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TIL that string beans got their name because they used to have a fibrous string running from tip to tip that had to be "unzipped" before eating -- until the string was bred out by a botanist.

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PYy1L TIL At the 1896 Olympics, American Robert Garrett decided to enter the discus event; “to have a try”. He had never thrown a regulation discus in his life. Attendees were laughing, as his first 2 throws narrowly missed hitting audience members. However, his 3rd throw won him the gold medal.
p8wwA TIL It took architect Christopher Wren 35 years to complete London's St. Paul's Cathedral. After he died twelve years later in 1723, he was entombed inside, and Wren's son placed a dedication nearby, which contains the words "Reader, if you seek his monument, look around you."
4XdbX TIL That some Amish communities willingly participate in studies of genetic diseases, as they have unique genetics due to the enclosed nature of their order. Their extensive family histories are useful to researchers investigating diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and macular degeneration.
JYg91 TIL that when the UK government did not celebrate the Royal Air Force's 50th anniversary with a flypast over London, one pilot performed his own, flew through Tower Bridge, round Big Ben...and was fired.
Oo7o6 TIL the SS Richard Montgomery was an American Ship during WW2 that was carrying 7000 tons of munitions to Europe which sank and today holds thousands of tons of explosives and ammo near London.