› added 7 years ago

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TIL that when soils are saturated with water, in-ground pools are susceptible to float out of the ground after they are fully or partially emptied of water, otherwise known as a "popped pool".

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697pY TIL that, Dr. Wilhelm Reich claimed orgasms prevented mental illness and he fought droughts and UFOs with giant energy guns. In the 1950s, the government called him a fraud, burned his books, and busted up his lab in Rangeley.
pYwRA TIL that coal, solar, and wind's combined capacity factor (actual electrical energy output over time when compared to theoretical output) is merely 8% better than just nuclear energy's capacity factor (92.5%).
KY6jJ TIL in 2016 a group of Australian high school students made a key ingredient of the malaria medicine Daraprim (sold in the US for $US35,000 to $US110,000) for $US20
gr1m8 TIL humans have smaller jaws and bigger brains than our primate forebears because of a mutation in the MYH16 gene. The jaw muscles are made smaller and weaker as a result of the gene mutation, which lessens the force applied to the skull, which can expand, letting the brain grow bigger.
x64Ob TIL: That during World War II, finding men to fill the role of Santa Claus became increasingly difficult. Some stores selected women with deep voices to play the part, one of whom was quite successful until customers started complaining about Santa's visits to the ladies' restroom.