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Remember when kids used to flip through encyclopedias to learn fun facts? Well, in today's digital age you don’t need a thick book to gain knowledge. Everything is accessible with a simple scroll. From scientific discoveries to Hollywood trivia, all the information is just a click away.
Thankfully, with one such click, we reached the 'Today I Learned' subreddit: a place where over 34 million people gather to share facts about the world. So, Pandas, scroll down to explore a collection of interesting tidbits. You never know, they might just come in handy at your next social gathering!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
During the Apache Wars in the American Southwest, the Apache would cut the Army's telegraph lines but reconnect the ends together with a strip of leather to make the break in the circuit nearly impossible to find.
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#2
After Salvador Dali expressed support for Spanish dictator Franco's regime, Pablo Picasso refused to mention Dali's name or acknowledge his existence for the rest of his life.
The popularity of this subreddit highlights the shift from traditional to online learning. This change has made learning more flexible and tailored to our modern lifestyle. It shows how technology is reshaping our approach to acquiring knowledge.
Surprisingly, employees are only able to allocate a mere 24 minutes per week to engage in learning and development activities. As a result, there's a growing demand for instant access to training and learning resources. In today's fast-paced world, people are busier than ever before.
#3
Children in ancient China learned to write from "Thousand Character Text", a 1000-word poem where the characters do not repeat and cover everything from philisophy to astrology.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 9 months ago
My boyfriend is Chinese. He was born in California, but his parents are immigrants. They have a copy of this framed on their living room wall. It is literally awe-inspiring to behold; it’s as beautiful as a painting by a master artist. Note: my boyfriend did not have to learn how to write Chinese from it, luckily for him XD
#4
Ice-T made up a gang to keep real gang members off his back in high school. “We actually created a fake gang. We told people we were part of the Hillside Crips. We had them thinking there was hundreds of us. I never had any trouble.”
Donteatme666 9 months ago
🤣 wish I would've thought of that would have saved me so much trouble 😅
#5
Phil Collins spontaneously sang the lyrics to "In the Air Tonight". They were completely improvised and he didn't write them down until after singing them for the first time, on a piece of paper (which he still has) from his decorator.
With online learning, people are able to access community-driven knowledge exactly when it's needed. Devices like smartphones and tabs allow people to explore diverse content at their own pace. In fact, 9-in-10 millennials own a mobile phone, making learning via technology a necessity.
Staying curious and engaging in continuous learning offers numerous benefits too. Research suggests that lifelong learning can improve cognitive function and enhance problem-solving skills. Moreover, it promotes personal and professional development.
#6
Laurence Fishburne was only 14 when filming Apocalypse Now, as he had lied about his age to get the role. Production took so long, he was 18 by the time of its release.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 9 months ago
One of the most notoriously difficult movies to film in history. The results were amazing but Coppola and his crew went through hell to get it finished. Ironic considering the movie's themes.
#7
"Dune" was rejected by at least 20 publishers before being published by Chilton, the auto-manual company.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 9 months ago
Dune is my lifelong favorite book - my dogs are named Stilgar and Fenring. However, I (with sadness) do agree that the books became excruciatingly ridiculous once Herbert’s son and Kevin J. Anderson took over writing the series after Frank’s death. All I can say in defense of the books is - remember that Frank’s were written in the 60s and 70s, and the ones written by his son and Anderson were based on incomplete notes found after Frank’s death. The original first book (Dune) is absolutely a masterpiece, though - and keep in mind that Herbert was writing them less as 100% science fiction and more as a mix of sci-fi and a treatise on humanity and human social interaction (similar to Asimov’s work.)
#8
Shakers, a christian sect that believed sexuality to be the root of all evil and original sin. All members went far enough in chastity to avoid shaking the opposite sex's hands. Their membership declined from a peak of 5000 in 1840 to 3 members in 2019 due to lack of births.
According to studies, continuous learning helps individuals to be more active socially. Learning new things is like collecting conversation starters for your next gathering! Imagine sharing a fact about life on Mars during a dinner party. It adds a whole new level of excitement to social interactions.
In the digital age, the global learning community serves as a bridge, connecting people from all walks of life and diverse backgrounds. Through this vast online network, individuals have the opportunity to learn new things about the world every day.
