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TIL that some of the asteroids in the Star Wars films were actually potatoes

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rRak4 TIL from the 1920's to the 1950's cigarette companies routinely paid doctors to endorse and prescribe their brand of cigarettes to patients, falsely claiming them as a "healthy" alternative to other brands. This was done to cover up increasing evidence of the harm done by smoking.
ANbwl TIL that back in 1916 you could buy a home through Sears for as little as $600.
EgGd TIL that 48% of black women are infected with genital herpes
78nAM TIL In late 70s-80s, 117+ healthy SE Asian men, many Hmong, died in their sleep mysteriously, leading to CDC investigation. The Hmong attributed it to evil spirit Dab Tog, inspiring Wes Craven's Freddy Krueger in "Nightmare on Elm Street."
WoWB TIL Vincent van Gogh’s masterpiece Starry Night depicts the view outside his sanitarium window, and that he was not impressed with the now beloved work