/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 the song 'Human Nature' by Michael Jackson was originally written by the band Toto for their album, 'Toto IV'. The only reason the song officially became Michael's is because Quincy Jones heard Toto's demo of the song and suggested that it would fit better on Michael's album, 'Thriller'.
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by EQOA_Fanatic t3_zq8coy
TIL of the US Librarian of Congress. Appointed by the President and serving a term of ten years, they are the head of the Library of Congress with a broad range of responsibilities. Incumbent Carla Hayden appointed in 2016, is both the first African American and woman to hold the office.
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by Guiano t3_zyyh6r
TIL that in 1846 Christian Friedrich Schönbein discovered a formula for nitrocellulose when working in his kitchen. He spilled nitric acid and sulfuric acid on the kitchen table, wiped it up with a cotton apron, then hung it on the stove door to dry. As soon as it was dry, the apron ignited.
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by Do_Not_Go_In_There t3_11ax8y6
TIL in 1964, ABC premiered "A Carol for Another Christmas," a made-for-TV movie written by Twilight Zone creator Rod Serling as a modernization of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." The film is both a retelling of the classic tale and a call for cooperation between nations.
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by anogre8me t3_zudvmi
TIL Giovanni da Pian del Carpine was the first European to enter the court of the Great Khan. At 63 years old Carpine road 3000 miles in 106 days (including lent when he ate only salt, millet, and water) to appear before Khan Güyük. When Carpine returned he was made the Primate of Serbia.
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by jamescookenotthatone t3_xvbt4d
TIL researchers found that the global average temperature from 19,000 to 23,000 years ago was about 46 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s about 11 degrees Fahrenheit (6 degrees Celsius) colder than the global average temperature of the 20th century, per a University of Michigan statement.
smithsonianmag.comSubmitted by Embarrassed-Mouse-49 t3_10ggxp5
TIL The most abundant wild bird on planet earth is the Red-billed Quelea. The birds fly in flocks of 2 million or more and in such tightly synchronized masses they can be mistaken at a distance for clouds of smoke. Single colonies can cover hundreds of acres, totaling tens of millions of birds.
audubon.orgSubmitted by Bluest_waters t3_11ec669
TIL American writer Jack Kerouac served on SS Dorchester which was torpedoed by a German U-boat on 3 February 1943. Kerouac would have also been on the ship during the attack, but for a telegram he received from coach Lou Little, asking him to return to Columbia University to play football.
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by History-Guy111111 t3_10sl9vl
Submitted by JJKingwolf t3_yihhhu
TIL about Charles Howard, 20th Earl of Suffolk. He was responsible for rescuing a team of French nuclear scientists and the entire world stockpile of heavy water from France during WW2. He also served as part of an unexploded bomb detachment, successfully tackling 34 unexploded bombs
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by SteO153 t3_yfyf21