#9
In 2021 a new species of fish was identified that has the smallest adult brain size of all known vertebrates. It's also the loudest of all known fish relative to its size.
#10
Research suggests that working irregular shifts for a decade ages the brain an extra six and a half years.
#11
Hair will sometimes grow back differently after chemotherapy. People who have straight hair may find that they now have curly hair or vice versa. It can even grow back a different colour.
Georgia Ireland 9 months ago
I worked with a woman, who before having chemo, was a blond with curly hair. After chemo, she had straight, jet black hair.
Joining the millions of people on the 'Today I Learned' subreddit might boost your confidence and improve your social skills. The next time you meet your friends, don't hesitate to share these intriguing facts and enjoy those impressive reactions.
Did any facts catch your attention? Feel free to share your discoveries, thoughts, and stories in the comments section below! And remember, the learning journey doesn't end here. Keep exploring more "Today I Learned" facts on Bored Panda to satisfy your curiosity!
#12
Alexander Graham Bell believed people should say “Ahoy” when they pick up the phone. Edison proposed “hello,” putting that word into common usage.
Unpickled Pickle 9 months ago
Take a second to imagine an alternate universe, where you pick up the phone and say "Ahoy?"
#13
A young man pinched his nose and clamped his mouth shut to hold in a forceful sneeze and ended up barely able to speak or swallow, with considerable pain. Air bubbles reached into the deep tissue and muscles of his chest and it took seven days for him to recover in hospital.
#14
There are 17.3 million American digital nomads or people that travel freely while working remotely using technology and the internet.
#15
Japanese death row inmates are executed by hanging. Three prison officers simultaneously press buttons to open the trap door so it is not clear which one is responsible.
Always Malfunctioning 9 months ago
Same thing as a firing squad. Multiple shooters, only one gun with a bullet
Bear Hall 9 months ago
It's the other way around: several shooters, only one gun has blank.
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Diz 9 months ago
I am a big supporter of the death penalty if someone deserves it murderers rapists and pedophiles definitely do
Beansie-never-visited-me-once 9 months ago
I am against the death penalty but I understand that it is a passionate topic and see where people are coming from. However, what about those countless cases where someone is accused of murder and then exonerated 20 years later? W cannot be sure that every person accused is guilty.
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Jason 9 months ago
I was at one point too until my best friends sister was stabbed hundreds of times, to death, in front of her infant daughter for a car and the guy laughed about it.
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David 9 months ago
I seriously do not get why we (USA) have such a problem executing executions. I am not arguing for or against the death penalty. But currently we have it and it isn't that difficult to off people. But American prisoners can commit the most horrible crimes multiple times and we are worried about whether they are comfortable when they die. Anything that puts the body into immediate shock or unconsciousness is humane to the recipient (as compared to other methods). Much of the problem is we want it white washed for anyone watching.
Bear Hall 9 months ago (edited)
Again: The chemical they used to execute with was manufactured in the EU. But a few years (decades?) ago the EU banned its export because they don't agree with the capital punishment. The Americans had to invent new methods to find another "human" ways to put inmates down. So far they haven't found the magic formula thus lots of unsuccessful executions. I also heard even with the old poison it wasn't like they just fell asleep. Like a prisoner kept repeating "I'm still alive" over and over again for a long time. Or they were shaking uncontrollably for a while. Public executions used to draw lots of people all over the world not so long ago. ISIS and a Taliban were making spectacle out of them just recently. And they didn't worry about going painless: hanging people from goalposts, burning them alive, throwing them from the top of tall buildings were all used. But I guess people watching them in America aren't there to enjoy the show.
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Glenn Cuneo 9 months ago
I heard that they are about to start using reruns of "Love Boat" instead of hanging....
Bear Hall 9 months ago
It's inhuman treatment going against the spirit of the Geneva Convention.
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David 9 months ago
in a firing squad only 1 of the 6 has a real bullet, the rest are blanks for that same reason
Beansie-never-visited-me-once 9 months ago
I read a creative story recently about a prisoner on death row who was given the option to save themselves by pressing a button. They were told that if they pressed the button, someone would die in their place. Naturally, the criminal chose to press the button. It turned out that every person on death row was given that option and the button killed the last person who pressed the button. That way, the murderers did all the killing on death row themselves. I though that was a pretty cool concept.
