› added 7 years ago

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TIL of the stone money of the Yap. The stones are too large to move so buying an item involves agreeing that the ownership has changed. The transaction is recorded in oral history and no physical movement of the stone is required.

YpPlZ TIL that we humans have been dependent since 1977 on the blue blood of horseshoe crabs to keep our medicines safe. The crabs have been 'bled' for a chemical which is used to test for bacterial contamination in drugs. Finally, pharmaceutical companies are committing to a synthetic version.
awO80 TIL that in Japanese Folklore, Seto taishō is a tiny little soldier pieced together out of chipped teacups and cracked dishes. It runs about the kitchen on tiny spoons, wielding knives or chopsticks as swords or spears and loves to chase the cooking staff around the kitchen, causing chaos.
4knZ5 TIL Following divine visions, Saint Galgano of Siena imbedded his sword into stone in 1180, in a renunciation of war and material possessions. The sword is still there today, in the Monastery of San Galgano in Tuscany. It's believed that this story influenced the Excalibur legend in Britain.
4KPo TIL when a mountain was found to be taller than Australia’s highest mountain, Mount Kosciuszko, their names were swapped so that Mount Kosciuszko remained the highest mountain in Australia.
kJVn7 TIL Gila Monster venom contains compounds structurally similar to the active ingredient in Ozempic, and this discovery directly lead to the development of all Semiglutide based medications