› added 2 years ago

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TIL that the bidet was an invention of French furniture makers in the 1600's, though no exact date or inventor is known. Historical antecedents and early functions of the bidet are believed to include devices used for contraception. The bidet wasn't widespread outside of France until after WWII.

kr5W TIL Buddhist monks with advanced meditative practice have higher gamma frequencies than average people (brain waves associated with intelligence, compassion, self-control, and happiness)
yQXYV TIL The Vatican has a telescope in Arizona. The Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope (VATT) is part of the Mount Graham International Observatory and is operated by the Vatican Observatory, one of the oldest astronomical research institutions in the world.
6LPW TIL that due to naturally-occurring potassium isotopes in a banana, using it as a “banana-phone” delivers a higher, albeit tiny dose of ionizing (DNA-damaging) radiation into your head compared an actual cellphone, which only emits non-ionizing radiation.
ver TIL Nikola Tesla was an advocate of sterilising criminal, people with mental problems and believed that by 2100 people who aren’t “desirable parents” shouldn’t be able to breed
WkgrN TIL Actors that are recovering from a cocaine addiction that have to snort coke on screen can use powdered baby laxative as a prop. The regular stand in for coke on screen, powdered vitamin D is used to cut real cocaine and the familiar flavor can lead to relapses.