ADVERTISEMENT

Knowledge is power. And we’re aiming to have our power levels go over 9,000! One of the best infotainment features on Bored Panda is our biweekly article about the ‘Today I Learned’ online community that values education above everything else and puts the fun in learning. You know you’re on the right path when it’s not just your audience, but also you who’s expanding your mind as you work.

Go on, have a scroll down and check out the newest TIL posts. Don’t forget to upvote the ones that you found enlightening. Got an opinion that you think everyone should hear or a fun fact that you just can’t wait to share with all the other Pandas? Write us a comment below.

When you’re done absorbing all the new factoids in this list and if you’re still aiming for your PhD in cool trivia, then you should definitely check out Bored Panda’s latest posts about the TIL community right here, over here, as well as here.

This post may include affiliate links.

#1

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL that a cow escaped from a Polish farm and was spotted months later living with a herd of wild bison.

TBTabby Report

Final score:
384points
Add photo comments
POST
ner_diz avatar
Serial pacifist
Serial pacifist
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We choose our destiny. Thelma decided she is a bison and we should all accept her choices.

Vote comment up
225
225points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#2

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL Juice Company Dumped 12,000 Tonnes Of Orange Peels On Virtually Lifeless Soil, 16 Years Later, It Turned Into A Lush Forest

BKKxwampnuts , boredpanda Report

Final score:
373points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#3

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL that even though Edward Bannister won 1st prize for painting at the 1876 Philadelphia centennial international exhibition, after discovering Bannister's identity, the judge wanted to rescind his award because he was black. However this wasn't possible due to protests from the other competitors.

LogicBomb69 Report

Final score:
371points
Add photo comments
POST
ner_diz avatar
Serial pacifist
Serial pacifist
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The judge's name should be known also. There should be some kind of a wall of shame (or walls) for these people too.

Vote comment up
196
196points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu

The ‘Today I Learned’ community over on Reddit continues to grow daily. At the time of writing, it’s at over 25.4 million members, but if you’re betting smart, you know that this number will keep on climbing and climbing.

The community’s got over 12.5 years of experience documenting and sharing cool bits of information that you probably didn’t learn at school. While some of these facts will be useful no matter what stage of life you’re in, others are more niche and might only pop up in trivia competition lightning rounds.

ADVERTISEMENT
#4

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL that when the Notre Dame Cathedral was on fire the some 200,000 bees that live in the roof were thought to be dead, but in fact they were still alive after the fire.

ilikecheems1 , gettyimages Report

Final score:
326points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#5

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL that the Mississippi river was once five miles wide and whales swam up it from the gulf of Mexico. The remains of these whales have been found in Michigan

InAFloodplai Report

Final score:
322points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#6

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL that all beaches in Mexico are property of the federal government. There are no privately owned beaches in the whole country, all of them are open to public use

SplittingHares Report

Final score:
301points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu

Learning new things is incredibly fun (and don’t roll your eyes and pretend that it’s not). But it doesn’t mean that it’s automatically easy. First of all, a lot depends on our motivation, why we want to learn something.

ADVERTISEMENT

Whether we’re seeking education to help achieve some grand goal because we absolutely adore the topic, or because we simply want to keep our minds finely honed, having clear motivation helps keep us energized.
#7

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL British Parliament had an official discussion where they condemned the historical inaccuracies of the film U-571 and the rewriting of history to paint the Americans as heroes in an event they never even took part in. They felt it was unfair on the British sailors that lost their lives.

MarmiteKorv Report

Final score:
273points
Add photo comments
POST
ner_diz avatar
Serial pacifist
Serial pacifist
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, what should the Japanese say about the Last Samurai (Tom Cruise) and best shogun (Keanu), the Africans about the British white 'king of the jungle' (Tarzan), the Chinese about their 'great' white reformer who never was that (Marco Polo), the great white liberator of Arabia (Lawrence)...the list of euro/race/American-(ego)centrism based on false assumptions, myths and Hollywood scenarios goes on. Let's not even get started with the blonde white Jesus. (I am a white European, for the record).

Vote comment up
153
153points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#8

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL Two guys honored their dead friends dying wish by using his ashes as fish bait and caught an enormous 180lb Carp in his memory

WhatsATrouserSnake , insideedition Report

Final score:
265points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#9

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL about FBI agent Robert Hanssen. He was tasked to find a mole within the FBI after the FBI's moles in the KGB were caught. Robert Hanssen was the mole and had been working with the KGB since 1979.

phileo56 , en.wikipedia.org Report

Final score:
264points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT

“A mind needs books like a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge” as Tyrion Lannister said, after all. But it really helps if the information is interesting, relevant, or presented in an enticing way.