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abbbbs 9 months ago
if they are all willing to press the button then aren't they all responsible?
Bear Hall 9 months ago
It's unbelievable how the human mind uses even the smallest excuse to wriggle out of feeling responsible. Well, at least most of the people do.
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Laura Williams 9 months ago
Is it Japan that doesn't tell death row inmates either the date or they are on death row?
Bear Hall 9 months ago
Usually they don't use their own weapons. They are handed one that was loaded (modified?) by somebody else so they have no sure knowledge. I guess the same guys who gave the guns to them also collects them after the deed.
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Paul Brown 9 months ago
Death row inmates are also not told when their execution date is. The guards just show up at the prisoners cell and basically say today is the day.
Bear Hall 9 months ago (edited)
That is completely false. It would likely make prisoners go insane of fear thus more unpredictable and dangerous. There are last minute appeals, visitation with relatives, final meal, whatnot.
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Madster 9 months ago
I saw him play at Glastonbury Festival. He vetoed his fee to go over the alotted performance time. Not great with money I would say haha. But at least he gave a good show for the fans.
Madster 9 months ago
That was meant for the Springsteen post but can't delete for some reason.
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Chris Landrum 9 months ago
don't they also not tell the person when they will be executed, just come to them one day?
Bear Hall 9 months ago
Again: Waiting for them to come and kill you on any given day would likely make anybody go insane of fear thus more unpredictable and dangerous. There are also last minute appeals, visitation with relatives, final meal, whatnot.
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In 1909 the entire town of Ulysses, Kansas was relocated 3 miles west to escape their debts.
#17
Bruce Springsteen did not pay his taxes until he was put on the cover of Time Magazine in 1975. He then spent the next few years paying off his taxes, leaving him with only $20,000 on his 30th birthday despite multiple best-selling records and tours.
#18
The most expensive medication in the world is Hemgenix. Cost is $3,500,000 for one treatment. It is used to treat hemophilia B, a genetic bleeding disorder.
Donteatme666 9 months ago (edited)
F*****g hate big pharma with a passion. As to why I hate it my dad has a serious thyroid issue he can die without his meds he's supposed to see a thyroid doc once a month he hasn't seen one in 3 years barely surviving on bare bones meds because he's medication is three thousand dollars a pop. He's finally getting help because he got some decent insurance from his company but yeah f**k big pharma because of them my dad almost died the meds cost maybe 50 dollars to make so yes f**k you big pharma f**k you,f**k you, f**k you,f.u.c.k. y.o.u.Big Pharma
#19
Garden path sentences which is a grammatically correct sentence that starts in such a way that a reader's most likely interpretation will be incorrect.
A few examples include
“The complex houses married and single soldiers and their families”
“The prime number few.”
“The man who hunts ducks out on weekends”
“Fat people eat accumulates”
“The old man the boat.”
Unpickled Pickle 9 months ago
If you're confused (Like I was at first) heres an explanation: The sentence will begin with a part of a phrase that ends with a word that has multiple meanings (example, "the old man") In this case, the word "man" has 2 possible meanings 1. Noun, a man 2. Verb, to work at, operate, run or occupy, so the brain, using context clues (The word "old") assumes that it means the noun, but then, the sentence also uses the verb, so you can think of it as two sentences joined together by a word with multiple meanings. So sentence 1 is "The old man" and sentence 2 is "Man the boat"
#20
After Hurricane Katrina, the number of babies named Katrina dropped sharply. After 10 years the name Katrina was 83 percent less common.
#21
US has not elected a below average height president for 120 years. Only 3 presidents since 1776 were not above average height.
#22
In 2015, Planet Earth II attempted to capture the birthing grounds of Saiga Antelope, where hundreds of thousands gather. Instead, the crew witnessed a disease spread, k***ing 150,000 in three days.
