› added 8 years ago

105

TIL: The region that is now Pakistan shifted from Buddhism and Hinduism to Islam, largely due to mass forced conversions and persecution.

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Y7xlr TIL about "Radium Girls," female factory workers in the early 20th century who were exposed to radium while painting watch dials, leading to severe health issues and changes in workplace safety laws.
Z8bBR TIL NGC Magazine in the UK was so tired of people complaining about the low score they gave Star Fox Adventures that they gave away a sticker for pasting over the old score. This way those complaining wouldn't have to look at the low review score. This took the game from 72% up to 98%.
dDDLd TIL that during the American Civil War, the Union regularly cracked the Confederacy's coded messages because the Confederacy relied on a limited number of key phrases for encrypting their messages, one of which was "Complete Victory".
ne5mG TIL many bird species engage in "anting", where they actively rub ants onto themselves to excrete their body's chemicals. As to why, hypotheses include using the chemicals to ward off pests, preparing them to eat, for grooming their feathers, and for stimulating themselves.
mDvP TIL in the London riots of 2011, the looting and vandalism which took place throughout the city was almost totally avoided by bookshops. One man said his store would probably stay open during the unrest, stating: “If they steal some books, they might actually learn something.”