Post * EJ70 — Curious Curator

› added 10 years ago

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TIL that the story of Thomas Edison electrocuting an elephant as part of the War of Currents is a myth. The elephant was killed as part of an unrelated Coney Island stunt, and Edison’s name is only associated because Edison-brand film was used to record the elephant’s death.

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kWk5 TIL the “proof” scale for alcohol was created by 16th century British sailors to describe the strength of their rum rations. Gunpowder soaked with less than 100 proof rum would not burn and was considered unacceptable.

9YglB TIL that Monaco is home to 38,682 residents and is the second-smallest sovereign state in Europe. Recognized for being one of the most expensive and wealthiest places in the world, however, their citizens are prohibited from entering the casino, unless they are employees

lbEB TIL that in the late 1980s, young punk rockers in Cuba, known as “los frikis,” chose to inject themselves with the AIDS virus so they could live in a sanitarium and be free from constant police-state harassment. And today, two survivors still live in the now-abandoned facility.

wL7B6 TIL that when a Doctor is confirming that a pregnant woman’s water has broken they will conduct a “Fern Test”. Under a microscope the amniotic fluid will resemble a beautiful pattern resembling a fern.

8e7gX TIL that in Boggle, the only two Fs and the only K are on the same cube, making it impossible to spell any word containing both F and K. Combining B and J is impossible for the same reason.