› added 5 years ago

243

TIL that humans enjoy spicy foods, depressing songs, and roller coasters because of “benign masochism”

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WklBY TIL Empress Catherine the Great had an intimate relationship with philosopher Dennis Diderot. They had daily meetings talking politics and philosophy during which Diderot would make his points by slapping the monarch's thighs. She emerged from their meeting with her thighs "bruised and quite black"
x0L7 TIL that the bascules (the road that opens) of Tower Bridge in London are typically only raised to an angle sufficient for a vessel to safely pass under the bridge. However, if the Monarch is on board, they are raised fully no matter the size of the vessel.
DmBp TIL that the 19th century Catholic Church declared “Americanism” a heresy, which included the beliefs in separation of church and state, secularism, etc. This played into American fears at the time that Catholics were too loyal to the Pope and were thus undemocratic, illiberal, and unassimilatable.
GagE TIL a German graffiti artist painted a 250 square meter bridge to make it look like it was made out of Lego.
9wJQQ TIL that until the early 19th century, Australia was best known as "New Holland"