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TIL Gene Roddenberry devised the names for his characters Khan (Khan Noonien Singh) and Data’s father Noonien Soong in the hopes that a friend he had met in WWII would recognize his name and contact him.

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P11XL TIL there was an epidemic of bubonic plague in San Francisco in the early 20th century, but denial by city and state government, and racism, caused people to focus on Chinatown residents
oByM8 TIL Stomphia coccinea is a small reddish or pinkish sea anemone that has the remarkable ability to detach itself and swim away from predators when necessary. When a starfish's sensory organs touch this sea anemone, it rocks back and forth prying itself from its anchorage and escapes: see video below
OoYl1 TIL Benjamin Burnley, the lead singer of Breaking Benjamin, was asked by EA to speak positively of Star Wars Battlefront in exchange for money. His response: "They wanted to pay me to post that I like this piece of shit game. They can shove it up their ass. This game sucks..."
OovkR TIL that upon Apollo 12 being struck twice by lightning, it was feared that the explosive bolts which deployed the parachutes were critically damaged. This was not disclosed to the astronauts on board as there was little to be done which could remedy the possible issue.
pYwL8 TIL China has just one timezone (Beijing time) that covers the whole country. In the westernmost provinces, the sun may not rise until 10am or set until midnight. The border with Afghanistan is the greatest border time change in the world.