Tropophilia

Straight from the Mental Floss Blog (which, if you’re not reading, you should add to your list): The BBC News list of “100 things we didn’t know last year.” Basically, 100 discoveries (both scientific and editorial…such as the BBC editors’ astonishing revelation that British chain TK Maxx goes by TJ Maxx in the states [#28]) from the past year, including news stories related to those changes in what we know. I can’t express how much I like this approach, as it captures the growth of our combined understanding of the banal and extraordinary parts of our lives and our history, year by year. You can browse past years’ lists on the BBC site; here are a few things we didn’t know at this time last year:

3. Adding milk to tea negates the health-giving effects of a hot brew. [on a personal note...this news sucks]

6. Dishcloths are purged of 99% of their bacteria during two minutes in a microwave.

31. There is mobile phone reception from the summit of Mount Everest.

42. Nearly seven out of 10 (69%) of adults are still in touch with at least one childhood friend.

46. Peanuts can be made into diamonds.

48. You can be arrested for using someone’s wi-fi network without permission.

58. The Romans had roadmaps.

70. IP addresses will run out in 2010.

75. CO2 emissions from shipping are twice the level of aviation.

80. Adults use maths skills 14 times daily on average and literacy skills 23 times a day.