However, it’s not just our love of learning that sustains us. Our brains and bodies need fuel, too. And the right fuel helps keep us focused for longer stretches of time and healthy, to boot! Healthline points out that foods like berries can help improve academic performance due to compounds like anthocyanins being present in them. Meanwhile, citrus fruits are very nutritious and promote our brain health.
#10

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL that the Ginkgo Tree is unique, not obviously related to any living plant; a “living fossil,”unchanged in 200 million years.

FergusCragson Report

Final score:
263points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#11

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL that giant panda is no longer 'endangered' species

Jeremy_Martin Report

Final score:
262points
Add photo comments
POST
wandiledludlu avatar
Sum Guy
Sum Guy
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

and China owns every single panda and only loans them out to other countries

Vote comment up
102
102points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#12

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL in Rwanda people go to milk bars to socialise and drink milk.

Canadairy , bbc Report

Final score:
255points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT

What’s more, if you’re in the middle of a learning binge-fest and craving something sweet, consider going for healthier alternatives like dark chocolate and cocoa products instead of your run-of-the-mill candy bars.

Lots of us are guilty of snacking on way more junk food while studying than we’d ever honestly admit to anyone other than St. Peter, but changing habits doesn’t happen immediately. It’s a step-by-step process and even tiny shifts in our behavior can pay dividends in the long run.
#13

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL of Ian Manuel. A man who spent years in isolation after he was condemned to die in prison for a nonhomicide offense at age 13. He won his freedom in 2016 with the help of the woman he attacked. He is now an activist, motivational speaker, and published author.

Miso_miso Report

Final score:
247points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#14

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL the band UB40 is named after Unemployment Benefit, Form 40 - a form issued to people claiming unemployment benefits. The name was suggested by a friend of the band because all the members were unemployed.

YourOwnBiggestFan Report

Final score:
237points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#15

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL that England experiences large spikes in power demand during half-time at football games due to widespread use of electric kettles

nitrokitty Report

Final score:
230points
Add photo comments
POST
wandiledludlu avatar
Sum Guy
Sum Guy
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think what people don't understand is how great tea is...

Vote comment up
98
98points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu

So if you’re munching on a chocolate croissant with caramel filling and almonds, like I am, while you’re reading this, consider eating only half of it. Or substitute it for a handful of delicious berries, nuts, or an assortment of fruits. That way, your brain and your body can both be happy, you’ll be absorbing new knowledge like a pro, and soon, lots of your friends will be figuring out all the neat things you learned about today.
#16

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL that a study from the University of Connecticut found that cholesterol in egg yolks does not raise the LDL cholesterol particles that are associated with the development of cardiovascular disease.

justbecool Report

Final score:
216points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#17

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL about the rarest blood type. Named SARAS, only 2 families in the world have it and is officially recognised as an entirely new blood group.

the_null_element Report

Final score:
211points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#18

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL of a "Kotatsu", A traditional japanese table with attached blanket. You can use it to relax, nap, eat/drink/hangout with friends and even has a built in heater underneath.

ohsowonderful Report

Final score:
210points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#19

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL the Boeing 787 needs to be rebooted every 51 days to stop rounding errors causing it to crash

xc_osrs Report

Final score:
200points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#20

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL of the $23 million dollar toilets designed by NASA for deep space missions. With odor control being a serious issue, NASA pays certified sniffers to smell the toilets after they've been used to evaluate odor-control measures. The lead engineer calls them the "unsung heroes of the space program".

WhileFalseRepeat Report

Final score:
196points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#21

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL Auto-Tune, introduced in 1997, which uses a proprietary device to measure and alter pitch in vocal and instrumental music recording and performances was named one of the 50 worst inventions by Time magazine.

CyberSibey Report

Final score:
194points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#22

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL the UK Women’s Institute invited Colin Darch, a former hostage of Somali pirates, to give a speech on his experiences. However due to a mix up many elder members of the WI attended wearing pirate fancy dress. Darch took it well, ultimately judging a “best pirate costume” competition.

