TIL: That VELCRO was inspired by a dog's encounter with burrs, on a country walk with a Swiss engineer, figured out the hook and loop idea from a natural analog
https://ift.tt/enosaYH
Submitted January 22, 2026 at 04:56PM by grungegoth
via reddit https://ift.tt/S2u8Tcy
https://ift.tt/enosaYH
Submitted January 22, 2026 at 04:56PM by grungegoth
via reddit https://ift.tt/S2u8Tcy
www.invent.org
How Did a Walk in the Woods Lead to the Invention of VELCRO® Fasteners?
Uncover how nature inspired Inductee George de Mestral to develop something that many of us use every day: VELCRO®!
TIL Iceland is one of the few countries in the world, and the only NATO member to not have a standing army
https://ift.tt/Yt2IROB
Submitted January 22, 2026 at 07:25PM by zharguy
via reddit https://ift.tt/ZRFdEKg
https://ift.tt/Yt2IROB
Submitted January 22, 2026 at 07:25PM by zharguy
via reddit https://ift.tt/ZRFdEKg
TIL that NASA's Perseverance rover discovered a striped "zebra rock" on Mars unlike any seen before, nicknamed Freya Castle, with alternating black-and-white bands that might hint at volcanic or metamorphic processes.
https://ift.tt/oVOjpLU
Submitted January 22, 2026 at 03:02PM by yena
via reddit https://ift.tt/Wt6yroP
https://ift.tt/oVOjpLU
Submitted January 22, 2026 at 03:02PM by yena
via reddit https://ift.tt/Wt6yroP
EarthSky
A striped ‘zebra rock’ on Mars and a new Mars face
More exciting news! EarthSky has received a $50,000 gift, with a request that it be used to collect matching funds. It’s time to make good on our obligation to match. Click here to donate to EarthSky!
TIL in the 1950s full length commercials were banned from US television, but were brought back in 1984 when the FCC rescinded the ban. By 1994 an estimated 91% of all TV stations were airing infomercials.
https://ift.tt/UDpzwyG
Submitted January 22, 2026 at 07:51PM by strangelove4564
via reddit https://ift.tt/cXO1jD5
https://ift.tt/UDpzwyG
Submitted January 22, 2026 at 07:51PM by strangelove4564
via reddit https://ift.tt/cXO1jD5
TIL that in 2002 candidates for mayor of Warsaw had to compete in "SimCity 3000" to see who will develop the virtual capital of Poland the most. They had 60 000 simoleons to begin with and could consult with students who would aid them in the virtual world.
https://ift.tt/N7ibIWp
Submitted January 22, 2026 at 06:44PM by Apula20xp
via reddit https://ift.tt/8cbrmPp
https://ift.tt/N7ibIWp
Submitted January 22, 2026 at 06:44PM by Apula20xp
via reddit https://ift.tt/8cbrmPp
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TIL that a Japanese man named Shoichi Hara devoted his life to passing on his rice farming expertise bringing about an agricultural revolution in China. He is praised in China as a “Deity of Wet Rice.”
https://ift.tt/Hlt8NDR
Submitted January 22, 2026 at 08:32PM by tenzin_Qing
via reddit https://ift.tt/ByXgK24
https://ift.tt/Hlt8NDR
Submitted January 22, 2026 at 08:32PM by tenzin_Qing
via reddit https://ift.tt/ByXgK24
Japantvmarket
TI ComNet | Golden Field in ChinaJapan TV Market
Video purchases from Japan TV Market, powered by TI ComNet are delivered in English, Chinese and others subtitle and narration, are available in Singapore now!
