Recent comments in /f/todayilearned

series_hybrid t1_je59mzq wrote

Reply to TIL Early drones were developed during the First World War. These radio controlled planes were primarily for target practice but by 1942 a drone with a built in TV camera was capable of delivering a torpedo to a ship 20 miles from the controller. by jamescookenotthatone

In bee society, drones follow the queen when she is flying through the air.

Anti-aircraft training started out with a piloted airplane pulling a banner far behind it, but problems still occurred.

Simple radio-controls could operate servo's on a target plane, so...a control plane with a pilot and one crewman would take off. A target plane with a pilot would take off just behind them.

Just beore reaching the target area, the pilot in the target plane would parachute out.

Since the plane in the rear followed the control plane, unmanned target-planes became known as drones.

I read that on vectorsite

6

absolutelyshafted t1_je58g2h wrote

Reply to TIL about the Forty Elephants or Forty Thieves, an all women crime syndicate in London in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries that specialized in shoplifting and pretending to be maids and robbing the wealthy families who hired them. by Professor_Hillbilly

I’m very surprised some media corp like Disney or Amazon hasn’t already gotten their hands on this.

The concept of a group of women subverting gender norms and robbing all the aristocrats in broad daylight seems like it would appeal extremely well to Gen Z and especially Gen Z girls

But then again, there’s very little evidence for it according to the article. Even so I’m sure these studios could slap “based on a true story” on the opening credits

2

GreasyPeter t1_je57rqj wrote

Reply to comment by MooseTed in TIL that after a flood killed thousands and devastated the economy, California legislators and State employees worked unpaid for a year and a half. by WhatsAMisanthrope

This is extremely common and yet when old school conservatives warn about this type of thing everyone tells them they're off their rockers. I don't agree with a lot of what conservatives say, but this clearly is one slippery slope that gets greased regularly.

14

Toy_Guy_in_MO t1_je57gwb wrote

Reply to comment by FlattopMaker in TIL that children born earlier in the academic year have a higher chance of participating in upper echelons of sports or academia. This is known as the Relative Age Effect. by ThatFaultyGamer

It's crazy to think that some people's entire lives were basically predetermined for them simply because of an arbitrary date. How many people who were told they were average or subpar from early school might have had a better school experience that translated into a better overall life experience, had they simply been placed in a more appropriate grade?

3

Matthew_C1314 t1_je57clw wrote

Reply to comment by MooseTed in TIL that after a flood killed thousands and devastated the economy, California legislators and State employees worked unpaid for a year and a half. by WhatsAMisanthrope

Texas? If not, then we got the same problems. They built toll roads that are the only direct connections between a few minor cities. Supposed to stop once paid for, got paid off 15 years ago. But I still pay $6 to drive 9 miles with traffic.

12

Jampine t1_je566o4 wrote

Reply to comment by Sindri556 in TIL Early drones were developed during the First World War. These radio controlled planes were primarily for target practice but by 1942 a drone with a built in TV camera was capable of delivering a torpedo to a ship 20 miles from the controller. by jamescookenotthatone

Made me think of the incorrect summary of Project wingman: "When defending the boat, we make the discovery that in this universe, missles are pigeon guided, and exhibit traits of self perseverance".

Checked it again, and it literally has the same picture from the Wikipedia entry lol.

8

Downvote_me_dumbass t1_je55hu7 wrote

Reply to comment by 1clovett in TIL that after a flood killed thousands and devastated the economy, California legislators and State employees worked unpaid for a year and a half. by WhatsAMisanthrope

Unless you have cash in the bank or say Golden 1 Credit Union decides to issue interest free loans, those people still have debts to pay. It’s not like they can say “sorry, can’t pay my mortgage or groceries this month, but it’s all good.” There were plenty of budget cycles where there were months without a budget passed and these folks weren’t initially paid.

1