› added 11 years ago

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TIL a key ingredient in root beer (sassafras root) was found to be carcinogenic and banned in 1960 by the FDA. Artificial versions are now generally used instead

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jNYPv TIL Queen Elizabeth II is the head of a whopping 16 states.
QJPBM TIL that the ancient Egyptian god Set tried to prove his dominance by having sex with Horus. However, Horus threw Set's semen into a river, and spread his own on some lettuce (Set's favourite food). After eating the lettuce, Horus used the fact that his semen was inside Set to become ruler of Egypt
0xRM TIL that Carl Sagan was an avid marijuana user, often using it to give him insight for his work.
xVZPw TIL from 1906 to 1980, New Hebrides (today Vanuatu) was a French-British condominum, and both powers had separate administrations and courts. Colonists could choose to be under which law they wanted to live while natives were tried in their own laws
grod4 TIL 5-time world champion figure skater Michelle Kwan is the US ambassador to Belize.