Die_Nameless_Bitch Report

Final score:
194points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#23

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL curry has a longer history of being served in Britain than fish and chips, with the first Indian restaurant opening in 1809 and fish and chips only served from 1858 at the earliest

the_turn Report

Final score:
183points
Add photo comments
POST
isabella avatar
Isabella
Isabella
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Than why the picture is with a roast and Yorkshire pudding? :))))

Vote comment up
272
272points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#24

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL that sharks smell in "stereo," that is, they can detect the tiny delays in the time it takes for a scent to reach one nostril compared to the other and use it to determine the direction from where the scent is coming. This helps them in tracking their prey.

BeardedScreechOwl Report

Final score:
177points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#25

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL by using a man in the middle, two brothers hacked the French optical telegraph system to gain advance information on the stock market. When they got caught two years later, they walked away as free men because in 1836 there were no laws against hacking

Brutal_Deluxe_ Report

Final score:
171points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#26

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL that Christopher Lee always wanted to play Gandalf in LOTR and even discussed it with Tolkien himself. Peter Jackson wanted Lee to play Saruman instead, much to Lee's disappointment. Saruman's death scene was a surprise homage to Christopher Lee's, Dracula, with a wooden stake through his chest.

WigboldCrumb Report

Final score:
164points
Add photo comments
POST
miriaml avatar
Miriam L
Miriam L
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He read LOTR annually and apparently used to correct Jackson about certain details during filming because of how well he knew the material and his personal connection with Tolkien. Whether or not he was thrilled with every choice made in the films, his performance was a wonderful homage to the works of the author he respected.

Vote comment up
105
105points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#27

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL Mary Shelley, author of Frankenstein, endured many tragedies. Her mother died after giving birth to her, she was in constant debt, her 1st, 2nd, and 3rd children all died, while her husband drowned on his sailing boat. She herself passed away at 53.

MarineKingPrime_ Report

Final score:
159points
Add photo comments
POST
moviefreak122 avatar
Karin Jansen
Karin Jansen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Her mother was Mary Wollstonecraft, one of the first feminists who wrote "A Vindication of the Rights of Women" (1792). She was a super interesting woman.

Vote comment up
31
31points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#28

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL that in 1506 Louis II of Hungary was born prematurely and doctors kept him alive by slaying animals and wrapping him in their warm carcasses as a primitive incubator

fem78 Report

Final score:
146points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#29

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL Michael Jackson was terrified of the real-life fan who inspired the song Billie Jean, after she sent him a letter with a weapon and instructions to kill himself. He kept her photograph to memorize her face, “in case she ever turns up someplace.”

Die_Nameless_Bitch Report

Final score:
142points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#30

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL that the French revolution gave us the metric system and almost gave us metric clocks, too. They had 10 hours in the day, 10 days in the week, and an even 30 days each month.

gedaliyah Report

Final score:
134points
Add photo comments
POST
miriaml avatar
Miriam L
Miriam L
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When? Historical records of a ten-day week and it's societal impact would be really interesting. I'll admit I'm a little skeptical Edited to add: I looked at the Reddit post and the original article, and decimal time was only legally in effect for about two years, although it remained a popular theory before and afterwards

Vote comment up
39
39points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
Continue reading with Bored Panda Premium
Unlimited content
Ad-free browsing
Dark mode
#31

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL American Football is the 9th most popular sport in the world. It is beaten by both Volleyball and Table Tennis.

unknown Report

Final score:
38points
Add photo comments
POST
wandiledludlu avatar
Sum Guy
Sum Guy
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hahahaha... I think American's don't know that hardly anyone watches their brand of football outside north America

Vote comment up
45
45points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#32

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL of the 'Banksy of Grammar', who at night would correct punctuation on shop fronts in the city of Bristol

johnlen1n Report

Final score:
37points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#33

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL In 2018 the Cornish Language Board said that singer Gwenno's album Le Kov, which features entirely Cornish lyrics, had led to a 15% increase in the number of people taking Cornish language exams

ArmpitNostril Report

Final score:
36points
Add photo comments
POST
View more commentsArrow down menu
#34

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL that Casey Kasem, the original voice of Shaggy on Scooby-Doo, was a vegan and critic of factory farming. Kasem quit the show in 1995 when he was asked to voice Shaggy for a Burger King commercial. He would not agree to return until 2002 when producers agreed to have Shaggy become a vegetarian.

sexpressed Report

Final score:
35points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#35

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL Nearly 70% of the Steel used in the US is recycled from scrap. Steel used in construction has a 90% recycling Rate.

