› added 1 year ago

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TIL A $286K painting was discovered by an art historian because he was watching Stuart Little with his daughter & noticed it in the background of this scene. It had been purchased for cheap by a set designer who had no clue it was a world-famous painting believed to be lost since 1928.

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W7Nw9 TIL of miasma theory, an abandoned medical theory, that held that that diseases such as cholera were caused by “bad air”. Some academics suggested the theory extended to other conditions as well, such as becoming obese by inhaling the odor of food.
8ajmG TIL of Operation Tracer, a plan to seal six members of the British Navy in a cave to monitor the Germans if they took over the Gibraltar base and tunnel system. One of the few involved and aware of the project was Ian Fleming, the author of James Bond.
R50NQ TIL that the massive sound pollution of, say, pile-driving underwater to build bridges can be dramatically reduced with "air bubble curtains," to the point that fish which would have been killed by the shockwaves before are no longer affected
ANM7 TIL that the headless horseman carried a whip made out of human spine.
JNwl TIL Jack Daniels broke his toe kicking his safe because he forgot the combination. He later died from an infection of that broken toe.