› added 10 years ago

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TIL that Scarlett Johansson was asked by Oxfam (for whom she was a global ambassador) to stop supporting SodaStream in Israel (which had built illegal settlements in Palestine). She chose to leave Oxfam and do a SuperBowl advert for SodaStream instead.

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0dQlj TIL scientists added jellyfish DNA to carp DNA resulting in glowing fish
nel5b TIL during The Great War, China sent 185,000 workers (100,000 in UK, 35,000 in France, 50,000 in Russia) to work in the European front, for various tasks: unloading military goods, digging trenches, constructing barracks and field hospitals, burying victims of war, working in armament factories.
DQaRj TIL The iconic "Hollywood" sign was originally meant to be a temporary advertisement for a real estate development called "Hollywoodland," but it became so popular that it was made a permanent landmark.
GA5EQ TIL: There was a planned Führermuseum in Germany that was expected to be completed in 1950 which would be a large art museum intended to be filled with thousands of confiscated artwork from the war. Many artworks intended to be displayed were re-looted when they lost and lost forever.
mxA5M TIL the first military personnel to be made aware of the 9/11 hijackings were taking part in a preparation exercise. As a result, they weren't sure if the information was authentic.