› added 13 years ago

135

TIL the “acid” that sometimes leaks from batteries is actually not an acid but a strong base: KOH.

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1rE4 TIL that between 30 and 50 per cent of the global population is thought to be infected by a cat parasite known as Toxoplasma gondii. Some scientists believe that the parasite can control the brain of it’s host. A toxo-infected person is more than twice as likely to be in a car accident.
Zp7P4 TIL about hunger stones. These are stones submerged in water designed to warn of drought conditions when they appear. Stones in Germany date back to the 1400s and some include the words "If you see me, weep". The stones started appearing again in 2018.
P11Ag TIL Ancient Chinese doctor and surgeon Hua Tuo was executed by King Cao Cao when he suggested performing a surgery by cutting into his royal skull
d8Old TIL that you can use dog blood to save a cat in need of a transfusion, but only once. Cats have no natural antibodies to dog blood, but then they will develop them after exposure. Any future transfusions must then use cat blood.
9YovX TIL that during WWII, in Norway, it was illegal to stand on the bus if there were seats available. This is because Norwegians often refused to sit beside Germans on the bus, which annoyed them so much that they made it illegal.