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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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QJYRd TIL In the UK It is LEGAL for someone over 18 to buy a child over 16 beer, wine or cider if they are eating a table meal together in licensed premises. At home it is a different matter, a child aged five to 16 can drink alcohol at home or on other private premises.
Kvb9 TIL Enya owns a castle and it is fortified to keep out crazed stalkers who attack the staff.
DXxj TIL of the Scythian Philosopher Anacharsis “Laws are spider-webs, which catch the little flies, but cannot hold the big ones.”
RY06 TIL that most of Brent Spiner’s (Data on Star Trek: TNG) fan mail came from women who wrote to his character: “he’s a really accessible personality. He’s vulnerable and innocent, and there’s a feeling that he’s somebody who would be kind.” Some fans could not accept that Spiner was really human.
OGo1 TIL the the Guardian does not have the rights to broadcast the Olympics, so they recreate it, brick by brick, with legos.