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TIL “Reductio ad Hitlerum” is a term for trying to derail an argument by comparing it to Hitler’s or the nazi party’s views.

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Z8eVB TIL in 1990, Dr. Mary-Claire King discovered the human gene BRCA1 which is linked to breast cancer. Soon after, Myriad Genetics cloned and patented it. She was sent a cease-and-desist letter to stop researching it. Finally in 2013, the US Supreme Court ruled that human genes cannot be patented.
Zpx8D TIL famous psychologist B.F.Skinner trained street pigeons to guide rockets by training them to recognize the pattern of a target, and to peck when they saw the target. As the pigeons pecked, cables harnessed to each one’s head would mechanically steer the missile until it finally reached its mark.
jNABR TIL that in 1981, Disneyland was sued by the family of a nine-year-old girl, claiming that a performer in a Winnie the Pooh suit had hit her in the face, causing brain damage. The performer defended himself in court by wearing the costume and demonstrating that he was unable to hit anyone.
5Yxdp TIL the Grand Canyon Museum had three buckets of radioactive uranium ore on display for 18 years, and only found out when a kid was goofing around with a Geiger counter
rNOQe TIL If people focus strongly on their goals, their Reticular Activating System (RAS) in the brainstem is actively working to provide them with specific information, facts, individuals who can assist, and opportunities to help achieve their goals.