› added 8 years ago

170

TIL that the Bubonic Plague aka ‘Black Death’ epidemic of the 14th Century was so widespread partly because Pope Gregory IX had declared cats to be associated with devil worship. Because of this, cats across Europe faced a mass extermination which in turn helped infected rats to thrive.

Read more metaphoricalplatypus.com

via reddit.com

xVN5o TIL that Samuel Morse was inspired to create "Morse code" while returning from a failed tour as a painter
nW87W TIL John Krasinski fought for a deaf actress Millicent Simmonds to be cast in 'A Quiet Place'; she taught everyone sign language on set.
lo7J5 TIL It Used To Be Illegal In Japan To Eat Meat
gMpxW TIL Charlemagne may have been killed by his tablecloth. He liked it because he could throw it into a fire to clean it. He died of pleurisy, one of the effects of asbestos exposure.
YMBW TIL that patients who are informed what drug they are going to be trialling, and are then placed on a placebo, can experience adverse reactions as well as positive outcomes. They can also become addicted to placebo medication.