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TIL that in February 2021, the state of Texas suffered a major power crisis, which came about during three severe winter storms sweeping across the United States on February 10-11, 13-17, and 15-20. The storms triggered the worst energy infrastructure failure in Texas state history.
https://ift.tt/0W1vYPQ
Submitted January 22, 2026 at 09:48PM by FakeOkie
via reddit https://ift.tt/oFKnGAi
https://ift.tt/0W1vYPQ
Submitted January 22, 2026 at 09:48PM by FakeOkie
via reddit https://ift.tt/oFKnGAi
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TIL that out of the 90 National Emergencies enacted by a President, 51 of them are still currently still active.
https://ift.tt/f3KE0OW
Submitted January 22, 2026 at 10:59PM by real_picklejuice
via reddit https://ift.tt/Rc8zkAF
https://ift.tt/f3KE0OW
Submitted January 22, 2026 at 10:59PM by real_picklejuice
via reddit https://ift.tt/Rc8zkAF
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TIL the yellow on today’s school buses had to beat back a push for patriotic red, white, and blue in 1939
https://ift.tt/sWUAECM
Submitted January 22, 2026 at 09:25PM by kyoorius
via reddit https://ift.tt/19VpvMe
https://ift.tt/sWUAECM
Submitted January 22, 2026 at 09:25PM by kyoorius
via reddit https://ift.tt/19VpvMe
Smithsonian Magazine
The History of How School Buses Became Yellow
Rural educator Frank Cyr had the vision and pull to force the nation to standardize the color of the ubiquitous vehicle
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TIL that in rare instances, the sound of tinnitus is detectable by someone other than the patient by using a stethoscope, in which case it is known as "objective tinnitus."
https://ift.tt/hMRSy3o
Submitted January 22, 2026 at 11:09PM by bnrshrnkr
via reddit https://ift.tt/UaluFoV
https://ift.tt/hMRSy3o
Submitted January 22, 2026 at 11:09PM by bnrshrnkr
via reddit https://ift.tt/UaluFoV
TIL - Polar bears have Black skin to absorb more sunlight for warmth as well to prevent skin cancer
https://ift.tt/4rXwzdo
Submitted January 23, 2026 at 12:34AM by Peacecookie412
via reddit https://ift.tt/eDBLRrv
https://ift.tt/4rXwzdo
Submitted January 23, 2026 at 12:34AM by Peacecookie412
via reddit https://ift.tt/eDBLRrv
BBC Science Focus Magazine
Polar bears aren't actually white. Here's why | BBC Science Focus Magazine
It might not sound accurate, but its true. Polar bears are actually a darker shade under all of that bright fur.
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TIL that two tiny island nations, Tuvalu and Anguilla, generate a massive part of their GDP thanks to their internet domain extensions. Tuvalu earns millions from .tv due to streaming sites like Twitch, while Anguilla expects to make tens of millions this year alone thanks to the .ai boom.
https://ift.tt/v3dKFrn
Submitted January 23, 2026 at 03:44AM by matiasluceromkt
via reddit https://ift.tt/UyZY94T
https://ift.tt/v3dKFrn
Submitted January 23, 2026 at 03:44AM by matiasluceromkt
via reddit https://ift.tt/UyZY94T
LA NACION
Cómo 2 letras le cambiaron la economía a dos islas en el medio del océano
Anguila, en el Caribe, tiene el dominio .ai en internet; Tuvalu, el .tv; para ambas naciones la licencia de sitios con esos dominios representa una fuente inesperada de recursos para su economía
TIL the lyrics to "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite" come entirely from an antique circus poster John Lennon bought at an antique shop.
https://ift.tt/qsl06AS
Submitted January 23, 2026 at 01:37AM by Wazula23
via reddit https://ift.tt/ZW6Skxu
https://ift.tt/qsl06AS
Submitted January 23, 2026 at 01:37AM by Wazula23
via reddit https://ift.tt/ZW6Skxu
TIL Yahweh/God in Abrahamic religions originally had a wife
https://ift.tt/nZ9IdW5
Submitted January 23, 2026 at 04:46AM by Far_Breakfast_5808
via reddit https://ift.tt/J9c5vEy
https://ift.tt/nZ9IdW5
Submitted January 23, 2026 at 04:46AM by Far_Breakfast_5808
via reddit https://ift.tt/J9c5vEy
TIL Sweden accounts for roughly 20% of Steam’s 2025 gross revenue and, in the 2024–2025 release window, Swedish developers delivered five of Steam’s global top-10 bestsellers (Battlefield 6, R.E.P.O., Peak, ARC Raiders, and Split Fiction). Sweden has 10 million people
https://ift.tt/rkaLtXS
Submitted January 23, 2026 at 04:18AM by OverallBaker3572
via reddit https://ift.tt/STiD0bV
https://ift.tt/rkaLtXS
Submitted January 23, 2026 at 04:18AM by OverallBaker3572
via reddit https://ift.tt/STiD0bV
InvestGame.net
The Rise and Reset of Sweden’s $19B Gaming Capital Machine – InvestGame.net
Feature sponsored by $GDEV Sweden accounts for roughly 20% of Steam’s 2025 gross revenue and, in the 2024–2025 release window, Swedish developers delivered fiv
TIL that Listerine was sold as a surgical disinfectant, a cure for dandruff, a floor cleaner, a hair tonic, a deodorant, and as a "beneficial remedy" for diseases ranging from diphtheria and dysentery to small pox and gonorrhea.
