› added 10 years ago

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TIL that refining a 42 gallon barrel of crude oil yields 20gal gasoline, 7gal diesel, and 17gal of petroleum byproducts such as propane, ammonia and plastic material, totaling 44 gallons; a net gain of 2 gallons.

kaX7 TIL in Russia many doctors “treat” alcoholism by surgically implanting a small capsule into their patients. The capsules react so severely with alcohol that once the patient touches a single drop, they instantly acquire an excruciating illness of similar intensity to acute heroin withdrawal
gMn7A TIL The original word for 'bear' has been lost. People in middle ages were superstitious and thought saying the animal's name would summon it. They called it 'bear' which means 'the brown one' to avoid saying its actual name.
kOoWB TIL that it's estimated there are more stars in the universe than there are grains of sand on earth, but there are more atoms in one grain of sand than there are stars in the universe... and I just can't wrap my head around that.
OoQ06 TIL when explorers first saw the Giant Sequoia trees in Northern California, they named the biggest one "The Discovery Tree," and immediately made plans to cut it down. The felled tree was used to advertise as a tourist attraction with the tree's stump used as a dance floor.
EgkoV TIL the term "Hollaback Girl" was coined by supermodel Naomi Campbell. Producer Pharrell Williams overhead a conversation Campbell had where she said, "I'm sorry, I have a name. I ain't no Holla Back girl", apparently referencing the women in the music video for "Young'n (Holla Back)" by Fabulous