› added 12 years ago

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TIL that astronauts in the ISS “do their laundry” by having new clothes shipped to them in an unmanned spacecraft that then has the old clothes put into it and is burnt up upon reentry.

Read more nasa.gov

via reddit.com

wL0d8 TIL that the Dana-Farber Institute is supported financially by the National Cancer Institute. Many of Dana-Farber’s research faculty members also hold positions at Harvard University. Essentially, taxpayer money is helping finance research at Harvard.
Wko9L TIL about sand gangs, or organized crime rings that mine sand from rivers beds and beaches, who sell sand for use in worldwide concrete production. They've gotten so bad in recent years, from murders, petty crimes, and habitat destruction, that many governments are actively trying to shut them down.
9wLED TIL in Germany it is illegal to use the familiar "du" form when addressing a police officer. You must always use the polite "Sie" form of address, and can be fined up to €600 for failing to do so.
nlN7 TIL That the smell of rain is caused by a bacteria
4GlJ TIL The US military sends its doctors to Chicago to give them practice for gunshot wounds