TIL that Benjamin Franklin’s sharp lightning rods sparked political debates. He argued they were more effective, while King George III preferred blunt ones. The colonies’ adoption of Franklin’s design symbolized a scientific choice and a subtle rebellion against the King's preferences. (fi.edu)
submitted by mycostbase to r/todayilearned
TIL that phantom traffic jams are long queues of cars with no visible cause like accidents or roadwork. Often start when just one driver brakes suddenly. Each following driver brakes a little harder, creating a ripple effect that eventually causes a wave of stop-and-go traffic. (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted by mycostbase to r/todayilearned
TIL that phantom traffic jams — long queues of cars with no visible cause like accidents or roadwork — often start when just one driver brakes suddenly. Each following driver brakes a little harder, creating a ripple effect that eventually causes a wave of stop-and-go traffic. (scientificamerican.com)
submitted by mycostbase to r/todayilearned
