› added 12 years ago

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TIL obsidian is one of the earliest materials used for knife blades. 2.6 million years latter surgeons still use obsidian for scalpels as it is sharper than any other material in use and is noted to cut more cleanly so as to not leave a scar.

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v69R TIL that since men associated Diet Coke with women, Coca-Cola created Coke Zero
Gloj TIL that the connective design for all LEGO bricks has been unchanged since it was patented in 1958; in other words, if you have an original brick from 1958 and a brand new one, they would still be compatible.
e0wjD TIL there's a Korean word for ‘mom’s friend’s son’, a fictional person who is perfect in everything, that moms compare their sons to all the time.
NX9N TIL candle wicks curve over on purpose. This puts the tip just (and just the tip) in reach of oxygen, effectively trimming the wick.
QJD0X TIL that British longbows in the 1600's netted much longer firing ranges than the contemporary Native American Powhaten tribe's bows (400 yds vs. 120 yds, respectively). Colonists from Jamestown once turned away additional longbows for fear that they might fall into the Powhaten's hands.