/f/todayilearned
TIL that in the Vietnam war the US conducted a psychological warfare operation which used loudspeakers to play eerie sounds and altered voices to represent the spirits of dead N. Vietnamese soldiers so as to undermine their morale. Operation Wandering Soul
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by Naturallynoble t3_10k2ma1
TIL that in 2017 former NBA star Kevin Garnett showed up at the sentencing of his accountant Charles Banks to provide him with moral support upon his conviction for defrauding NBA star Tim Duncan of $7.5 million. Garnett later learned that Banks have also defrauded him of $77 million.
mysanantonio.comSubmitted by HCMXero t3_10nudhn
Submitted by AllOverTheWorld t3_10p6vu4
TIL: At the height of her popularity, because she was very physically coordinated and never seen missing baby teeth, child actress Shirley Temple combated rumors that she was in fact a 30 year old with dwarfism. The rumor was so prevalent in Europe that the Vatican sent a priest to investigate.
ucatholic.comSubmitted by crazyguzz1 t3_10qkeaf
TIL: In 1962, a 10 year old found a radioactive capsule and took it home in his pocket and left it in a kitchen cabinet. He died 38 days later, his pregnant mom died 3 months after that, then his 2 year old sister a month later. The father survived, and only then did authorities found out why.
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by Flares117 t3_10qplxm
Submitted by happytree23 t3_10r7sb8
TIL that following the Black Death in England, peasants were able to negotiate better wages due to labour shortages. In response Parliament passed the Statute of Labourers 1351 which prohibited the soliciting of wages above pre-plague levels. This contributed to the English Peasant's Revolt of 1381.
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by Methisthopheles t3_10s867j
Submitted by chaoswoman21 t3_10ur0je
TIL about the old Chinese custom of 'footbinding' (also known as lotus feet), and that it was seen as a mark of feminine beauty and a status symbol, raising marriage prospects. Feet were broken and bound together, ensuing in many deformities, infections, and disabilities.
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by akisomething t3_111602v
TIL Wolfgang Mozart had a sister, Maria Anna, who was also an extremely talented child prodigy in music. Sadly, she was prevented from performing as an adult. Many of her compositions have been lost, including one Wolfgang wrote that he was in ‘awe’ of, contributing to her obscurity.
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by madhatter103 t3_1156jga