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79

TIL that in 1980, nuclear physicist Glenn Seaborg transmuted several thousand atoms of bismuth into gold at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory. Seaborg's technique would have been far too expensive to enable routine manufacturing of gold, but his work was close to the mythical Philosopher's Stone.

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xr8k TIL that when Martha Washington recalled the two saddest days of her life the first was December 14, 1799 when her husband died. The second was in January 1801 when Thomas Jefferson visited Mt Vernon. “Next to the loss of her husband” Jefferson’s visit was the “most painful occurrence of her life.”
18kP TIL that Queen was probably the most educated rock band ever. Freddie Mercury - degree in Art & Graphic Design, Roger Taylor - Biology, John Deacon - Electronics & Brian May - Astrophysics (& recently completed his doctorate after a 30-year hiatus).
w7G8 TIL in 2000 a man looking for a barber chair at a garage sale purchased a two deteriorated boxes of items for $45. He later found the boxes contained 65 glass plate negatives from photographer Ansel Adams worth $200 million.
xV4M5 TIL: May 26 is National Sorry day in Australia, to commemorate the mistreatment of the country’s indigenous people.
oBm1L TIL that the character Oscar the Grouch has gone on record as being a Canadian, though he tries to keep his Canadian identity a secret, because he doesn't want people to like him.