› added 10 years ago

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TIL in 1999 Google brought in 16 students to test out their search engine. Upon reaching the site, they sat still for 45 seconds…just staring. Worried, Google finally asked what was wrong. All 16 responded the same: they were waiting for the rest of the page to load.

EgOGd TIL a man named Charles Steinlauf invented a four person bicycle that his family used. It also included a place for his wife to operate her sewing machine while they went for a ride.
yQRRv TIL that the Jack in a deck of cards does not represent royalty. It originally was called a knave in England, which was member of the royal household with no specific job. This later became Jack, as in Jack-of-all-trades, which was a non-specific reference to any generic man.
XNdX TIL drunk Japanese astronomers sent an email to another solar system in 1983 that contained the molecular formula for alcohol and ‘cheers!’ in English and kanji. It arrived at the star in 1999
wLW68 TIL about "Sky Islands" which are are isolated mountains surrounded by radically different desert environments. In the mountains, the mild climate hosts unique plants and animals, which are unable to leave, due to extreme environmental differences, making them virtually function as islands.
v1Nrj TIL Ancient Rome had a urine tax paid by its buyers. Urine was used for tanning, wool production, and to clean and whiten woolen togas. Instituted by Nero, removed after a while, and re-enacted by Vespasian. His name still attaches to public urinals in France (vespasienne) and Italy (vespasiano).