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TIL that the Empire State Building's opening coincided with the Great Depression in the United States, and as a result much of its office space was vacant from its opening. The lack of renters led New Yorkers to deride the building as the "Empty State Building".

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bXEQ TIL the word “biweekly” can mean either “twice a week” or “twice a month” and has the potential to cause an epidemic of misunderstandings all across the english speaking world.
QrMe TIL that Strontium-90, an isotope emitted from nuclear fission, is chemically similar to calcium. This means that when it is inhaled after a nuclear blast, the body uses it as it would use calcium, depositing it straight into your bones where it delivers beta radiation to your bone marrow.
woJEP TIL Anne, Queen of Great Britain had at least 17 pregnancies over a 17-year period & had miscarried or given birth to stillborn children at least 12 times. Of her 5 liveborn children, 4 died before the age of two & her sole surviving child, Prince William, Duke of Gloucester, died at age eleven.
LkdlP TIL the alpaca was selectively bred from the vicuna to accentuate its naturally finer wool. Alpacas were a central part of Incan culture but were almost exterminated to make room for European domestic animals. The highland inhabitants saved the species by moving their herds to higher elevation.
VM9WG TIL Michaelangelo made fake ancient art. While in Florence, he was asked to make a statue look like an ancient work so it would be easier to sell. One piece was sold to Cardinal Raffaele Riario who upon finding out the piece was a fraud was so impressed that he invited Michaelangelo to Rome.