› added 10 years ago

48

TIL in 1902, the Greek symbol Caduceus (two snakes on a winged pole) was mistakenly used as the emblem for the US Medical Corps instead of the Rod of Asclepius (one snake climbing a pole), the true Greek symbol for medicine. Despite this error, the US still widely uses it to represent healthcare.

Rb58 TIL That Mindy Kaling’s real name is Vera Chokalingam; her parents called her Mindy because they thought it was a “cute American name,” and liked the name from the TV show “Mork & Mindy.”
4Dlo TIL of Frane Selak, an 85 year old who narrowly survived a train crash which killed 17, being blown out of a plane which killed 19, a bus accident which killed 4, 2 car explosions, being hit by a bus, and narrowly avoided being hit by a truck, TO THEN go on and win the lottery.
ke1g TIL: Robert Lucas, upon receiving a Nobel Prize in economic sciences, was only awarded half the prize money. His ex-wife had placed a clause in their divorce settlement in 1988 stating she would receive half the prize money if he won the prize in the following 7 years. He won in the year 1995.
KYyEa TIL that "rock 'n' roll" had been used since the early 1920s as a blues song lyric meaning sexual intercourse. The term was popularized by a record salesman and DJ to introduce racially charged "rythm & blues" to a white audience.
J1n88 TIL that octopuses have been caught throwing things at each other in aquariums. Apparently, they're not just escape artists and clever problem solvers, they're also petty little grudge holders who chuck rocks at their annoying tank mates.