› added 13 years ago

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TIL that the word “vanilla” comes from “vagina” due to the shape of the bean pods.

Read more etymonline.com

via reddit.com

kegW TIL that the Tardigrade (AKA the water bear) is a tiny organism that is pretty much immortal. It goes into some sort of cryo sleep to protect itself from extreme temperatures, radiation,…dont need any water and have survived a spacewalk.
rloo TIL “Jim Wilson” is the American Airlines code for coffin or cadaver shipments
16r58 TIL that the popular Chinese dating game show If You Are The One, was looked upon unfavorably by Chinese authorities for spreading the 'wrong values' and 'advocating materialism'.
lxK1 TIL that during WWII, Oak Ridge TN, population 75,000, used 1/7 of all US electricity to process uranium for the atomic bomb.
eXGL TIL scientists have traced the start of AIDS to 1908… Despite most people only becoming aware of it in the 1980’s