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TIL that many of Issac Newton's critical insights on calculus occurred while in isolation from the Great Plague of London from 1665 to 1666. Newton would later describe this time as "the prime of my age for invention and minded mathematics and philosophy more than at any time since."

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ANMWn TIL shorts were once considered taboo in America. The city of Honesdale, PA banned the wearing of shorts in 1938, "Honesdale is a modest town, not a bathing beach." In May 1959, Plattsburgh, N.Y. banned the wearing of shorts by anyone over 16. Violators received a $25 fine or 25 days in jail.
Bg6pr TIL that there is a single group of indigenous people, the Yupik, who lived in both the Americas and Eurasia (Russia) prior to European discovery of the new world.
XExmr TIL that all-time great director Andrei Tarkovsky dismissed colour film as a gimmick, saying that in everyday life one does not consciously notice colours most of the time, and that films in colour are like moving paintings or photographs, which are too beautiful to be a realistic depiction of life
rNEDd TIL when President William McKinley was shot by anarchist Leon Czolgosz, members of the crowd began beating the latter. The President then told the attackers to "go easy on him, boys." McKinley survived initially but died 8 days later. Leon Czolgosz was executed by electrocution a few months later.
BJkL TIL the method of dying the Chicago river green for St. Patrick’s Day was discovered by accident. The fluorescein dye was first used to detect pollution in the water. Since the Chicago river is so polluted, the entire river turned bright green.