› added 9 years ago

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TIL that Manhattan Project mathematician Richard Hamming was asked to check arithmetic by a fellow researcher. Richard Hamming planned to give it to a subordinate until he realized it was a set of calculations to see if the nuclear detonation would ignite the entire Earth’s atmosphere.

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jAWn TIL that the most severe capital punishment in Ancient China was the “Nine familial exterminations”, which involved executing the offender, his parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren, siblings, siblings-in-law, uncles, and uncles’ spouses.
jNNon TIL in spite of the way they are portrayed in sci-fi films, asteroid belts are not densely populated and a passing spacecraft has virtually zero chance of striking one. In fact, considerable effort is required to ensure contact with an asteroid.
56ZQ TIL of patient SM who due to a genetic defect of amygdala is unable to experience fear. Described as very outgoing, extremely friendly & disinhibited, she has an abnormally high tendency to approach & engage in physical contact with others & is greatly impaired in recognizing negative social cues
KOG7B TIL - the word 'cult' and 'cultist' were originally used to describe a 'faith healer'.
rREre TIL Sergeant Kevin Cohen was shot by a sniper, got his sperm extracted from his body and frozen, and had a baby 11 years after his death with a woman he never met.