› added 5 years ago

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TIL Pistachios crack themselves. I always assumed they were run through some sort of industrial nutcracker prior to packaging. But apparently when they ripen, the shells suddenly pop open and even make an audible crack. Chinese legend says witnessing this will bring the hearer good luck.

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R7JW1 TIL in 1978, The House Select Committee on Assassinations reported John F. Kennedy's brain is missing. During the autopsy, his brain was removed and placed in a stainless steel box given to the Secret Service. The box was moved to the National Archives building in 1965. As of 1966, it was gone.
W7yDX TIL in 1972, diver Bret Gilliam survived a 325+ ft ascent, with an empty oxygen tank, after trying to save a colleague from attacking sharks.
nOWr TIL that the town of Marble Bar, Australia. Holds the world record of most consecutive days of 100 °F (37.8 °C) or above.
v16vR TIL prolonged exposure to felt containing high levels of mercury would cause mental disfunction in 18th century hat makers, ushering in the phrase "As mad as a hatter".
yLdl TIL that Morgan Freeman is a beekeeper, and owns a 124 acre farm for the bees in Mississippi.