› added 5 months ago

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TIL an analysis of Beethoven's hair found high levels of lead, arsenic & mercury. The high amount of lead in particular likely contributed to his deafness. One lock of hair had 380 micrograms per gram & a second one had 258 micrograms. A normal level of lead is around 4 micrograms or less per gram.

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PYdMn TIL about Anna Coleman Ladd , a sculptor , who gave new faces to WW1 soilders by making facial masks for them
0wEQA TIL of Radiofax, analogue mode for transmitting monochrome images via high frequency radio waves.
OGlY1 TIL Americans pronounce the word “interesting” with four syllables, unlike the three in my country
JYBAk TIL of RAF pilot Cyril Barton. During a raid over Germany, his plane was strafed repeatedly causing three of his crew to bail out. He dropped the bomb himself, flew the heavily damaged bomber home, crashed landed it and saved the lives of everyone onboard. He however would succumb to his injuries.
oBlmR TIL that Elenor Roosevelt contributed to serving the worst meals in White House history during FDR’s presidency. Partly to symbolize to the American population during the Great Depression that nutritious food can be made on the cheap. Also to seek revenge on FDR for his affair w/ Lucy Mercer.