› added 12 years ago

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TIL Chinese films used to use Chinese actors in “whiteface,” using wigs and nose prosthetics to play Caucasians

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QXrX TIL Nanoparticles containing bee venom toxin melittin can destroy human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) while at the same time leaving surrounding cells unharmed.
GAQ15 TIL that roast beef is so synonymous with England and its cooking methods from the 18th century that a French nickname for the English is "les Rosbifs".
8eREV TIL the mother of Australian spider species Diaea ergandros allows her babies to suckle blood from her leg joints until she has weakened and (usually) dies. This prevents early cannibalism between the spiderlings, thus resulting in more of the clutch surviving.
NK0M TIL of Operation Paul Bunyan. An retaliatory show of force for the murder of American soldiers trimming an obstructive DMZ tree. The mission was to destroy the tree and was conducted with attack-helicopters, B-52 bombers, over 12,000 soldiers and an aircraft carrier. The mission was a success
Z8MrY TIL of caffeine-induced anxiety disorder where caffeine usage surpassing 200 mg has been shown to increase the likelihood for anxiety and panic attacks.