› added 10 years ago

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TIL Almost all animals and plants synthesize their own vitamin C, but humans cannot because the gene for this enzyme is defective

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WkdRB TIL the Yongle Encyclopedia was six times larger than the Encyclopædia Britannica despite being written 300+ years earlier. It was regarded as the world's largest encyclopedia from 1408 to 2007
Wym9 TIL The current way Americans salute the American Flag (our right hand over our heart) was instituted in 1942, because the old way looked too much like the Nazi salute.
4XBK5 TIL Ketamine is a potent antidepressant. A single low, sub-anesthetic dose of ketamine given via intravenous infusion may produce antidepressant effects within four hours in people with depression. These antidepressant effects may persist for up to several weeks following a single infusion.
ADv5w TIL in 1942 Nazi Germany began working on a long range bomber capable of striking the United States. A lack of materials and the worsening war situation caused the project to be abandoned.
meZO TIL in the Siege of Eger (1552) against the Ottomans. The Hungarians stuffed a mill wheel with explosives and fuses that was rolled into the oncoming enemy and created absolute panic.