TIL that following the Roman departure from Britain (410 CE), systematic construction of paved highways in the UK did not resume until the early 18th century (en.wikipedia.org)
cross-posted from: lemmy.world/post/1815113...
TIL that arguably the first comprehensive English dictionary was written by one dude over the course of seven years and that was THE dictionary for 70+ years (en.wikipedia.org)
TIL about the Puss Caterpillar, it may look harmless with its soft and furry appearance, but it conceals venomous spines that can cause excruciating pain upon contact that even morphine struggles to quell. (en.wikipedia.org)
"The inch-long larva is generously coated in long, luxuriant hair-like setae, making it resemble a tiny Persian cat, the characteristic that presumably gave it the name "puss". It is variable in color, from downy grayish white to golden brown to dark charcoal gray. It often has a streak of bright orange running longitudinally....
TIL of Cáin Adomnáin, "Europes first human rights treaty". Created in 697 CE, were a set of laws - which kings across Ireland & Scotland agreed to follow - guaranteeing safety of non-combatants in war (en.wikipedia.org)
The Cáin Adomnáin, also known as the Lex Innocentium (Law of Innocents), was promulgated amongst a gathering of Irish, Dál Riatan and Pictish notables at the Synod of Birr in 697. It is called the “Geneva Accords” of the ancient Irish and Europe’s first human rights treaty, for its protection of women and...
TIL of COCONUTS-2b, a giant gas planet that takes over 1 million years to orbit around its star (en.wikipedia.org)
TIL an ant mega-colony exists across 3 continents and is thought to contain billions of ants, all of which recognise each other to be from the same colony. The largest part of the colony is in Europe (news.bbc.co.uk)
TIL that in 1933 the first commercial airliner bombing destroyed United Air Lines Trip 23. No suspect was ever identified and no motive was ever revealed. (en.wikipedia.org)
TIL that the average email produces about 4 grams of CO2, which can go up with attachments (www.youtube.com)
The average email produces 4gs of CO2. It takes 21g of CO2 to boil water for a cup of tea. So every 5 emails you’ve sent burned as much carbon as 1 cup of tea....
TIL India still officially recognises 5 sub-national monarchies, known as the 'Kings of Dangs'. They receive payment from the government every year during Holi (en.wikipedia.org)
cross-posted from: lemmy.world/post/1505766...
TIL of the Kingdom of Bailundo, a non-sovereign monarchy located in Angola. Its king was notably deposed in 2021 after being charged of involvement in a murder (en.wikipedia.org)
Ekuikui V sometimes dubbed himself as the “king of (all) Ovimbundu”. In early 2021, Ekuikui V was sentenced to six years in prison by the Provincial Court of Huambo (TPH) for his implication in a murder in 2017. Ekuikui V had issued a judgment in a traditional court case, finding Jacinto Kamutali Epalangana guilty of killing...
TIL that in industrialized countries, the most widespread contact allergy is to nickel, impacting 8-19% of adults and 8-10% of children, with women being 4-10 times more likely to be affected than men. (en.wikipedia.org)
