› added 7 years ago

99

TIL of a 2005 British TV show that successfully convinced several members of the public that they were going into space as a space tourist. Even though they never left the ground and the whole show was an elaborate practical joke.

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OobM1 TIL Hitler was never president of Germany. He was appointed chancellor by the president (Paul von Hindenburg), and became the Fuhrer upon Hindenburg's death.
B5wW TIL that in an 8-hour day, a survey found that the average worker is only productive for 2 hours and 53 minutes.
Ad7g TIL that we get a runny nose when we cry because we get actual tears in the nose via the nasolacrimal duct.
DQ18v TIL that "The Pond" was a small US government intelligence organization that operated from 1942 and 1955. It worked in 32 countries, and after WWII was set up as a corporation contracted to the State Department, later merged with the CIA. The US government formally acknowledged it in 2001.
yED8 TIL that radiation-blocking proteins taken from “water bear” DNA have been incorporated into human cells which boosted the protection of human DNA against damage from x-rays by 40%.