› added 9 months ago

15

TIL that despite there having been only 21 popes named John, the most recent one was numbered XXIII due to clerical errors introduced in the Middle Ages that resulted in Antipope John XVI being counted for centuries and John XX being skipped entirely.

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78L1O TIL about the device ADE 651, which was described by its maker, ATSC, as being powered through the user's static electricity to detect explosives and drugs thanks to "programmed substance detection cards". It was bought in Iraq, Pakistan and the USA before the fraud was discovered
8eJ88 TIL about Anatoly Moskvin, who was arrested after 26 mummified bodies were discovered in the apartment he shared with his parents
VM4rD TIL that when billionaire Peter Brant asked Italian artist Maurizio Cattellan to do a portrait of his wife, the 90s supermodel Stephanie Seymour, he made a hunting trophy of her to hang on his wall.
QAaX TIL of Ryan White, a virgin AIDS victim that was shunned in his hometown out of fright and ignorance. He was banned from school, bullied, and threatened just for his disease. He went on to become a role model for the AIDS disease and spread awareness. He died at just 18 years old from AIDS.
grQKL TIL about Runaway Truck Ramps. When going down long and/or steep inclines, the brakes on a truck or other large vehicle may fail due to frequent use and the weight behind them. Because of this, certain mountainous roads will install long gravel ramps that vehicles can drive on to slow down and stop.