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TIL Richard Phillips spent 45 years behind bars for a crime he didn’t commit — the longest verified sentence to have been served in error in America

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VerG TIL there is an insurance policy issued against Alien Abduction, which can be redeemed if the insured person can prove they were abducted by aliens and returned to Earth. Some companies even offer policies for alien pregnancy.
69WdX TIL that in the 17th century, when coffee had made its way to Europe, some people reacted to it with suspicion or fear, calling it the “bitter invention of Satan.” In 1615, the clergy in Venice asked Pope Clement VIII to intervene. He found the drink so satisfying that he gave it papal approval.
9wlyM TIL the Pāli/Sanskrit word “muditā” - the Buddhist practice of deriving pleasure from the well-being of others. Also known as compersion, sympathetic joy, or vicarious joy, muditā is the opposite of jealousy.
ZAMQ TIL despite having a net worth of over $50 Billion, IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad still drives a ‘93 Volvo. He also recycles tea bags and takes salt & pepper packets from restaurants when dining.
XwGR TIL that gunpowder was discovered by Taoist alchemists who were searching for an elixir of immortality