unaware of the similarities.
DQkBY TIL GREENPEACE USA unknowingly published a wildlife photo for their upcoming 2015 calendar that was taken by a former French spy who was responsible for the bombing of the Greenpeace Vessel Rainbow Warrior in 1985. GREENPEACE USA would destroy the remaining copies of that calendar.
axVJ TIL an abandoned water tower on top of a vacant New York City building was turned into a secret rooftop speakeasy. Accessible by ladder from below, the cozy nightclub featured live music and drinks.