CommanderAGL Report

Final score:
34points
Add photo comments
POST
davenyc88 avatar
Dave P
Dave P
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Good. We should recycle old scrap, less mining and less dump sites. Win Win

Vote comment up
12
12points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#36

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL In 1939, a woman tried to assassinate 11 year old Shirley Temple while she was singing “Silent Night” on a live radio show, under the logic that the star had swiped her daughter's soul and shooting her would unleash it.

Villanelle Report

Final score:
34points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#37

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL citizens of the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau may enter, reside, study, and work in the United States indefinitely without a visa.

RFDMessenger Report

Final score:
34points
Add photo comments
POST
ohxrkqra avatar
Kira Okah
Kira Okah
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They are all free associates of the United States, that is part of the agreement.

Vote comment up
20
20points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#38

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL of Mark Roberts, a man from England who has streaked at more than 565 international events. He has his own set of 'rules' for streaking: don't interrupt the play of a game, be prepared to spend an evening in jail, have a good lawyer on hand, and don't eat spicy food the night before a streak

sewn_of_a_gun , news.sky Report

Final score:
31points
Add photo comments
POST
View more commentsArrow down menu
#39

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL that English Parliament was conducted entirely in French until the 1400s. Even today, bills are formally passed into law with a French phrase: "Le Reyne le veult", meaning "The queen wills it."

a2soup Report

Final score:
30points
Add photo comments
POST
j_f_ avatar
J. F.
J. F.
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Given that french was some kind of international language on royal courts it makes sense

Vote comment up
18
18points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#40

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL Adidas bought the iconic three stripe design from Finnish sportswear company Karhu for two bottles of whiskey and equivalent of 1600 euros

OSArsi Report

Final score:
30points
Add photo comments
POST
ner_diz avatar
Serial pacifist
Serial pacifist
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hey Mikka, these suckers want to give us money for the plain three lines? - Haha, just sell it to the traditionally bad German economists and businessmen!

Vote comment up
14
14points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
#41

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL that in 1918 the federal government tried to find the geographical center of the United States by balancing a US-shaped cardboard cutout on the head of a pin. They were accurate to within 20 miles.

SaintShrink Report

Final score:
29points
Add photo comments
POST
ner_diz avatar
Serial pacifist
Serial pacifist
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Always trust the government to use the most refined scientific methods!

Vote comment up
19
19points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#42

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL about pinball prohibition, pinball was banned in most major cities from the early 1940s to the mid 1970s because it was considered a game of chance and therefore gambling.

TraditionSeparate Report

Final score:
29points
Add photo comments
POST
y19-btatham avatar
Fives
Fives
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If thats there logic then every game should be banned lol.

Vote comment up
17
17points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
#43

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL The ‘Batman Effect’. Adopting an alter ego is an extreme form of ‘self-distancing’, which involves taking a step back from our immediate feelings to allow us to view a situation more dispassionately. It can help control anxiety, and help the subject pursue exercise and healthy diet

ArmpitNostril Report

Final score:
27points
Add photo comments
POST
ohxrkqra avatar
Kira Okah
Kira Okah
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So that is what it's called. Something that I have red about before but never gotten the name so I couldn't look it up again. Guess I shall be looking at this today

Vote comment up
6
6points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#44

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL in 1935 "Happy Birthday to You" was copyrighted with a value of 5M making it illegal to sing. In 2016 a federal judge ruled that the copyright was not valid and the song had no other claim to copyright, placing it in the public domain, and making it free to sing for all.

SingLikeTinaTurner Report

Final score:
27points
Add photo comments
POST
miriaml avatar
Miriam L
Miriam L
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One of my beginner piano books has a song entitled "Happy Weekend to you" with an uncannily similar tune. ;) It actually took me a few goes to recognize it because I didn't think it was a familiar tune and my piano skills needed a lot of work. Now it's my one party trick, at the right party

Vote comment up
12
12points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
#45

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL a former Google employee bought the Google domain for $12 from Google's very own domain registrar. He owned the domain for one minute before the purchase was rescinded, and he was later offered $6006.13 due to the incident.

CrossFIRE121-Reddit Report

Final score:
27points
Add photo comments
POST
rkalligas avatar
Friday
Friday
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They could have removed the decimal to make the offer a little more enticing

Vote comment up
13
13points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#46

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL The Lord of the Rings films originally would have been released by Disney via Miramax but they chose not to fund it due to costs. They let New Line Cinema have it on the condition they pay $10M in "turnaround" costs. The LOTR trilogy will later on gross over $2.9B at the global box office.

