› added 7 years ago

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TIL when Stephen Hawking met with the Pope in the Vatican, the Pope knelt down when he had trouble understand Hawking. This prompted one scientist in the room to say that "things certainly have changed since Galileo."

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e09eD TIL of the Astor Place Riot of 1849, in which 22-31 people died and over 120 were injured in a riot stemming from a dispute over whether an American or a British actor was the best Shakespearean actor
d8WZr TIL that Chinese lion dance isn't just for parades. It's also a competitive highly acrobatic sport with an annual world championship.
rpGW TIL that in 1974 an Army Private stole a helicopter from his base, landed on the White House lawn before taking off again in a high speed helicopter chase (forcing one Police chopper to land), he was shot down only after returning to the White House. He received a year in prison and small fine.
jrJn TIL In the American Civil War, soldiers were required to have at least two opposing front teeth so they could open a gunpowder pouch. Some draftees had their front teeth removed to avoid service.
p80V8 TIL DNA has a half-life of approximately 521 years, meaning that it would be broken down so much as to be useless after about 1 million years.