/f/todayilearned
TIL about Eurypterids, or "sea scorpions", the largest known arthropods ever to have lived. The largest, Jaekelopterus, reached 2.5 meters (8.2 ft) in length. Many forms lived in brackish or fresh water, and their dual respiratory system allowed for short periods of time on land.
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by WouldbeWanderer t3_z8ynhn
TIL Anti-Video Game Activist Jack Thompson wrote an open letter titled "A Modest Video Game Proposal" in 2005, in which he offered a $10,000 charity donation if someone made a game that allowed the players to kill video game developers. He was unaware Postal 2 already did this two years before.
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by PastPriority-771 t3_z95wh2
TIL in 1954, Ann Hodges was struck by a meteorite that crashed through her ceiling. A piece of it was found by a farmer who sold it & bought *a house & a car*. Ownership was disputed & she was unable to sell it, despite paying $500 to the other claimant & she ended up donating it to a museum.
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by Ihavepurpleshoes t3_z8z28u
TIL that after the battle between the USS Constitution and HMS Guerriere, the captain of the Constitution, Isaac Hull, refused the sword of surrender from the captain of the Guerriere, James Richard Dacre, saying he could not accept it from a man who fought so gallantly
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by alcapwnage0007 t3_z707uq
TIL that in 1977 Bob Marley was diagnosed with melanoma under a toenail. He rejected his doctors' advice to have his toe amputated, citing his religious beliefs. The cancer subsequently spread and he died of metastatic melanoma 4 years later, at the age of 36.
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by Lagavulin16_neat t3_z94iia
TIL the guy who played Nick the bartender in "It's a Wonderful Life," Sheldon Leonard, became one of the most successful TV producers in history, having created the Andy Griffith Show, Dick Van Dyke, among many others. As a tribute, the two main characters on "Big Bang Theory" were named after him.
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by latchkey_adult t3_z81ore
TIL that in 1979, a charity special episode of the academic student quiz show "It's Academic" was held between a team of three Democratic U.S. Senators, three Republican U.S. Senators, and three members of the press. The special was handily won by the press team.
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by FranklinDRoosevelt32 t3_z87wl6
TIL "Hey Jude" evolved from the song "Hey Jules" which Paul McCartney wrote for John Lennon's son, Julian, to comfort him while Lennon and his wife were getting separated, He recorded first part of the song on his way to Cynthia and Julian in his Car with a recorder installed in his car's dashboard.
rockandrollgarage.comSubmitted by Knight_TheRider t3_z87sx1
TIL Robert W. Service sent his poems to his father to be printed and given as gifts to friends. Service received back an offer of royalties for publication, the printers had loved the poems, The Spell of the Yukon and Other Verses was an immediate success and Service quit his bank job the next year.
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by jamescookenotthatone t3_z7rs6k