› added 8 years ago

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TIL of a rarely republished Nikola Tesla interview from 1899 called “Everything is the Light”. Tesla explains in his own words the concepts that later led to the industry shunning him.

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OGV6 TIL that in the 60s, General Electric designed a system that could bring an astronaut from orbit to the Earth’s surface in an emergency. The system consisted of a plastic bag that would be filled with polyurethane foam, a small deorbit rocket, and a parachute. It could fit into a suitcase.
VBVAB TIL the Dutch word "Swaffelen" (meaning to hit an object or person with one's penis, often repeatedly) won 2008 word of the year in the Netherlands and Belgium.
pl7b TIL there have been cases of animal deaths by mosquito asphyxiation: being surrounded by a swarm so thick that you inhale mosquitoes until you can’t breath and die
0wOwj TIL the so-called "discovery of hunger" took place in April 1967 when the US Senate noticed people across America (mostly black) were dying of starvation and malnutrition as local officials blocked their access to food aid. This led to the creation of WIC and the reform of the Food Stamp Program
Lk1em TIL Syd Barrett (founding member of Pink Floyd) visited the band in 1975 (years after his departure) unannounced, while they were recording "Wish You Were Here," a song for Barrett. Barrett's appearance had changed so much that most of the band did not recognize him initially.