› added 11 years ago

98

TIL a square with rounded corners is called a squircle

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VBL0m TIL that after data reviews, "no evidence [was found] that placebo interventions in general have large clinical effects"
X716 TIL of Joe Rollino. Coney Island “strong man” who advocated for healthy living ahead of his time. Bent a quarter on his 103rd birthday. Died when he was hit by a mini-van at age 104 while on his morning walk.
D1w9r TIL that the Lord of the Rings film trilogy brought the country of New Zealand so much attention, that the government of New Zealand has a "Minister of the Rings", who is responsible for all affairs involving the production of LOTR in New Zealand.
8avOX TIL that when the Brooklyn Bridge opened in 1883, the public doubted the stability of the bridge. Six days later, a pedestrian fell, causing a woman to scream, which led to a stampede that killed 12. Public concern was only dispelled a year later when P.T. Barnum marched 21 elephants across it.
Z8vyQ TIL that Henry Allingham, one of the last surviving veterans of WWI and one-time oldest man on earth, was called away from eating lunch to design the key countermeasure to Nazi magnetic mines - he did this in only 9 days. He attributed his longevity to "cigarettes, whisky and wild, wild women."