› added 2 months ago

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TIL that the Sistine Chapel originally depicted nude figures, but the genitals got painted over after the Council of Trent banned nudity in religious art.

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R5go1 TIL that the main ingredient of Pepto Bismol, Bismuth Subsalicylate, was first used not only to prevent life threatening diarrhea from Cholera, but as a surface disinfectant because of its bactericidal properties. The medicine kills bacteria colonizing the intestinal mucosa that cause stomach upset.
R76m9 TIL Some witch hunts throughout history were likely caused by a fungus called ergot found in rye. Which is the same fungus used to make LSD, giving people hallucinations as well as painful muscular contractions, mania and psychosis. These symptoms were blamed on witchcraft.
Y71Y7 TIL that voice actress Dionne Quan, noted for roles like Trixie Tang in Fairly OddParents, is legally blind and has all of her scripts written in braille.
RJ6a TIL that goldfish are a completely manmade species and have no natural habitat. Originally domesticated as food, they began being selectively bred for their color—the result of a genetic mutation. Today, their color, size, shape, and fins are the result of thousands of years of selective breeding.
wLVN6 TIL russian luitenant colonel Stanislav Petrov went down in history as the man who single-handedly saved the world from all-out nuclear war when he called out an false allarm when the soviet missile detection system claimed six US nuclear missiles have been launched.