› added 9 months ago

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TIL: In December 2024, a single mutation known as Q226L was found to enhance the ability of H5N1 ('bird flu') to infect human cells, particularly in the respiratory tract. Previously, at least three mutations were thought to be required for the virus to infect people and spread between them.

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via reddit.com

WkJ98 TIL the Peruvian Navy still actively operates a ship that was built in England in 1862, disassembled into small pieces and shipped across the Atlantic, and carried by mules over 220 miles to Lake Titicaca to be reassembled. Its sister ship (sent the same way) also still works on the lake.
m1ely TIL PepsiCo stopped distributing the 1990 Pepsi Cool Cans after a number of people complained that the Neon version of the can spelled the word "SEX" when two were stacked on top of each other and aligned a certain way. A spokesman stated the supposed hidden message resulted from "pure coincidence".
ne19Y TIL that Kevin Costner asked Princess Diana to star in 'The Bodyguard 2' and she agreed. The plot followed the princess who required protection from paparazzi and stalkers. The first draft for the script arrived the day before she died.
nnyP TIL McDonalds once served McLobster, McSpaghetti & McPizza. Burger King had table service and Wendy’s had full unlimited Salad Bars.
MAVK TIL that Texas banned prisoners’ choice of last meal after Lawrence Russell Brewer requested 2 chicken fried steaks, a triple-meat bacon cheeseburger, fried okra, 1 lbs of BBQ, 3 fajitas, a meat lover’s pizza, a pint of ice cream & a slab of peanut butter fudge w/ crushed peanuts and ATE NONE of it