› added 3 years ago

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TIL about the Banu musa. A family of three golden age islamic scholars who are known for the “book of ingenious devices” which describes 100 inventions. The Banu Musa Brothers are credited with inventing the first music sequencer which was the earliest type of programmable machine.

OG99Y TIL that Chile and England briefly shared the same head of state when, in the 16th century, Mary I of England and her husband Philip II of Spain were made the King and Queen of Chile.
GLNJ TIL after undefeated boxer Billy Collins, Jr. was beaten so badly during his fight, his curious father insisted on shaking his opponent’s hands. He discovered the fighter had removed all his padding, and eventually led to a 2.5 year prison sentence.
GbZg TIL that astronaut Sunita Williams was the first person to run a marathon in space, finishing in 4 hours and 24 minutes on a treadmill aboard the International Space Station.
0wG6j TIL members of Mother Teresa's order would secretly baptise dying patients of other religions. Patients were asked if they wanted a 'ticket to heaven'. While pretending to cool the patients forehead, words were quietly recited and the ceremony performed.
kJ0we TIL Nazi SS officer Klaus Barbie, AKA ‘Butcher of Lyon’ for his torture of Jews and French resistance, was smuggled by the US to Bolivia for anticommunist work. For 30 years he also aided multiple dictatorial regimes, paramilitary groups, and even Pablo Escobar with security and torture services