› added 4 years ago

71

TIL that Paul Revere was one of America's first orthodontists, and used walrus teeth as dental implants. The walrus teeth were later helpful for identifying the corpses of his patients that were killed in the Revolutionary war.

GZlj TIL that the average IQ has been going up. If a typical person from 1910 time-transported to the present, they would have a mean IQ of 70, which is at the border of mental retardation.
V6jm TIL that in the islands of Tanna there is a “cargo cult” that worships the U.S. army and a Jesus-like WWII soldier named John Frum. The natives dress in American military uniforms and build fake airplane runways, believing John will return to bring trucks, Coca-Cola, radios, and other riches.
9YQkp TIL the Manhattan Project scientists originally wanted to bomb Kyoto, but Secretary of War Henry Stimson successfully convinced the president that it would be needless culture vandalism, as he had toured the city on his honeymoon and knew it was not a military target.
kJpae TIL That the third season of 'Finding Your Roots' was delayed after it was discovered the show heavily edited an episode featuring Ben Affleck. Affleck pressured the show to do so after he was shown one of his ancestors was a slave owner.
XyAE TIL During WWII, L Ron Hubbard once led a 68 hour battle against two Japanese submarines which he claimed “definitely sunk, beyond doubt”. An analysis later concluded that there were never any submarines in the area.