› added 11 years ago

178

TIL 8 % human DNA is made up of ancient viruses that used to infect us

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9YM1D TIL that the young Michael Faraday, who would go on to become one of the most influential scientists of all time, was inspired at the age of 14 by a book he found that was written by a woman named Jane Marcet. The book was one she had written on chemistry, with the content adapted for women.
QJA4L TIL, actress Catherine Zeta-Jones is of working class background, but when she was young, her family won £100,000 in a bingo competition, which allowed her to take dance and ballet lessons and attend a private school.
6aYm TIL that the amount of plastic bags used in Holland has reduced by more than 70% since in 2016 a new law banned all retailers and restaurants to give them for free.
kONb7 TIL that Parrots aren’t the only birds that can talk (imitate human speech). Mynah birds, Crows and Ravens have been known to do so as well
Y7v5W TIL Ulysses S. Grant, who was running for a third term in 1880, led on 35 ballots for the nomination. It wasn't until James G. Blaine and John Sherman shifted their supporters toward James A. Garfield that Grant subsequently lost on the 36th ballot.