DreGu90 Report

Final score:
26points
Add photo comments
POST
ner_diz avatar
Serial pacifist
Serial pacifist
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Disney said: You shall not pass, and now it's New Line Cinema's precious.

Vote comment up
14
14points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#47

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL that William Shatner played a prank on the set of the Twilight Zone while shooting the Nightmare at 20,000 Feet episode. Shatner staged a fake fight on the plane, and had a dummy fall off the wing to the concrete below. Richard Donner, the episode's director, thought Shatner had died.

49Gold Report

Final score:
26points
Add photo comments
POST
View more commentsArrow down menu
#48

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL that ‘smell dispensers’ mimicking the smell of lion shit is used to scare off deer and wild boar despite these animals having never met a lion.

abcdefggfedcba1 Report

Final score:
26points
Add photo comments
POST
View more commentsArrow down menu
#49

Christopher Lee was once a member of Britain's Special Operations Executive, aka the Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare.

The group was an A-Team-esque crack commando unit tasked by Winston Churchill himself to "set Europe ablaze." The team included Christopher Lee, Ian Fleming and no freaking joke, the entire James Bond universe. The full extent of Lee's "ungentlemanly" actions remain classified to this day, and perhaps for good reason. Christopher Lee on the set of "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" revealing to Jackson the actual sound a human makes when you lodge a knife in the person's unsuspecting back. Ah, classic Lee.

According to the video, Jackson was blocking a scene in which Wormtongue (Brad Dourif) stabs Saruman (Lee) in the back. Jackson goes into a long explanation about how he wants Lee to react and Lee says, "Have you any idea what kind of noise happens when somebody’s stabbed in the back? Because I do.” This was from Lee's experiences in World War II.

Cracked.%20com%20and%20The%20Las%20Angeles%20Times Report

Final score:
26points
IlovemydogShilo
Add photo comments
POST
lyuboiv avatar
Vorknkx
Vorknkx
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Christopher Lee was the real-life James Bond... and then he played the villain in one of the Bond movies (The Man with the Golden Gun, 1974).

Vote comment up
10
10points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#50

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL avocados evolved alongside extinct megafauna like giant ground sloths whose digestive system could pass the intact pit. Human cultivation saved the avocado.

gedaliyah Report

Final score:
25points
Add photo comments
POST
kendramiller avatar
Kendra Miller
Kendra Miller
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I just learned about that too on the podcast Every Little Thing :) As they said above, the avocado evolved to bait the giant ground sloth to eat it (with it's delicious flesh) and then the pit would grow where ever the sloth pooped. Without the sloth (and us) the orphan seed would just fall and rot. Currently elephants are filling the niche market of spreading such seeds, but they are endangered. It's amazing how interconnected the world is and frightening how our web is falling apart faster than we can learn about it, let alone save it.

Vote comment up
3
3points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
#51

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL that, in July 2020, marine biologists studying the seafloor in the South Pacific Gyre ("the deadest spot in the ocean") discovered aerobic microorganisms in "quasi-suspended animation." At 101.5 million years old, they are the longest-living life forms ever found.

WouldbeWanderer Report

Final score:
25points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#52

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL on Nov 22, 1963 while watching TV reports of JFK's death, Annie Shapiro had a stroke and slipped into a coma. 29 years later she awoke in bed as a 79 year old grandmother still married to her husband. Her first words upon sitting up were "Turn on the television. I want to watch I Love Lucy"

TheHurtinAlbertans Report

Final score:
25points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#53

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL in 1911, physicist George de Hevesy suspected his landlady was bulking up his meals with leftovers; he proved it by sprinkling radioactive material over his dinner and detecting it in the next day’s portion

johnlen1n Report

Final score:
24points
Add photo comments
POST
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#54

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL that Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders, Joe Walsh of The Eagles and Gerald Casale and Bob Lewis of Devo were all eyewitnesses to the Kent State Massacre.

jesseberdinka Report

Final score:
24points
Add photo comments
POST
susannecarvin_1 avatar
PandaMonium
PandaMonium
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The Washington Post recently had a great article about the iconic photo of the girl kneeling over the body during the Kent State Massacre. The girl in the photo was a 14 year old runaway - not a college student - and her life changed drastically after that day. It's a great article and I'm still blown away that she was so young - https://www.washingtonpost.com/magazine/2021/04/19/girl-kent-state-photo-lifelong-burden-being-national-symbol/

Vote comment up
5
5points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#55

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL Vitali Kaloyev, a Russian Architect who lost his family when the airliner they were flying in collided mid air with a cargo plane. He stalked and later murdered an air traffic controller he blamed for the incident.

