› added 9 years ago

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TIL that a sunburn isn’t skin cells being damaged and dying, it’s the skin cell DNA being damaged and then committing suicide to prevent cancers from growing, in a process called UVB-induced Apoptosis.

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GAeNG TIL that the term “banana republic” was coined by short story writer O. Henry, while he was living in Honduras to avoid his US trial for embezzlement.
BggRd TIL Niccolo Paganini's list of likely ailments included Marfan syndrome, Ehlers–Danlos syndrome, syphilis and tuberculosis. He was prescribed a chronic "treament" of mercury and opium, with horrible effects to his physical and mental health
Vv5Z TIL Pennsylvania has a region known as the “Potato Chip Belt” where Herr’s, Utz, Martin’s, Bon Ton, Bickels’, and Snyder’s of Hanover call home.
x68K5 TIL that fractual burning, a hobby/side hustle that uses a 2,100+ volt transformer from a scrapped microwave to burn decorative, treelike designs in wood, has killed at least 33 people in the U.S. since 2017, and gruesomely burned many others.
Y5mG TIL in 1992 a Russian submarine attempted to surface, and ran directly into the bottom of the hull of an American submarine, who was spying on their ports.