TIL that the common LED light was awarded a Nobel Prize. The 2014 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Isamu Akasaki, Hiroshi Amano, and Shuji Nakamura for the invention of efficient blue light-emitting diodes which has enabled bright and energy-saving white light sources. (nobelprize.org)
submitted by VickyWelsch
TIL according to the singer Meat Loaf (born Marvin Lee Aday), when he was born his father thought looked like “nine-and-a-half pounds of ground chuck” and nicknamed him "Meat". Years later, when he was a heavyset teenage football player, the players and coaches expanded the name to "Meat Loaf". (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted by big_macaroons
TIL Carlos Santana hears from angels since reading a book about them from a Milwaukee airport. Since 1994, the high-angel Metatron speaks through him ("like a fax machine") & convinced him to make an album. This became the Grammy-sweeping "Supernatural"— which includes "Smooth [ft. Rob Thomas]" (rollingstone.com)
submitted by Pfeffer_Prinz
TIL in the Ottoman tradition, the throne did not automatically pass to the eldest son. Rather, potential heirs were expected to fight it out. As soon as the sultan died, the princes were plunged into a race for the throne. Whichever brother won the throne would have the other brothers executed. (daily.jstor.org)
submitted by gullydon
TIL there is a difference between shock and electrocution which is short for electric execution. An electrocution results in death. While people survive getting shocked, they may struggle for the rest of their lives with burn scars, seizures, chronic pain, severe headaches, nerve damage, paralyzed (hsinjurylaw.com)
submitted by Aromatic_Reason_9841
TIL one of the key factors in the Nazi Blitzkreig was the wide use of Pervitin, an over-the-counter methamphetamine, available in Germany. The drug allowed soldiers to go sleepless for up to three nights and "dulled feelings of empathy, hunger and thirst and reduced sensitivity to pain." (history.co.uk)
submitted by KCtheKing