Ixz72 Report

Final score:
24points
Add photo comments
POST
eeveestar682 avatar
Peppy Piplup
Peppy Piplup
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's the 2002 Überlingen air collision. It happened because the two planes were on the same path. The second plane listened to the air traffic controller's panicked cries to descend instead of the plane's Traffic Collision Avoidance System which told him to climb and both planes descended into each other. If the pilot listened to the TCAS warnings instead of the controller the planes would have missed each other.

Vote comment up
9
9points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
#56

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL Fruit flies are considered model organisms to understand human alcoholism. Also, after extensive binge drinking males are known to engage in homosexual behavior

futurettt , nature Report

Final score:
23points
Add photo comments
POST
ner_diz avatar
Serial pacifist
Serial pacifist
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Buzz had a drink too many, and the next thing you know, he woke up next to Fred. What a fruit fly!

Vote comment up
11
11points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
#57

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL all beaches in Hawaii, outside of military bases, are public. Landowners are even required to maintain public access paths to the beach in front of their property.

WhiteSpottedEagleRay Report

Final score:
23points
Add photo comments
POST
sofacushionfort avatar
sofacushionfort
sofacushionfort
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

George Harrison, understandably skittish after being stabbed by a deranged intruder at his home in the UK, was very unhappy to discover this fact after he'd purchased a beach property on Maui.

Vote comment up
10
10points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#58

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL that Cinco De Mayo's popularity as a holiday in the US is largely due to a marketing campaign launched by Corona's importer in 1989.

hotelNoiseComplaint Report

Final score:
22points
Add photo comments
POST
spikeybear808 avatar
Bellatrix Lestrange
Bellatrix Lestrange
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Reminds me of how the iconic red joly Santa is based on coca-cola advertisements.

Vote comment up
6
6points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#59

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL Bill Gates had an arrangement with Melinda that he and his ex-girlfriend, Ann Winblad, could keep one vacation tradition alive. Every spring, as they have for more than a decade, Gates spends a long weekend with Winblad at her beach cottage.

bitcoinbuddha Report

Final score:
21points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#60

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL the claim on Cheerios' box that it could lower cholesterol by 4% was removed after the FDA warned General Mills that it was false advertising. GM fought back but eventually changed the box to read the cereal could lower cholesterol as part of a heart healthy diet.

SingLikeTinaTurner , Beth Miller Report

Final score:
21points
Add photo comments
POST
f_h_ avatar
F. H.
F. H.
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There was a butter brand in Europe that could actually claim to lower cholesterol in its advertisments because it did. However, many experts commented that it's not a good idea to market something like that to consumers because you are basicly self-medicating a condition you might not have at all. I don't know what became of it.

Vote comment up
3
3points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
#61

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL Although considered a contemporary classic, the original Back to the Future script was rejected more than 40 times, was going to be titled Space Man From Pluto, & had a refrigerator as the time machine, not the DeLorean.

unknown Report

Final score:
21points
Add photo comments
POST
mandygora03 avatar
BorPand8
BorPand8
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So they had Marty going into a refrigerator? I'm glad they rethought that idea!

Vote comment up
12
12points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#62

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL that in 1977, the FBI started to build a tunnel under the Soviet Embassy in Washington D.C to eavesdrop on the Soviets; the construction took years, was riddled with complications, and worse yet - the Soviets knew about the tunnel because of a tip-off

here_for_fun_XD , warhistoryonline Report

Final score:
20points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#63

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL in 1967, hippies attempted a ritual to levitate the Pentagon in the air to end the Vietnam War.

uhluhtc666 Report

Final score:
20points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#64

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL: When merging two lanes of traffic, a zipper merge is recommended because leaving a lane unoccupied as a result of early merging is inefficient. It only makes traffic heavier.

sasquatchh Report

Final score:
20points
Add photo comments
POST
dc1 avatar
DC
DC
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's so easy, and yet, no one does it. At every merge (sometimes, there are multiple ones), everyone lets in exyctly one vehicle and then proceeds. This isn't about being kind to one other person, but about efficiency, which is kind to all persons behind you.

