Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL that Malaysia's prime minister participated in the largest embezzling scheme in history, sending billions of the country's sovereign wealth fund to him and his chronies. Among them was his son in law, Rita Aziz, who used the money to produce "The Wolf of Wallstreet" and "Dumb and Dumber"

1MDB scandal - Wikipedia

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1izjucc/til_that_malaysias_prime_minister_participated_in/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL Gliese 710 is a star that is projected to flyby the solar system in 1.2 million years, at a distance of "only" 2 light-months. The closest star to us is currently 4.25 light-years away.

Gliese 710 - Wikipedia

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1iy3kbv/til_gliese_710_is_a_star_that_is_projected_to/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL that in 1838, Edgar Allan Poe wrote a novel about four shipwreck survivors who, after drawing lots, eat a cabin boy named Richard Parker. Forty-six years later, a real ship sank, and the survivors—after drawing lots—ate a cabin boy named Richard Parker.

Edgar Allan Poe - Wikipedia

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1ixku69/til_that_in_1838_edgar_allan_poe_wrote_a_novel/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL that Henry Knox, namesake of Fort Knox where much of the US’ gold reserves are stored, ran a number of failed business ventures and accumulated large amounts of debt. When he died after swallowing a chicken bone, he left an estate that was bankrupt.

Henry Knox - Wikipedia

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1iwbeum/til_that_henry_knox_namesake_of_fort_knox_where/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL The Second Law of Thermodynamics says hot always move toward cold until thermal equilibrium is reached. So when it feels like "cold" is moving toward you (like when you open a freezer), what’s actually happening is the heat from your body is leaving you for the cold in the freezer.

Second law of thermodynamics - Wikipedia

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1ivrarz/til_the_second_law_of_thermodynamics_says_hot/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL in 1878, the Loretto Chapel was constructed with a wooden spiral staircase of unusually masterful craftsmanship. No builder was officially credited for the staircase, but legends say that a mysterious carpenter arrived and built it overnight, then left without collecting pay.

Loretto Chapel - Wikipedia

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1ivms8o/til_in_1878_the_loretto_chapel_was_constructed/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL that the Kauaʻi ʻōʻō, a small songbird from Hawaii, went extinct in 1987. The last male was recorded by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, singing a mating call and waiting for a mate that would never come. He died alone, and his voice is all that remains. #til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1iv4hs7/til_that_the_kauaʻi_ʻōʻō_a_small_songbird_from/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL in 2013, a U.K. inventor developed glow-in-the-dark ice cream made with the help of a protein extracted from jellyfish.

Lick it and it lights up! The jellyfish ice cream that... | 2013/12/02

Refrigeration sector news

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1iurk50/til_in_2013_a_uk_inventor_developed_glowinthedark/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL all public transport has been free in Luxemborg for nearly 5 years now

BBC News

Free transport in Luxembourg, but what's the cost?

One aim is to get cars off the road and ease traffic congestion but critics see it as a PR stunt.

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1iuqegg/til_all_public_transport_has_been_free_in/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL when the city of Munich chose to migrate their administration to Linux 10 years ago, Bill Gates personally paid a visit to ask for their reasons. The mayor replied "Freedom from you, Mr. Gates."

Linux-Magazin

Auf den Punkt 10 Jahre: Limux "ist fertig"

10 Jahre Linux und freie Software bei der Stadtverwaltung München – und der Projektleiter erklärt: „Limux ist fertig“. Mikmak, Wollmux, Deb...

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1iuij9c/til_when_the_city_of_munich_chose_to_migrate/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL about Air Indiana Flight 216 that crashed on December 13, 1977. Plane was carrying the University of Evansville basketball team, the Evansville Purple Aces. The only member of the Purple Aces who survived the crash was David Furr. Two weeks after the crash, Furr was killed in a car accident.

Air Indiana Flight 216 - Wikipedia

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1isw3fy/til_about_air_indiana_flight_216_that_crashed_on/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL Ants can end up following each other in a cercle (called an ant mill or a death spiral), until they die of exhaustion. Similar phenomena have been noted in processionary caterpillars and fish.

Ant mill - Wikipedia

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1is35b2/til_ants_can_end_up_following_each_other_in_a/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL that AI systems have developed their own languages to communicate with each other, a phenomenon known as emergent language, which researchers are still striving to fully understand.

Recursive self-improvement - Wikipedia

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1irkt90/til_that_ai_systems_have_developed_their_own/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL "Jet Ski" is a trademarked brand name belonging to Kawasaki. A neutral name for this type of vehicle is for example personal watercraft (PWC) or water scooter.

Jet Ski - Wikipedia

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1iqbphg/til_jet_ski_is_a_trademarked_brand_name_belonging/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL that, according to his daughter, in 1996 Reuben Mattus sat at his kitchen table for hours saying nonsensical Danish-sounding words until he came up with his brand name, Häagen-Dazs

HuffPost

Häagen-Dazs Comes From Where?!

The ice cream company that makes your favorite pints has a secret that

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1iptgee/til_that_according_to_his_daughter_in_1996_reuben/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL some tropical species of cone snails have a "harpoon" sting which can be fatal, and has killed at least 27 people. One species is nicknamed the "cigarette snail" as the victim will have only enough time to smoke a cigarette before dying

Cone snail - Wikipedia

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1iofjo6/til_some_tropical_species_of_cone_snails_have_a/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL that Nicholas Hoult was given Count Orlok’s prosthetic penis as a gift after Nosferatu https://ew.com/nicholas-hoult-says-robert-eggers-sent-bill-skarsgards-prosthetic-penis-nosferatu-8766051 #til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1insn1o/til_that_nicholas_hoult_was_given_count_orloks/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL the famous "Tank man" from the tiananmen square protests was never identified.

Tank Man - Wikipedia

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1inqyfv/til_the_famous_tank_man_from_the_tiananmen_square/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL about the spintria, or spintriae in plural, a Roman-era token with a numeral on one side and on the other side, the image of a couple having sex. Each numbered coin had a different sex position. Historians don’t know what spintriae were for but have suggested they were used as brothel passes.

Spintria - Wikipedia

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1inq6uq/til_about_the_spintria_or_spintriae_in_plural_a/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL why Tom Wolfe wore a white suit. The pioneer of 'New Journalism' said that the unusual clothing caused others to see him as "a man from Mars, the man who didn't know anything and was eager to know", so talked freely to him. The white suit became Wolfe's trademark from 1962 to his death.

Tom Wolfe - Wikipedia

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1inpsa5/til_why_tom_wolfe_wore_a_white_suit_the_pioneer/