/f/todayilearned
TIL that the talipot palm produces the world's largest flower cluster (inflorescence) containing one to several million flowers. It grows up to 25m tall, takes 30 to 80 years to reach maturity to flower and then dies immediately afterwards, having drained all its nutrients in the process.
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by embouteillagez t3_11zpn9i
TIL in the tiny African kingdom of Lesotho, a local style of accordion folk music known as Famo has sprung a fierce bloody gang war which has contributed to its high homicide rate. Little-known to the outside world, scores of musicians and hundreds of DJs, fans, family members etc. have been slain.
bbc.comSubmitted by delano1998 t3_123xxjg
TIL in the 1920s, Coco Chanel accidentally got a tan, and helped inspire the trend of sunbathing. Soon "sunlight therapy" was prescribed for almost every ailment from fatigue to tuberculosis. Before this, tanned skin was associated with the lower classes who work outside, and fair skin was revered.
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by Pfeffer_Prinz t3_126sj3j
TIL that in 1950, scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, synthesized a highly radioactive element by bombarding curium-242 with alpha particles. They named this new element "Californium" and its discovery was initially kept classified due to its potential military uses.
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by theID10T t3_11u107i
Submitted by 500owls t3_125emsn
TIL Arabic numbers have only existed in their present form since about the 10th century. Only a few texts using Arabic numerals appeared outside of Italy until the late 15th century. It wasn't until the mid-16th century that Arabic numbers were in common use in most of Europe
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by joecooool418 t3_127oe4d
TIL that there is an art installation in Burlington, Vermont that is called the world's tallest filing cabinet. It's name is "File Under So. Co., Waiting for". It was built in 2002 in response to years of delays building the Interstate 189 bypass into downtown Burlington
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by IAmDavidGurney t3_1263152