› added 7 months ago

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TIL that most smoke detectors contain a small amount of Americium-241, a radioactive material that can undergo nuclear fission.

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rNDld TIL in the early 20th century, in order to prevent smells and occasional explosions, the United Kingdom installed "Sewer Gas Destructor Lamps." The street lamps, connected to sewer vents, generated heat which would draw up gases to the lanterns. The odors and bacteria would burn off in the flames.
wAJ6 TIL that the sloppy handwriting of doctors kills more than 7,000 people annually. Preventable medication mistakes also injure more than 1.5 million Americans annually
m78Y TIL that Johnny Knoxville injured his penis so badly in 2007 that he now has to use a catheter twice a day.
ZPRG TIL that archaeologists have found the remains of what appears to be a family group of 12 Neanderthals in Spain who were killed, butchered, and cannibalized by other humans about 42 000 years ago.
wLaOJ TIL Sharks have two penises named "claspers". When inserted into the female they open like an umbrella and its calcified protrusions "hook" the female. Only one is used during copulation.