› added 13 years ago

95

TIL that Greco-Roman wrestling was invented by a french soldier, and named Greco-Roman to make people think it was the sport practiced in the classic civilizations.

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nevYB TIL in 1897, 3 Swedes attempted to be the first people to reach the North Pole. They travelled by hot air balloon but crashed after 65 hours. 33 years later, a ship discovered their camp, along with their dead bodies, journal, and camera. They'd survived for weeks by killing and eating polar bears.
9wADp TIL Biotechnology brings great potential and risks: curing diseases, but also creating dangerous viruses. Caution, tracking, and responsible management are essential to prevent pandemics and embrace the positive future it offers.
d8pgj TIL on 1829, Anne Royall, the first female journalist in the United States, was found guilty of being a "common scold" and sentenced to the ducking stool until the punishment was changed to a $10 fine
BgmQb TIL an Australian bartender exploited an ATM glitch and went on a $1.6 million spending spree over 4.5 months before getting caught!
1apOO TIL That in 1966 in response to an attempt to ban To Kill a Mockingbird, Author Harper Lee wrote a scathing response letter to the Hanover County School Board, including a donation with her hopes that it be used to "enroll the (board) in any first grade of its choice".