› added 6 years ago

158

TIL There's a gene that makes cilantro taste like soap. A study by the personal genomics company 23andMe identified a small DNA variation in a cluster of olfactory receptor genes that is strongly associated with the perception of a “soapy” taste in cilantro.

Read more mentalfloss.com

via reddit.com

947M TIL The animatronic spider used in Arachnophobia was created by none other than Mythbuster’s Jamie Hyneman. It was one of his earliest special effects jobs.
WJ1N TIL that women are the main proponents of “slut-shaming”; employing it as an aggressive strategy to deter their more attractive female rivals.
PYWkZ TIL the European Union banned the marketing of products as "superfood" unless accompanied by an authorized health claim supported by factual scientific evidence
JYKLV TIL of the Reply of the Zaporozhian Cossacks to Sultan Mehmed IV of the Ottoman Empire, a legend based on the reply the Cossacks wrote in response to the ultimatum delivered to them by the Ottoman Sultan; the Cossack's reply is filled with particularly vulgar rhymes.
LE5v TIL that “Washington Monument Syndrome” refers to the habit of governmet agencies to shut down their most visible and valued services first when facing a budget shortfall, to gain support for tax increases the public would otherwise be against.