› added 10 years ago

175

TIL that humanity’s first flight was shorter than the wing span of a Boeing 747

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woOM1 TIL Jackie Robinson was a four sport star at UCLA, playing on multiple integrated teams. Including on an undefeated football team. Later, he also served in WWII, where he was court martialed for not moving to the back of the bus when ordered.
m1WBv TIL about the "Tokyo Tower of Babel," a proposed 10 Kilometer tall tower that was designed to house up to 30 million people and was intended to be built in Tokyo Bay. If completed, it would have been the tallest structure in the world, but it remains an ambitious concept.
kJpLB TIL Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis, tried to convince his colleagues to wash their hands before delivering babies because he noticed lower levels of infections. His colleagues were offended that he would dare suggest they would be “unclean!” Ultimately Dr. Semmelweis was committed to an insane asylum.
JWJv TIL the phrase “Man’s best friend” originated in 1870 during a speech given in a civil court case. The speech was given by an attorney who was representing a farmer suing for damages after his dog was shot and killed by his neighbor
epRJk TIL between 28 October 1918 and 9 November 1918, Germany was a parliamentary monarchy. The Chancellor was no longer reliant on the Emperor's confidence, but rather on the parliament, the Reichstag. The consent of the Reichstag was also needed to declare war and conclude peace, not just the Emperor's