1918 influenza pandemic 50 million deaths

The 1918 flu was among the deadliest pandemics

Between 1918 and 1920, the influenza pandemic killed close to 50 million people worldwide, making it one of the deadliest pandemics of the modern era.

A spring made pocket watches far more accurate

≈30 min/day lost before it

Before the balance spring, a pocket watch could lose about half an hour in a day. Adding the spring cut the error to only a few minutes and made useful minute and second hands possible in ordinary watches.

Some plants take in carbon dioxide at night

CAM plants open tiny pores in their leaves at night and take in carbon dioxide, storing it in another chemical form. During the day, they release the CO₂ inside the leaf for photosynthesis while keeping the pores closed. This helps them save water in dry places.

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1918 influenza pandemic 50 million deaths

The 1918 flu was among the deadliest pandemics

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