PlatinumThe8-BitCat 9 months ago
Killing killing killing killing kill kill kill f**k you censors 🖕
#23
2,000-year-old sapphire ring believed to have been owned by Roman Emperor Caligula sold for £500,000 in 2019. The sky blue ring also has an etching on it that's thought to depict Caligula's fourth and last wife, Caesonia.
#24
Carrie Fisher's ashes were buried in urn shaped like a Prozac pill.
Barong 9 months ago
Todd Fisher explained the unique urn to Entertainment Tonight, “Carrie’s favorite possession was a giant Prozac pill that she bought many years ago. A big pill. She loved it, and it was in her house, and [daughter] Billie [Lourd] and I felt it was where she’d want to be. https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/carrie-fishers-ashes-placed-in-giant-prozac-pill-urn-115271/
#25
The F-104 Starfighter jet had such an abysmal safety record it was called the Widowmaker in West Germany. 292 of 916 units were lost to accidents there. Other countries reported similar rates.
#26
Last train robbery in the US was in 1970, at the San Antonio Zoo.
Justin Tyme 9 months ago (edited)
That is absolutely false. There have been thousands of train robberies since then. There were more than 5,000 just in the year 2021 for example. If you are talking about the kind of robbery that is more than stealing things - armed people forcibly robbing a train, then that is still happening too. India for example is averaging one per day.
#27
2022 DC superhero “Batgirl” was the most expensive ‘abandoned’ movie in history. Warner Bros. already spent over $90M finishing it, and the film was in post- production, when they decided not to release it.
#28
Tōxcatl, an annual Aztec festival which revolved around the sacrifice of a young man who had been impersonating their god Tezcatlipoca since the last Tōxcatl festival, and the selection of a new man to take that role in the year to come.
#29
Oldest cat to give birth (to 2 kittens) was Kitty at 30 years old. She passed away just short of 32 yo and gave birth to a total of 218 kittens.
Calvin Smelliott 9 months ago
This is kind of gross. At some point, it turned into how old can this cat be and still birth kittens. That poor cat!
#30
Movie Cleopatra cost $350 million adjusted for inflation to make, 3 times higher than Ben Hur. Due to its cost it was considered a box office bomb despite being highest grossing film of 1963.
#31
A man under the pseudonym "Kirk Allen" who became deluded that a sci-fi book series was actually the story of his life. He filled in the blanks with elaborate details and hallucinated himself in those settings. He was treated by Robert Lindner, who himself became obsessed with the books.
#32
Masi Oka, who played Hiro Nakamura in the TV show Heroes, founded the developer that made the game Outer Wilds.
#33
America, the country with the worlds 3rd largest population has only 9 cities with a population above 1 million according to the 2020 census and the 2022 estimate. 3 of those cities are in Texas.
#34
HBO cancelled Game of Thrones spin-off Bloodmoon in 2019 after spending $30 million on its pilot. HBO's content chief explained that it was a hard project because George RR Martin had only written about 8 lines of text for the era the show was set in, so a lot more invention was required.
#35
Star Jelly, a translucent jelly-like substance that has been found for centuries. Scientists have no idea what it is. According to folklore, it is deposited on the Earth during meteor showers.
#36
Mother of Lee Harvey Oswald would sometimes go to Dealey Plaza and sell her autograph for five dollars.
#37
Rapper Shyne, famous for going to jail as part of Diddy's posse as well as writing for many famous artists, converted to Orthodox Judaism in prison, moved to Jerusalem to study the torah up to 12 hours a day, and now has become a politician and leader of the opposition party in Belize.
#38
Despite selling 500k copies in its first two hours and going 7x Platinum, Guns N' Roses' Use Your Illusion I & II albums were considered to have "underperformed" sales expectations.
#39
Sleeping on your side increases facial wrinkles that are perpendicular to expression based wrinkles.
CanadianDimes 9 months ago
I suspect not sleeping in a position that’s comfortable for me would be more damaging and to more than just my skin
#40
The (in)famous problem of most scientific studies being irreproducible has its own research field since around the 2010s when the Replication Crisis became more and more noticed.
What do you think ?
Stannous Flouride 9 months ago
And greatly enhanced by the contributions of the Bored Pandas on here.
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Stannous Flouride 9 months ago
And greatly enhanced by the contributions of the Bored Pandas on here.
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