https://ift.tt/fTP4kdH
Submitted January 23, 2026 at 05:42AM by Much_Spell_4157
via reddit https://ift.tt/kQnLadE
https://ift.tt/fTP4kdH
Submitted January 23, 2026 at 05:42AM by Much_Spell_4157
via reddit https://ift.tt/kQnLadE
National Museum of American History
Listerine
Listerine, now a product of Pfizer Inc., is a common household item known for its antiseptic properties.
TIL that humans tend to think “it won’t happen to me,” even when it already has happened to people exactly like them thousands of times.
https://ift.tt/pOY6r5E
Submitted January 23, 2026 at 07:36AM by stoneduniverse1
via reddit https://ift.tt/wLQbyza
https://ift.tt/pOY6r5E
Submitted January 23, 2026 at 07:36AM by stoneduniverse1
via reddit https://ift.tt/wLQbyza
Scribbr
What Is Optimism Bias? | Definition & Examples
Optimism bias is the tendency to overestimate the likelihood of positive events and underestimate the likelihood of negative events. Optimism bias causes
TIL that a special kind of microphone is often attached to the walls of hockey rinks to pick up the sound of players being body checked, which is then mixed into broadcasts of the games
https://ift.tt/OEWSmNw
Submitted January 23, 2026 at 07:30AM by abellyirked
via reddit https://ift.tt/2KkhQja
https://ift.tt/OEWSmNw
Submitted January 23, 2026 at 07:30AM by abellyirked
via reddit https://ift.tt/2KkhQja
TIL in 2011, Tom Hanks met a young couple at a petrol station, who just watched his then-latest film "Larry Crowne" - which he both directed and starred in. They admitted the film "wasn’t that good”. Hanks then apologized and pulled $25 from his pocket to pay them back for the tickets.
https://ift.tt/cuOXEmv
Submitted January 23, 2026 at 10:10AM by Away_Flounder3813
via reddit https://ift.tt/C8bXLhY
https://ift.tt/cuOXEmv
Submitted January 23, 2026 at 10:10AM by Away_Flounder3813
via reddit https://ift.tt/C8bXLhY
Marie Claire UK
Tom Hanks refunds $25 to couple who hated his film
Hollywood nice guy Hanks refunded the couple after admitting they didn't enjoy his latest movie
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TIL that some towns and cities in the US have a 'curfew' that means juveniles aren't allowed to be outdoors, typically between 23.00 - 06.00
https://ift.tt/z9m3CoE
Submitted January 23, 2026 at 01:08PM by ProneToAnalFissures
via reddit https://ift.tt/27mnzdJ
https://ift.tt/z9m3CoE
Submitted January 23, 2026 at 01:08PM by ProneToAnalFissures
via reddit https://ift.tt/27mnzdJ
mpdc.dc.gov
DC Curfew Law
Emergency Curfew Legislation The Juvenile Curfew Second Emergency Amendment Act of 2025 took effect on November 7, 2025. What does the law say? The Juvenile Curfew Second Emergency Amendment Act of 2025 states that all persons under the age of 18 cannot…
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TIL Downs–Thomson paradox suggests that improving road networks or building more roads actually leads to worse traffic congestion. Often referred to as induced demand.
https://ift.tt/aBQ5UfA
Submitted January 23, 2026 at 12:56PM by whoisfourthwall
via reddit https://ift.tt/ihM96Rl
https://ift.tt/aBQ5UfA
Submitted January 23, 2026 at 12:56PM by whoisfourthwall
via reddit https://ift.tt/ihM96Rl