Today I Learned

[zatnosk]

Today I learned an oak tree lives 100-300 years.
(that'll come up in a story)

Huh, that's quite a range! Is that overall average or "natural life" average, do you know? Cause that's quite a range if they're not getting cut down for people reasons.

Hrrm, good question! The story wasn't long enough for deep research...
Seems to depend on the species.

Oaks can get quite a lot older than 300 years, so I think that's the overall average, but I have no data to support that.

But I can link to the wikipedia page for northern europes probably oldest living oak: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kongeegen

It's age is estimated to be

1500 - 2000 years; a 1965 study estimated it to 1450-1900 years, but that's 55 years ago, and afaik, it's still alive.

[LynKit]

Huh, that's quite a range! Is that overall average or "natural life" average, do you know? Cause that's quite a range if they're not getting cut down for people reasons.

Hrrm, good question! The story wasn't long enough for deep research...
Seems to depend on the species.

Oaks can get quite a lot older than 300 years, so I think that's the overall average, but I have no data to support that.

But I can link to the wikipedia page for northern europes probably oldest living oak: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kongeegen

It's age is estimated to be

1500 - 2000 years; a 1965 study estimated it to 1450-1900 years, but that's 55 years ago, and afaik, it's still alive.

woah. That is... AmAZING. Thank you for sharing!

[Anke]

In 1943 there was a naval battle between a US destroyer and a Japanese submarine which started with the US crew throwing potatoes at the Japanese, and them throwing the spuds back.

https://defensionem.com/unbelievable-battle/

[corvabird]

Just here to say this is a cool thread.

[Anke]

TIL there is a cryptid herd of moose in a NEw ZEaland national park.
After being introduced in 1910, the last sighting was in 1952, then they were thought to have become extinct. In the 21st century hair and other traces were found. There has been a sighting reported early this year.

https://ankewehner.tumblr.com/post/6322 ... justalurkr
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/120030 ... ional-park

Also, there's a place called "Doubtful Sound" in New Zealand.

[Anke]

Not learned today, but anyway:

In January 1795, French Hussars captured a fleet of 14 Dutch warships. It was an unexpectedly cold winter, and the bay the ships lay at anchor in had frozen over.
"A capture of ships by horsemen is an extremely rare feat in military history."

Possibly they only trotted over to negotiate terms/handle paperwork, but still :p

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capture_o ... Den_Helder

[Anke]

TIL there was an animated Treasure Planet movie made in Bulgaria in 1982

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Treasure_Planet

[LynKit]

Not learned today, but anyway:

In January 1795, French Hussars captured a fleet of 14 Dutch warships. It was an unexpectedly cold winter, and the bay the ships lay at anchor in had frozen over.
"A capture of ships by horsemen is an extremely rare feat in military history."

Possibly they only trotted over to negotiate terms/handle paperwork, but still :p

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capture_o ... Den_Helder

Okay, that is awesome. I love it!

[LynKit]

TIL that the Iroquois haven't actually moved much since colonization.

https://link.springer.com/referencework ... 6-1_3106-1

ALSO that there were more than the 6 nations!!!!

[Anke]

TIL that English took a word from German that means among other things "damage left by insects eating stuff" and uses it for "dry insect poop".

https://twitter.com/Cataranea/status/13 ... 3207386115