› added 4 years ago

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TIL the Chinese women who presented the medals in the 2008 Olympics had to be 168-174 centimetres, weigh up to 55 kg, and have an upper to lower-body ratio of 11:13. They trained daily by balancing books on their heads, clenching chopsticks between their teeth, and jamming paper between their knees

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JY1n8 It’s never happened, and NASA feels confident that it never will. For one thing, astronauts generally don’t float free. Outside the ISS, they’re always attached to the spacecraft with a braided steel tether, which has a tensile strength of 1,100 pounds. If it’s a two-person spacewalk, oftentimes the astronauts are also hooked to each other.
E1jNV TIL that, before becoming a reknowned chef, Julia Child was a member of the OSS, which was the precursor to today's CIA. She had top secret clearance and led the development of a shark repellent. She wanted to be a field agent, but was precluded from doing so because she was 6' 2" tall.
BgvYL TIL that the UK has longer average commute times than the USA
E1Gmw TIL That the Wright Brothers, often credited with inventing, building, and flying the world's first successful motor-operated airplane, were also known for their subsequent Patent War, which was credited for stalling development of the U.S. aviation industry
6Ewpl TIL that ripe oranges aren’t originally orange. Instead, they’re dyed or gassed to get the bright orange color we’re all accustomed to.