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TIL the parachutes of mars rovers are being sterilized to prevent life from earth “hitchhikes” to mars, making it impossible to distinguish from possible microbes on mars.

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via reddit.com

yQpnp TIL that in 1905, 19 people died playing football. Ten of those killed were aged 17 or younger. People, including President Teddy Roosevelt, called for rules changes. They sought to remove slapping, nosepulling, and biting, but critics thought it would make the players soft.
yQpaM TIL about Leonid Rogozov, a Soviet surgeon on a 1961 Antarctic research expedition. His appendix went bad during their winter. Since they had no access to the outside world, he had to remove his own appendix almost entirely by touch, with only a novocaine shot. He was back on the job in 2 weeks.
4Xglb TIL In 2011, after their home was incorrectly foreclosed upon by Bank of America, a judge ordered the bank to pay the couple's legal fees. When it failed to pay, the couple successfully foreclosed upon the bank.
0wNm5 TIL Hawaii consumes more Spam per capita than any other state, with five cans eaten per person per year—about 7 million cans total
g15y TIL Hermione Granger is 34 years old. Today.