this post was submitted on 12 Dec 2023
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Today I learned

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TIL that Sir David Attenborough is largely responsible for tennis balls being yellow (or green, depending on who you ask). (sh.itjust.works)
submitted 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) by sjmarf@sh.itjust.works to c/todayilearned@lemmy.ml
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In 1967, Sir David Attenborough was in charge of BBC2’s coverage of Wimbledon. The event was being televised in color for the first time, and he decided to change the tennis balls from white to yellow for easier visibility when they crossed the white pitch lines. It caught on, and now almost all tennis balls are yellow.

CNN Article on the topic

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[–] Buffaloaf@lemmy.world 17 points 11 months ago (2 children)

If I had that kind of influence, I'd make hockey pucks white.

[–] Dkarma@lemmy.world 12 points 11 months ago (1 children)

It would kill the sport. Pucks already hard enough to spot on camera.

[–] Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works 10 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I think that's the point...

[–] spacecowboy@sh.itjust.works 9 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Well then I hope OP stubs their little toe, daily, for the rest of their lives.

[–] reverendsteveii@lemm.ee 7 points 11 months ago

on a white hockey puck