› added 11 years ago

268

TIL there are now twice as many people enslaved in the world as there were in the 350 years of the transatlantic slave trade.

Read more theatlantic.com

via reddit.com

kkbm TIL: The only notable person known to have both been born and died on February 29 was Sir James Wilson (1812–1880), Premier of Tasmania
b6Woa TIL candles made out of iron and sodium chlorate produce oxygen on submarines by burning at 600°C/1,112°F. They're also used in space (on the ISS, Mir and Shuttles)
kObM7 TIL that in 1933 Harry Gaines created the first comic book by putting together an 8 page magazine reprinting comic strips as a promotional item for Procter & Gamble
7r6YM TIL about Disco Demolition Night. In the Late 70s the White Sox hired a shock-jock, anti-disco campaigner to promote an event where fans were urged to bring in disco records for discounted ticket priced. These records were collected and then blown up. The even ended with riot police dispersal.
W7vJ4 TIL 41,459 different species are threatened with extinction