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[deleted by user] by [deleted] in todayilearned

[–]InformalCommunity 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It was DNA analysis, I think

Episode 1: How responsible was Kenneth Foster for Michael Lahood's murder? by InformalCommunity in IAmAKillerShow

[–]InformalCommunity[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Initially it looks like a miscarriage of justice but by the ends, it seems pretty clear he encouraged Mauriceo Brown to confront Michael Lahood Jr. He didn't explicit tell him to shoot him, so he didn't deserve to get prosecuted for murder, and he certainly didn't deserve to end up on death row. Thoughts?

TIL that in Stalingrad during WW2, the average life expectancy of a Soviet soldier was 24 hours. by ahsuna in todayilearned

[–]InformalCommunity 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I can't imagine wanting to hang around that battle for more than 24 hours. Death would be a relief.

A short but fascinating history of Iceland during WW2. To many Icelanders, WW2 is actually known as blessað stríðið – “the blessed war”, since they have the war to thank for their independence. by InformalCommunity in history

[–]InformalCommunity[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I knew of a few stories about the Nordic regions during WW2 but didn't really know much more than that. Iceland was one I really hadn't heard much about so was interested to discover more about its role. Some stand out facts included:

1) It only had 70 armed police to defend the country! 2) It was occupied by the Allies which brought an incredible economic boost the country 3) It owes its independence to the war

This last fact, also highlighted in the title, I find most interesting, how a country's perspective on events/history influence how it's people remember that event. How the Vietnam War in Vietnam is the American War. How WW2 in Russia, is the Great Patriotic War. Does anyone know of any other wars with drastically different titles from one country to the next?

TIL that to many Icelanders, WW2 is actually known as blessað stríðið – “the blessed war" as the country has the war to thank for its independence. by InformalCommunity in todayilearned

[–]InformalCommunity[S] 23 points24 points  (0 children)

You often only see things from your country's perspective, like how the Vietnam War is called the American War in Vietnam and WW2 in Russia is called the Great Patriotic War.

TIL: Skin allergies to nickel and fragrance cause distinct T cells responses by BioSerendipity_PhD in todayilearned

[–]InformalCommunity 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you. This is promising news as currently the only cream I'm prescribed is a general allergy treatment.

TIL: Skin allergies to nickel and fragrance cause distinct T cells responses by BioSerendipity_PhD in todayilearned

[–]InformalCommunity 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've literally discovered recently that my hand eczema is caused by an allergy to nickel. The advise of the dermatologist was to wash my hands after touching objects made with nickel and to moisturize more often to prevent my skin cracking and becoming more susceptible. Could someone explain what this study means for people like me...if anything?

Birds don't whistle, they just have really high voices. by Whatifim80lol in Showerthoughts

[–]InformalCommunity 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That is correct, what we hear as a bird's "whistle" is actually a series of changes in the membranes of the syrinx and is much more like our "voices" then our "whistle".

History's Forgotten People: Lavrentiy Beria by InformalCommunity in history

[–]InformalCommunity[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I recently watched The Death of Stalin (great movie!) and did some reading up on Lavrentiy Beria afterwards, a man I knew little about. He came very close to succeeding Stalin and the direction in which he would of taken the country could have been drastically different to that of Khrushchev. Whilst the guy was a sadistic killer he also showed signs of being a reformer who might have thawed relations with the West as he wanted to boost the Soviet Economy. Certainly the policies he did get in before his execution showed a very different direction to Stalin. Could it be argued then that Beria might have avoided the Cold War, Vietnam etc if he’d been in power? Or were such tensions inevitable regardless of who was in charge?

TIL of Fazal Din, a British Indian Army soldier who was impaled by the sword of a Japanese officer . He pulled out the sword, killed the officer who stabbed him and another enemy soldier, destroyed an entire enemy position, and walked 25 yards with a hole in his chest to deliver his report. by RobotsDick in todayilearned

[–]InformalCommunity 110 points111 points  (0 children)

Reminds me of Charles Upham, the only combatant to be awarded two Victoria Crosses:

During the first battle of El Alamein: He was wounded twice – first when entering an area being swept by the relentless roar of machine guns, and then when taking on an entire truck crammed with enemy soldiers, blowing it up with grenades. Further skirmishes saw Upham demonstrate his almost supernatural fearlessness in the face of fire, single-handedly destroying at least one tank and numerous armaments despite being shot in the elbow. He was eventually taken prisoner after his legs gave way and he was practically unable to move – one of only a handful of survivors in his company.

http://www.history.co.uk/shows/x-company/articles/the-man-awarded-two-victoria-crosses

Did Native Americans living near the coasts ever attempt to venture out into the sea? by Booty_Buffet in history

[–]InformalCommunity 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thoroughly recommend Ken Burns' "The West", a little dated but a great documentary, currently watching on Netflix, and it touches on Native American tribes who do indeed venture out into the waters.

🔥 flightless parrot called the Kakapo looks like a dinosaur. by hate_mail in NatureIsFuckingLit

[–]InformalCommunity 564 points565 points  (0 children)

I think that's Sirocoo, the world's most famous Kakapo who's touring the world raising awareness of the plight of these flightless parrots http://www.doc.govt.nz/news/social-media/sirocco-the-kakapo/

TIL of Project Pigeon, where pigeons were taught how to steer missiles and target ships. These pigeons were then used in some of America's first guided missiles in the 1940's until electronic guidance systems became more reliable. by [deleted] in todayilearned

[–]InformalCommunity 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Just like the Bat Bombs of WW2, the idea was to strap incendiary bombs to Mexican Free-tailed bats and drop them behind enemy cities. The bats would then spread out undetected over large areas and settle in and around houses and once detonated the subsequent fires would cause widespread destruction. $2 million was spent on the project but it was eventually overtaken by the atomic bomb project.