Things I did not know about until today

[yendi]

Really stupid and persistent math trolls.

(Ganked from trochee; also, all three links refer to the comment threads, not the posts.)

Comments

[lynxreign.livejournal.com]

Since the sky being blue is a condition of our eyes interpreting the difracted and partially absorbed light that passes through the atmosphere, or more generously just the latter half of that, if there isn't enough light to color the sky then it isn't blue. Also, at sunset, the sky can be red and not blue at all thanks to the light having more of its spectrum absorbed.

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

I eventually had to use an "Appeal To Authority" argument, which is an argument I don't usually like to use.

I phoned my mom.

I said, "Hey, Mom, what color is the sky?"

She said, "Hang on. Lemme check."

[jerel.livejournal.com]

Wow, my eight-year-old nephew even knows the sky isn't really blue (light just makes it appear blue on a clear day). And he's EIGHT.