› added 12 years ago

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TIL The Vatican’s chief astronomer has stated there is no conflict between believing in God and in the possibility of extraterrestrial “brothers” perhaps more evolved than humans.

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N77AN TIL the deadliest earthquake of the twentieth century was the 1976 Tangshan quake, killing approx. 250'000 people
yV8pa TIL due to the rising popularity of jeans in the 1960s, one Texas legislator tried to have jeans declared the “official state costume” in 1977. His idea was ignored.
OoOMe TIL that r-process - happening during supernova/neutron-star merger, is responsible for the creation of approximately half of the atomic nuclei heavier than iron
kmam TIL of an orca named Old Tom, who during the early 20th century spent almost four decades helping fishermen catch baleen whales off the coast of Australia. In return, Old Tom and his pod feasted on the lips and tongues of the whalers’ haul.
XEllX TIL that all cacti are native to the New World, or the Americas. Only one species now grows natively on the Atlantic's other side as well. It's a type of mistletoe cactus and is found in Africa and Sri Lanka, thought to have been introduced by traders or birds.