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TIL the sunburn and subsequent peeling is a process called apoptosis, where the skin cells are programmed to commit suicide in a precautionary measure to prevent any skin cells from becoming melanoma.

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OwA7 TIL during WWII the British govt would issue city-wide blackouts to make it harder for the German’s to hit targets during night raids. Armed with new, secret radar technology, the British spread the myth that eating carrots improved eyesight to explain their newfound success in defending in the dark
D15vY TIL the only 2 patients to be cured of HIV were also undergoing cancer treatment at the same time; meaning they became cancer free AND HIV negative at the same time
GYvr1 TIL that while writing the popular 1990s song Friday I'm in Love, The Cure frontman Robert Smith became convinced that he stole the tune from somewhere, and was so paranoid that he called every person he knew and played the song for them, asking if they recognized it. It was, indeed, unique.
kZyE TIL that 285,000 companies including Apple, Coca-Cola, GE, Google, and Walmart are officially headquartered at 1209 North Orange Street, Wilmington, Delaware due to the state’s low corporate tax rates.
gbx7 TIL that sending an all female crew to Mars would be significantly cheaper than sending men.