› added 2 weeks ago

4

TIL that in Italy, the term "giallo" (yellow) as a synonym for the mystery/thriller genre began when an Italian publisher put its mystery novels in yellow covers

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kJVJB TIL there is a massive abandoned underground command network throughout the former Yugoslavia. One of these was the NORAD equivalent.
YbrP TIL that penicillin was formally discovered when Alexander Fleming did not tidy up some petri dishes filled with bacteria before going on vacation. A penicillin spore then spontaneously landed in a petri dish and caused enough damage to the bacteria for Fleming to notice this when he came back.
a8v6M TIL that president Ronald Reagan had 720 bags of jelly beans delivered to the White House each month and used them as a way to quit smoking
P06e TIL just as the ribbon was about to be cut on the Sydney harbour bridge, a man in military uniform rode up on a horse, slashing the ribbon with his sword and opening it in the name of the people of New South Wales before the official ceremony began. He was promptly arrested.
5Vmmp TIL that french fries can be made out of prickly pear cactuses. Called Cactus Fries, they are found in Tex-Mex and New Mexican cuisine and have a texture compared to okra or onion rings.