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TIL upon its discovery by Marie and Pierre Curie in 1898, the element polonium was named after Poland (in latin Polonia) to shed light on the countries lack of independence. It may be the first element named to highlight a political controversy.

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ANDBB TIL that by the middle ages, people had forgotten the Roman Colosseum's original purpose
mx5aE TIL that McDonald's Filet-O-Fish was created in 1962 for Catholics abstaining from meat on Fridays during Lent. According to McDonald's, a quarter of all its Filet-O-Fish sandwiches were sold during Lent last year.
W7E7X TIL the longest and most contentious election for the speaker of the U.S House of Representatives occurred during its 34th Congress (1855-1857). It lasted two months, took 133 ballots, and necessitated a rule change allowing for a simple plurality of members to select the speaker.
rRALo TIL that prior to British troops firing on civilians at the Boston Massacre in 1770, they were pelted with oyster shells, ice, stones, sticks, and beaten with clubs by an unruly mob. At the trial, the soldiers were successfully defended by none other than John Adams and all were acquitted of murder.
7rnNL TIL of Patricia Stallings who allegedly poisoned her son with antifreeze and the child died. She had another baby in prison that went to Foster care. The baby had identical symptoms of poisoning however it was determined that both children actually had a genetic disorder. She was later exonerated.