Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL that "cryptomnesia" is a psychological phenomenon where your brain "borrows" old memories and makes you think they’re brand-new ideas. It’s like accidentally plagiarizing your own brain.

Cryptomnesia - Wikipedia

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1gs5idl/til_that_cryptomnesia_is_a_psychological/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL that in 1965, Ford disassembled a Mustang and transported it in four parts to the top of the Empire State Building for publicity. The car was reassembled on the building’s observation deck, showcasing Ford’s knack for innovative marketing.

MotorTrend

1965 Ford Mustang Empire State Building Stunt

Best Promotional Stunt - The Mustang was on top of the world in 1965

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1grj3eb/til_that_in_1965_ford_disassembled_a_mustang_and/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL King John of England died of dysentery in 1216, only one year after signing the Magna Carta

John, King of England - Wikipedia

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1gri9t5/til_king_john_of_england_died_of_dysentery_in/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL the word "partridge" probably comes from ancient Greek "pérdomai", a word meaning "to fart".

search.app

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1grgr6o/til_the_word_partridge_probably_comes_from/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL Alan Smithee directed 45 movies between 1968-2000, but was never a real person. He was made up as a pseudonym for directors to use if their movie was a flop

Alan Smithee - Wikipedia

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1grdfh1/til_alan_smithee_directed_45_movies_between/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL that the United States has 44 four-star generals right now whereas in WWII there were just seven. https://ndupress.ndu.edu/Media/News/News-Article-View/Article/1325984/are-there-too-many-general-officers-for-todays-military/ #til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1grbsas/til_that_the_united_states_has_44_fourstar/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL: Opossums have 13 nipples, arranged in a circle of 12 with one in the middle.

Virginia opossum - Wikipedia

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1gr46nn/til_opossums_have_13_nipples_arranged_in_a_circle/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL of Savitri Devi, a french born greek-italian hindu and ardent nazi who tried to combine hinduism and nazism and proclaimed Hitler to be an avatar of Vishnu. She was also an animals rights activist who believed that people who don't respect animals and nature "should be executed"

Savitri Devi - Wikipedia

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1gqp1ap/til_of_savitri_devi_a_french_born_greekitalian/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL Weed is not as harmless as people claim. #til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1gq84dt/til_weed_is_not_as_harmless_as_people_claim/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL the term "canary" in software deployment comes from coal miners who used actual canaries as early warning systems. Miners took these birds underground since they're extremely sensitive to toxic gases like carbon monoxide. If the canary fell ill or died, it was a signal for miners to evacuate. https://developers.redhat.com/blog/2022/10/07/coming-terms-canary-deployme… #til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1gq7dhp/til_the_term_canary_in_software_deployment_comes/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL the term "essential" in "essential oils" has nothing to do with being in any way "essential" to the human body - such as essential amino acids or essential fatty acids, it just means it contains the essence of the plant's fragrance

Essential oil - Wikipedia

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1gq6wsd/til_the_term_essential_in_essential_oils_has/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL that France was using the guillotine into the 1970s #til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1gq62ls/til_that_france_was_using_the_guillotine_into_the/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL: unmarried and childless women are the happiest subgroup in the population. And they are more likely to live longer than their married and child-rearing peers

the Guardian

Women are happier without children or a spouse, says happiness expert

Behavioural scientist Paul Dolan says traditional markers of success no longer apply

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1gppnxm/til_unmarried_and_childless_women_are_the/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL that the Micronesian island of Yap uses giant boulders as a form of currency.

The tiny island with human-sized money

The Micronesian island of Yap has a famously unusual currency: hundreds of giant discs of rocks scattered all over the island, many of them too hea...

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1go8z3s/til_that_the_micronesian_island_of_yap_uses_giant/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL Cow tipping, the purported activity of sneaking up on any unsuspecting or sleeping upright cow and pushing it over for entertainment, is generally considered an urban legend. Estimates suggest that at least four people would be required to achieve this.

Cow tipping - Wikipedia

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1go019h/til_cow_tipping_the_purported_activity_of/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL that bananas emit antimatter. https://www.symmetrymagazine.org/2009/07/23/antimatter-from-bananas?language_content_entity=und #til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1gne5pg/til_that_bananas_emit_antimatter/

Today I learned 1 year ago

Today I learned that Olympic gold medals are actually more than 90% silver.

Gold medal - Wikipedia

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1gn5bch/today_i_learned_that_olympic_gold_medals_are/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL that there are over 40 million slaves living right now

Slavery in the 21st century - Wikipedia

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1gn40tt/til_that_there_are_over_40_million_slaves_living/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL there have been MANY cases of "elephant lynching", or the killing of an elephants for spectacle with pseudo-legal or performative aspects, in the United States

Elephant execution in the United States - Wikipedia

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1gm6uv3/til_there_have_been_many_cases_of_elephant/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL that in 2018, during a local election for mayor in Makassar, Indonesia, a man ran unopposed and received more than 260,000 votes. He lost to a blank ballot, which received over 300,000 votes.

2018 Makassar mayoral election - Wikipedia

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1gm3g6f/til_that_in_2018_during_a_local_election_for/