Submitted by One_aspect_ t3_zu8yc3
/f/todayilearned
TIL in 1945 whilst firing at a kite for anti-aircraft practice, the gunners on Brazilian cruiser Bahia accidentally hit the ship's depth charges, causing an explosion that sank her. Survivors endured days of no food, high temperatures, and full exposure to the sun until they were rescued
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by holyhesh t3_zxtjkt
TIL about the Schienenzeppelin, a train powered by a rear-mounted propeller similar to a helicopter, capable of reaching 140 km/h (87 mph). Designed in 1930s Germany, it was intended to be a futuristic mode of transportation but never entered service due to technical issues and WWII
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by pooterpon t3_zzbddv
TIL in 1962 a General Electric engineer named Nick Holonyak developed the first LED light bulb capable of emitting visible red light. The same bulb was used in the 1964 stop animation animated TV special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer for Rudolph’s bioluminescent nose.
smithsonianmag.comSubmitted by undergroundgeek t3_zr9n8b
TIL that the ancient Mayan city of Caracol in modern-day Belize was founded in 1200 BCE, held more than double the population of the largest current day city in Belize (of 61,461), and the one of its temples, Caana, built ~9th century CE, is still the tallest building in the country today.
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by embrace-monke t3_zq4cwl
TIL that the "Super Ballon d'Or" is the name of a former prize that was awarded on December 24, 1989, by the French football magazine France Football for the best football player of the last three decades. This award has been given only once, and Alfredo Di Stéfano is the only winner.
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by Knight_TheRider t3_zzvctq
TIL Universal Studio's Colonial Street set has been home to Desperate Housewives, Psycho, Leave It To Beaver, The Munsters, The Hardy Boys, The Burbs, Dragnet, Delta House,Nancy Drew, The House Of the Seven Gables and more, all on the same "street". Built in the 1950, it remains in use today.
thestudiotour.comSubmitted by 54_actual t3_zxf8o5
TIL Martin Luther King was born Michael King Jr. However, his father, a pastor at Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church, traveled to Germany and became inspired by the Protestant Reformation leader Martin Luther. As a result, King Sr. changed his own name as well as that of his five year old son.
history.comSubmitted by 54_actual t3_zynfm7
TIL Betty White was nominated in the 1st Emmy category for female performers in 1950, 1 of the first women to have full creative control of her own TV show, while she was still living at home with her parents, the1st woman to host her own talk show and 1st woman to win an Emmy for game show hosting
biography.comSubmitted by 54_actual t3_zwxyru
TIL that one of the few positive health effects of smoking is a drastic reduction of a person's risk of thyroid cancer. According to a Korean study of the health records of over 10M people, smokers have a 36% lower risk of thyroid cancer. Smoking and heavy drinking reduces one's risk even more.
thyroid.orgSubmitted by EncyclopediaJake t3_zwtfsi