› added 1 year ago

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TIL that the adoption of perfumed hair oil (macassar oil) by men in the 19th century led to lace doilies (antimacassars) being placed on couches and chairs to try and protect them.

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E1ZkV TIL that in 1755 a massive earthquake hit Lisbon, Portugal on a major Catholic holiday, destroying the city's churches while sparing its brothels. Tens of thousands of worshipers were killed. The event profoundly shook the belief in a merciful god and the power of the church across Europe.
Lknrp TIL that oysters make pearls when an irritant enters their mouth and they deposit a mineral to coat the irritant and make it more bearable, forming a pearl.
KmKG TIL the Great Wall of China was built using sticky rice, creating a super-strong mortar that remains the best available material for restoring ancient buildings to this day.
97pG TIL a London skyscraper’s curved glass facade caused a series of fires - reflected and concentrated sunlight spontaneously ignited the carpets in adjacent businesses and melted parts of cars parked nearby
4lMw TIL: A researcher set up speakers playing the sound of rushing water in a calm pond and beavers repeatedly covered the speakers until they couldn’t hear the sound anymore.