Learning doesn’t end at school and continues throughout life. It’s a fact. Although there may not be formal assignments or exams, there are always opportunities to explore and experience new things. Especially with the emergence of AI, we can find the information we need in just a few seconds, making learning incredibly easy. And to make it even more accessible, there's a subreddit group called “Today I learned” that welcomes all kinds of interesting facts that you may not necessarily need, but they're definitely worth knowing.
We’ve collected some of the most gripping facts for you to enjoy and perhaps show off in one of those "intellectually intriguing" moments when you're casually sipping coffee with friends, unleashing your inner trivia virtuoso. Continue scrolling and upvote your favorite ones!
#21
TIL That Pliny the Younger, although primarily known as an author and lawyer in ancient Rome, is perhaps best known for two letters he wrote which intricately detailed the eruption of Mount Vesuvius and the subsequent destruction of Pompeii both of which he witnessed.
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173points
#22
TIL that from 2009 to 2019, out of 212 cruise ship overboard incidents only 48 people were rescued.
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164points
#23
TIL that in 1986, Motörhead broke records by hitting 130 decibels in concert. The music was so loud that it damaged the ceiling of Cleveland’s Variety Theater.
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151points
#24
TIL that the US military's use of Native Americans as "code talkers" began during World War I, used more than the Navajo language, and wasn't declassified until 1968 because their codes had remained unbroken.
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150points
#25
TIL that transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (also known as prion diseases) have the highest mortality rate of any disease that is not inherited: 100%
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149points
#26
TIL Monty Python reunion shows typically included an urn said to contain the ashes of Graham Chapman. During one such show in 1998, the urn was "accidentally" knocked over by Terry Gilliam, spilling the ashes on stage, which were then vacuumed up with a DustBuster.
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140points
#27
TIL that Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind had a different English dub back in the 80s called "Warriors of the Wind" and it was incredibly shortened. It was apparently so bad that Hayao Miyazaki adopted a "no cuts" clause for future English releases of Studio Ghibli films.
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136points
#28
TIL that despite being organisms with highly intricate nervous systems and an impressive level of intelligence, many octopus species only live for roughly 1-5 years.
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135points
#29
TIL that the early 2000s Nickelodeon children's show, "LazyTown", was not only filmed in Iceland but also one of the most expensive children's show ever made (each episode cost nearly $1 million to make)
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134points
#30
TIL: In China for about three years around 1900, a secret martial arts training club tried to overthrow the Chinese government & force out foreigners. Known to the West as "The Boxer Rebellion," the name literally comes from the fact that members fought unarmed using Chinese forms of unarmed combat.
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128points
#31
TIL that Switzerland is so far the only country in the world that recognizes the dignity of plants in its constitution.
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125points
#32
TIL that on the 13th of September, 1985, Major Doug Pearson became the only pilot to destroy a satellite with a missile, launched from his F-15.
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124points
#33
TIL a kidnapping victim was jailed after he tried to extort his kidnappers. He told them "call me if you want to finesse trial... either you cough up sum bread or sit in the feds for 20 years"
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122points
#34
TIL that Shakespeare's last residence in Stratford-upon-Avon was demolished in 1759 by its owner, Francis Gastrell, because he was tired of tourists.
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122points
#35
TIL that it was calculated that it would have taken the concrete for the Hoover Dam 125 years to cool if it was poured as one continuous pour. Instead giant concrete blocks in columns were poured and then cooled by a series of internally contained pipes of cold water, greatly reducing cooling time.
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121points
#36
TIL Margaret Theresa of Spain, the main subject of Velasquez's famous "Las Meninas" painting died at the age of 21. She went through 6 pregnancies in 6 years, including 2 stillbirths and at the time of her death, she was 4 months into her 7th
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120points
#37
TIL that Bolaji Badejo, a 6 foot 10 Nigerian visual artist, played the original Alien (1979)’s xenomorph. His height and slender body convinced Ridley Scott that he was a perfect choice for the villain. He also died from sickle cell disease at age 39.
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120points
#38
TIL about anterograde amnesia. People with this condition completely forget very recent events, yet most of them can learn and retain new skills - even though they forget every day that they had learned those skills yesterday.
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115points
#39
TIL that in 1950's and 60's the Canadian government, military and the RCMP used a device called "the fruit machine" to attempt to identify homosexual men in the public service. Subjects were made to view pornography while measurements were taken of pupil diameter, perspiration and pulse.
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107points
#40
TIL of United Passions (2015), a movie financed by FIFA for $29 million as a fluff piece to make themselves look good. But due to being released right around the time of the FIFA Corruption Scandal, the movie only earned $918 at the opening weekend.
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104points
