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TIL : about the game "Foldit", a puzzle game about protein folding. In 2011, its gamers helped decipher a protein of a HIV-like virus, solving a scientific problem that went unsolved for 15 years in as little as 10 days.

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1aPLV TIL: Olympus Mons on Mars is so big the escarpment, or cliffs, around the base of the mountain are as high as 6 miles tall, which is taller than Mt. Everest, which for reference is only about 5.5 miles tall.
9YYxB TIL that the 'Utah Teapot' was an early 3D model of a teapot used for modeling experiments because of it's round shape, saddle points, and being able to project it's shadow onto itself. It currently resides in the Boston Computer Museum.
b194 TIL There was a phone booth in the middle of the Mojave Desert that people from all over the world would call. Today, you can still call the number and talk to people (760) 733-9969
rj7o TIL About puck fair in Killorglin, Ireland. Three days a year, a goat is crowned king of the town. A theory on the origin of the fair is a goat broke from its herd and warned the citizens of an English attack. They would rather have a goat king rather than English king.
d8arZ TIL In 1967, Egypt received false intel from the Soviets that Israel was massing its troops on the Syrian border. In response, Egypt mobilized its forces in Sinai and Straits of Tiran. Israel saw the blockade of Tiran as a Casus Belli and launched a pre-emptive strike thus initiating the Six-Day War