› added 3 years ago

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TIL that the theory of gravitationally-assisted space travel - which enabled NASA’s Voyager and other missions to explore the solar system - was invented by a summer intern at JPL in 1961. He and his revolutionary idea were initially ignored, and he was not offered a job at JPL or NASA.

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9YpoQ TIL Lays marketed a low calorie "WOW" brand of chips that made consumers crap their pants. The main ingredient, Olestra, is a fat substitute which allows for frying without calories being added. The problem is your body can't absorb it. Consumers suffered from cramping, diarrhea, and anal leakage.
oRypE TIL that if you suck your stomach in too often, it damages your body over time 😬
Oowxg TIL a contortionist committed a series of thefts by hiding inside a suitcase underneath an airport shuttle bus, searching for valuables, and returning to the suitcase with them. A victim became suspicious after the man's accomplice rushed for the suitcase and proceeded to have a conversation with it
8axVL TIL in the original BBC version of The Office, Ricky Gervais's character frequently used the phrase "as the actress said to the bishop" as an inappropriate joke. When the show was adapted for American audiences the phrase was translated to "that's what she says" for Steve Carell's Michael Scott
a8DyN TIL Stepwells are wells or ponds with a long corridor of steps that descend to the water level and were created to cope with seasonal fluctuations in water availability in South Asia.