Vote comment up
14
14points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#65

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL that since 2012, 6 people have choked to death during competitive eating contests.

gremlin_encounters Report

Final score:
19points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#66

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL about the 1991 "Great Butter Fire" which burned for 8 days (due to water having little effect on the fire), had flames 300ft high, and destroyed 50 million pounds of food.

KickSidebottom Report

Final score:
18points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#67

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL Christian radio host Harold Camping predicted the world would end on May 21, 2011. Followers gave up their jobs, sold their homes, and stopped investing in their children's college funds. On May 22, his office had a paper note in the window stating, "This office is closed. Sorry we missed you!"

WouldbeWanderer Report

Final score:
17points
Add photo comments
POST
onemessylady avatar
Aunt Messy
Aunt Messy
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There's a LONG history of cult leaders doing this. The Jehovah's Witnesses did this for their entire history. I think they predicted the end of the world half a dozen times before they gave it up. Don't bother expecting to be "saved" though. Only 144,000 people are allowed to go to heaven.

Vote comment up
8
8points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
#68

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL Hall & Oates never really liked to be referred to as "Hall & Oates". In an interview with Esquire, Oates said, "There isn't one album that says Hall and Oates. It's always Daryl Hall and John Oates, from the very beginning. People never note that"

too_shy_to_sing Report

Final score:
17points
Add photo comments
POST
dariuszm_d_ avatar
Dariusz M. D.
Dariusz M. D.
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How have I lived all my life without knowing that. Boggles my mind.

Vote comment up
1
1point
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
#69

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL When Bill Gates got married, he bought out all the available hotel rooms in Lanai to keep media from staying there & hired all the helicopters on Maui to keep photographers from flying over the wedding

Battle4Seattle Report

Final score:
16points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#70

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL American country music is one of the most popular music genres in Nigeria

XiiCubed Report

Final score:
15points
Add photo comments
POST
View more commentsArrow down menu
#71

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL in 2012, Demi Lovato did an MTV documentary about her sobriety and how she overcame addiction. 5 years later, she admitted she was on cocaine while filming it.

iajzz Report

Final score:
14points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#72

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL that when Apple ads claimed the iPhone X took “studio quality photos” there were complaints to the UK’s advertising standards about misleading statements. These were was rejected because there isn’t a technical definition of what “studio quality photos” is: it’s completely subjective.

FilthierCasual Report

Final score:
14points
Add photo comments
POST
ner_diz avatar
Serial pacifist
Serial pacifist
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Except for the rising price, there is also no definition of the difference between iPhone 5, 6, 7...12. it's completely subjective.

Vote comment up
15
15points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
#73

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL that in the original "Wayne's World" script, the T-1000 simply told Wayne "you're speeding". The line was changed at the last second when a producer's son said it wasn't funny.

TrevorIsTheGOAT Report

Final score:
10points
Add photo comments
POST
hedwards avatar
H Edwards
H Edwards
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What's the line now? Haven't seen that movie since it first came out.

Vote comment up
6
6points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#74

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL the average Philadelphian consumes twelve times as many pretzels as the national average

PmButtPics4ADrawing Report

Final score:
10points
Add photo comments
POST
View more commentsArrow down menu
#75

30 ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Show It’s Never Too Late To Learn (New Pics) TIL In 1985, an F-15A launched an anti-satellite missile from a 65-degree climb at 38,100 feet, knocking out an orbiting satellite 345 miles above the Earth; the missile traveled at 11,000 mph when it hit the satellite, which was orbiting at 17,000 mph

jenkitty Report

Final score:
9points
Add photo comments
POST
raymartin avatar
Ray Martin
Ray Martin
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thereby making a massive contribution to the amount of deadly pieces of junk in Earth orbit. A small matter, of course, in the eternal U.S military d**k measuring contest.

Vote comment up
6
6points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
#76

TIL: That there's a North Korean embassy in South Africa

Report

Final score:
9points
Coleonema
Add photo comments
POST
happycreations avatar
Happy Creations
Happy Creations
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They have 14 embassies on the African continent, 13 in Europe, 18 in Asia, 5 in Americas and 3 permanent missions in Europe and 1 in America, more or less

Vote comment up
5
5points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu

Anyone can write on Bored Panda. Start writing!

Follow Bored Panda on Google News!