› added 9 years ago

432

TIL that, when the bible references a person putting their hand under someone else’s thigh when making an oath, they were actually cupping–and swearing on–their testicles. Evidently this custom is what led to the term “testify”, being derived from “testicles”.

Read more gotquestions.org

via reddit.com

6E4j7 TIL the origins of Chemotherapy come from mustard gas during WWII when scientists realized that it damaged DNA and decreased the formation of blood cells by the bone marrow. They wondered if similar compounds would have a similar effect on cancer cell proliferation. And so Chemo was born.
VMylp TIL that in 2012 bees in France produced colored honey after consuming sugar from a nearby M&m’s factory.
R79b1 TIL in 1941 California built a prison for violent inmates where cells were unlocked and there was only a short barbed-wire fence around it
Yekv TIL there was a fire at Ohio Penitentiary that killed 322 and injured 150 inmates. Some guards refused to unlock cells, so inmates overpowered guards and took their keys to rescue other prisoners.
wLdxo TIL that grass makes you itch because thin nature of a blade of grass can cause microscopic scratches in your skin. When you sweat which contains salt touches tiny scratches and you itch.