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TIL: Pythagoras feared fava beans due to a common enzyme deficiency in Mediterranean people which makes them toxic (favism)

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NYXJ TIL the X Prize Foundation cancelled their $10 million genetic sequencing X Prize when the technology in the industry was beginning to approach the cost and accuracy thresholds for awarding the prize.
69DMJ TIL that in 1866 a flock of the now extinct Passenger Pigeon in southern Ontario was described as being 1.5 km (0.93 mi) wide and 500 km (310 mi) long, took 14 hours to pass, and held in excess of 3.5 billion birds.
7n0b TIL that after his execution, Sir Walter Raleigh’s wife had his head embalmed and carried it around with her for the rest of her life
e0QDk TIL the smiley face logo was created in 1963 by Harvey Ball. He was paid $45 for 10 minutes of work. Ball didn't trademark the logo. Instead, French journalist Franklin Loufrani registered it as "Smiley" for licensing. Today that license generates hundreds of millions of dollars in annually.
XEEJ6 TIL John Williams has 50 Oscar nominations and 5 wins, which averages him one nomination for every three films he has composed. He also has more Oscar nominations than any other living person.