› added 9 years ago

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TIL: Dr Barry Marshal was convinced that H. pylori bacteria caused stomach ulcers, but no one believed him. Since it was illegal to test his theory on humans, he drank the bacteria himself, developed ulcers within days, treated them with antibiotics and went on to win a Nobel prize

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oRxDK TIL That the Last Emperor of China was, after being deposed, forced to work as a street sweeper in Beijing. On his first day, he got lost and asked for help by telling strangers “I'm Puyi, the last Emperor of the Qing dynasty. I'm staying with relatives and can't find my way home”
doB8 TIL of Bayard Rustin, the man behind MLK Jr’s use of non-violent protest from which Byron learned in India taking part in Ghandi’s movement. An openly gay black man who refused to hide his sexual orientation during his fights for civil rights.
5VYb9 TIL about birds anting themselves. Many bird species purposely get bitten by ants, which releases a venom that kills parasites on the bird’s feathers.
o9d7 TIL in the 1980s, Casablanca’s script was sent to a number of major studios under its original title. Several complained that the script was “not good enough”, “too dated”, “too much dialogue” and “not enough sex”.
rNNao TIL that until the later part of the 18th century, almost no one in western Europe washed their whole body with any regularity. This habit remains true for people of all classes, as even Louis XIV is said to have only taken three baths in his entire life.