› added 7 years ago

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TIL that when South Park did an episode on Tourettes, the Tourettes Association said they expected it to be offensive. After broadcast, they conceded there was “a surprising amount of accurate information conveyed”, adding that the episode “served as a clever device” for providing accurate facts.

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eDwg TIL there’s a fruit in japan whose extract is 300-times as sweet as sugar, and is commonly used for treating diabetes/obesity.
E1aXd TIL that in the 19th Century, to purge the body of illness, people would use an Antimony Pill. When swallowed, a tiny amount of antimony will dissolve in the gut and would cause severe diarrhea and vomiting. The pill would then be passed, fished from the feces, washed and stored, ready for reuse.
dNXr TIL that during the Cold War, the Soviet Union had two missiles pointed at an area they thought was the entrance to a secret bunker, since many high-ranked officials went there. It turns out that the area was a hot dog stand.
6Dk7 TIL In the late 1800s, a baboon was officially employed as a railroad signalman. He was paid in money and beer and never made a mistake.
YpxEv TIL that in the 1920's newly hired engineers at General Electric would be told, as a joke, to develop a frosted lightbulb. The experienced engineers believed this to be impossible. In 1925, newly hired Marvin Pipkin got the assignment not realizing it was a joke and succeeded.