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143

TIL of Thomas De Quincy, a 19th century opium addict whose memoir is responsible for the invention of 159 common words including earth-shattering, interconnection, incubator, entourage, subconscious and post-natal. He also popularised the term 'pipe dream'.

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6l58 TIL: The launch of a Saturn V rocket is so loud, producing about 220 dB, that grass upwards of a mile away ignites by the sound alone.
loWOG TIL about "The Thing", a non-powered microphone created by Theremin and used by the Soviets to spy on the US embassy in Moscow for 7 years
YpGxB TIL blond hair among the dark-skinned indigenous people of the Solomon Islands is caused by homegrown genetic variants distinct from the gene that leads to blond hair in Europeans.
yLkX TIL Coors’ organization for Gay and Lesbian employees is called Lesbian and Gay Employee Resource (LAGER).
6ob8 TIL Norway has the highest rate of gun ownership of any Western European country at 32%. It also has the lowest murder rate.