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TIL that in 1972 school backpacks as known today were first used at the University of Washington. Existing backpacks for day hikers were modified by Jansport, at the time a Seattle-based company.

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vPYyr TIL ancient writers thought geese and ocean barnacles were the same creature
wL0mW TIL Arthur Boycott, NOT the same namesake as the term "boycott", borrowed a library book that was not returned for 120 years when his granddaughter returned it
P6YE TIL the tiny island of Nauru became the world’s richest country per capita in the 60s by mining its phosphate reserves. The country blew it on spending & bad investments (e.g.“Leonardo the musical”). It’s now the ~135th richest country, with 40% diabetes rate and a wrecked environment due to mining.
Woxo TIL that ~6000 patients a year leave U.S. operating rooms with surgical sponges, forceps, and other surgical tools left inside them. They won’t realize it until they develop a life-threatening infection.
0w1MM TIL that a retired U.S. Army sergeant and Vietnam veteran became the first paralyzed American to successfully finish the New York City Marathon. She used a robotic exoskeleton device to complete 26.2 miles over 3 days.