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New to me Facts and Ideas in February 2024

By Justin G. on 24MAR04MON

My new fact finding has slowed down a bit. Still, there have been some interesting and new to me facts in the past month.

Week 6

Began on 24FEB05MON .

• Clouds form around feldspar particles. Well, maybe not all clouds. 60% of the Earth’s surface is feldspar. That’s a lot of feldspar. Via Damn Interesting.
• The glymphatic system is recently (2010s) discovered and related to our need to sleep. Via Hacker News comment.

Week 7

Began on 24FEB12MON .

• The best way to store avocados for a long time, months, without them ripening is on the tree. Via Scope of Work.
• Chaucer is to blame for Valentine’s Day being about romance instead of epilepsy and bees.

Week 8

Began on 24FEB19MON .

• I learned about Nilometers¹ via the Fall of Civilizations² podcast.

Week 9

Began on 24FEB27TUE .

• Leap day is at the end of February because ancient mythology³ set the beginning of the year at the start of spring, so the end of February was the end of the year. Plus other reasons. Via Damn Interesting.
• AT&T has applied to not be required to provide land line telephone service in parts of California.

Email me the cool facts you've learned lately. Or a correction.