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TIL Hawaii's King Kamehameha II (1819-24) was heavily influenced by Christian Missionaries. He ended the ancient religious laws, disbanded Hawaiian priests and destroyed temples. However he never converted to Christianity because he refused to give up his five wives, especially his half-sister.

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VM0bG TIL in 1689, a philosopher asked: "If a man born blind can feel the differences between shapes such as spheres and cubes, could he, if given the ability to see, distinguish those objects by sight alone?" In 2003, 5 people who had their sight restored were asked that question. They all answered no.
9Ymr7 TIL of Ramsar, Iran the most naturally radioactive place on earth. Current studies show a possible radioadaptive effect that allows the residents to live with over 10x the safe levels of radiation exposure.
b6jQ0 TIL that between 1230 and 1561, many English towns had a street called “Gropecunt Lane,” named after prostitution centered on those areas. Many of these streets have since been renamed to “Grape Lane.”
ODdR TIL since its introduction in 1998 and extensive combat use, the only thing that’s ever destroyed the British Challenger 2 was another Challenger 2.
wLOR6 TIL that there is a very rare and special type of gemstone that can only be found and formed in fossils of extinct species of cephalopods over the process of hundreds of millions of years. The most expensive opal in the world is one of these being an opalized fossil valued at over $1,000,000.