› added 11 years ago

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TIL the smell of “Freshly cut grass” is caused by cis-3-Hexen-1-ol, A leaf Alcohol

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R1l1 TIL that the color you see in total darkness is not black, but a dark gray called “eigengrau”.
eppZ4 TIL that microorganisms are conditioned to treat our wastewater, specifically Phosphate (PO4). we reduce oxygen levels in the water to almost suffocate the microbes. Then we give them tons of oxygen bubbles. after that we but them back into anaerobic conditions. the microbes now eat the O of the PO4
xpNg TIL when her son showed signs of mental illness, the mother of the Virginia Tech shooter sought an exorcism from a church rather than mental health professionals
5VgmD TIL on March 22nd, 1989, a sub-kilometer-sized asteroid called 581 Asclepius came within 500,000 miles of hitting the earth. The collision would have released energy comparable to a 600 megaton atomic bomb. The asteroid was discovered nine days after its closest approach to the Earth.
VMNB0 TIL that in ancient Egypt, licorice was used as medicine