› added 11 years ago

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TIL that Amtrak has been losing money for 43 straight years

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NXb9e TIL: A Stanford study showed that most humans are aroused by robots. Participants were hooked up with electric sensors and were asked by a robot to touch it in 13 areas. 90% showed arousal when touching the butt or crotch. The research has implications for artificial systems and robot design.
d8WD9 TIL of the "Brussels effect", which is when EU laws end up raising the standards of regulations worldwide, simply because the EU market is so massive and it's less of a hassle for businesses to just fully adopt EU standards even in non-EU countries
m1emM TIL the O Brother, Where Art Thou? character Pappy O'Daniel was named after a real governor of Texas; he hosted a radio show with a band, and was the only man to beat future president Lyndon Johnson in an election.
M1xB TIL women were not the first choice as telephone operators. Prior to September 1, 1878, when a woman named Emma Nutt became the first female operator, boys were the preferred choice. It soon became apparent, however, that boys would insult, curse at, and prank the customers.
8GxZ TIL That artificial photosynthesis may one day be incorporated into all building materials.