› added 4 years ago

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TIL Sunflower (Helianthus tuberosus), called Jersualem artichoke or Sunchoke, is native to North America. Native Americans were first cultivate sunflower roots for food. Resists cold, drought, wind. The roots contain inulin, which is firmly established to decrease blood cholesterol. Improves beer.

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LkjyV TIL that, contrary to popular belief, friction is not the primary cause of spacecraft heating up on re-entry. Rather, the heat comes from the air in front of the craft being highly compressed. This is also why the leading edges get the hottest.
neNVo TIL in 1972, President Richard Nixon called Miami Dolphins head coach Don Shula before the Super Bowl and recommended he run a certain play. The week prior, he reportedly did the same thing with the Washington Redskins. Both teams ran the plays he suggested; both plays failed. Both teams lost.
4kdAN TIL: That according to an alleged sacred text called the Greater Questions of Mary, Jesus took Mary Magdalene to the top of a mountain, where he pulled a woman out of his side and engaged in sexual intercourse with her. And then, upon ejaculating, Jesus drank his own semen.
awyx9 TIL the role of U.S. First Lady does not need to go to the president's wife Prior First Ladies include nieces and daughters-in-law of the sitting president.
wLwMo TIL that a major reason Los Angeles grew to be so huge was that they controlled the entire area’s water supply- the only way surrounding towns could get water was to annex themselves to LA.