› added 12 years ago

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TIL A 2-year study that linked Ecstasy to Parkinsons was retracted from the journal Science after the authors realized they had accidentally used meth instead.

5V0MD TIL: In 1799, Edward Hamilton recaptured the frigate Hermione utilizing a daring night boarding attack with only 100 men to their 351. They had only 1 death compared to the Spanish which lost 120 men and had 231 taken prisoner. He was rewarded with money, knighthood, a sword, and numerous medals.
E1A10 TIL Gold's yellow color and inertness are explained by Einstein’s theory of relativity. Gold's electrons travel so close to the speed of light that relativity contracts some of their orbits. This shrinks an energy gap so it absorbs blue light, and makes the outer electron less reactive.
VMe7k TIL all button mushrooms used to be brown until 1926, when a mushroom farmer in Pennsylvania found a cluster of white buttons growing in his beds, which he cloned and began selling as a new variety.
VM9lZ TIL Hipparchia of Maroneia demanded to marry cynic philosopher Crates despite her parents objecting. Crates, removed his clothes in front of her parents and declared "this is the bridegroom and this is his property". They got married and lived in the streets as cynics, often having sex in public
wLvQW TIL that Meat Loaf being cast in The Rocky Horror Show was NOT stunt casting, as the musical opened in 1973 and he didn't have his first hit record until 1977. Also, in the musical he played both Eddie and Dr. Scott.