› added 9 years ago

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TIL up until the 19th century, Hawaii was mosquito free

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Z8LLB TIL "La Brea" translates to "The Tar", so "The 'La Brea' Tar Pits" means "The The Tar Tar Pits"
WkdvB TIL researchers have mapped the genome of the Indian cobra (Naja naja). They found 12,000 genes expressed in the venom glands; of these, 139 help create toxins, and a subset of 19 genes cause paralysis/nausea/internal bleeding. It forms the platform to synthesize an ideal antidote to the cobra bite.
eRQg TIL: An Indian man single-handedly planted a 1,360 acre forest that is home to a complex, thriving ecosystem
KaEG TIL that computer scientist and mathematician, Alan Turing, died after biting into an apple laced with cyanide. It was rumored that the Apple Inc. logo had a bite taken from it to represent the poison apple. The designer has said, it wasn’t, but “It’s a wonderful urban legend.”
P1b9g TIL Neil Young was in a band with Rick James, along with Bruce Palmer, who would be another founding member of Buffalo Springfield, plus Goldy Mcjohn and Nick St. Nicholas, two future members of SteppenWolf. All partially thanks to Levon Helm and Garth Hudson, two members of "The Band"