› added 4 years ago

137

TIL a local folk remedy in Boho, Ireland was to place soil from the local church under a pillow while you slept to cure infections. In 2018 a microbiologist found the churchyard's soil contains a previously unknown strain of streptomyces which can be used to create antibiotics

Read more bbc.com

via reddit.com

LkEKZ TIL in 1845 a severely depressed dog tried to commit suicide by jumping into a river and refusing to make any attempt to escape (which goes against natural instincts). Even after being rescued, the dog ran back to the river. Eventually, the dog succeeded and died.
p87vO TIL tech companies in China hire "programming cheerleaders", pretty women that cheer up the programmers as they work at their desk. They need to know how to put on makeup, to be taller than 5'2, to have a "gentle voice", and a "contagious laugh".
D1wgD TIL that after being shot in a failed assassination attempt in 1981, President Ronald Reagan's first remark to the First Lady was "Honey, I forgot to duck" a reference to a one-liner used by boxer Jack Dempsey after he lost his heavyweight title.
6RAl TIL that Hitler was not a German Citizen until age 32
PYDNJ TIL that the Menendez brothers are on a basketball card, photographed shortly after they murdered their parents.