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TIL Carl Sagan was denied tenure at Harvard University and was unable to become a member of the National Academy of Sciences because his role as a ‘popularizer’ of science had caused other scientists to dislike him, claiming he wasn’t a 'pure’ scientist.

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XEkm8 TIL Thomas Grasso's last meal before his execution was 24 mussels, 24 clams, a double cheeseburger, 6 ribs, 2 strawberry milkshakes, half a pumpkin pie, strawberries, and a can of SpaghettiOs. His final statement was, "I did not get my SpaghettiOs. I got spaghetti. I want the press to know this."
RB91 TIL Dwight Burch, a black waiter working at Apple-bee’s, sued the restaurant after repeated harassment by a black manager and won a $40,000 settlement. The black manager repeatedly referred to him as a ‘tar baby’ and ‘Black monkey’ during his three months at the restaurant.
OGJe TIL that coal plants release more radiation than nuclear power plants
R7PXw TIL that among George Washingtons many dogs, one of them was named Cornwallis, after general Cornwallis
9kMM TIL Pixar’s ‘Cars’ made $10 billion in merchandise sales over 5 years - hence the sequel.