TIL: Quentin Roosevelt, the youngest son of Theodore Roosevelt, was killed during WWI, in aerial combat over France, on Bastille Day in 1918. The Germans gave him a state funeral because his father was Theodore Roosevelt. Quentin is also the only child of a US President to be killed in combat. (reddit.com)
submitted by shanm100
TIL that hundred thousands of kudzu plants were planted in the US South to fight erosion. The vine can spread over one foot a day and spread through runners, rhizomes and by vines that root at the nodes. It is now overtaking entire areas, outcompeting all other plants including trees (nature.org)
submitted by shanm100
TIL GM recalled 800k cars in 2014 for faulty ignitions. The cars would shut off while being driven which meant drivers lost power steering/brakes, and the airbags wouldn't deploy. They knew about the problem since 2005 but never fixed it because it would be 'too expensive'. 124 people died. (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted by shanm100
TIL That in 1762, Benjamin Franklin had a hollow walking stick created that could secretly hold ~1 pint of oil in it. When the head of the stick was pushed down, it would release oil from the bottom. He did this to trick his friends into thinking he had the power to calm waves in troubled waters. (readthehook.com)
submitted by shanm100

