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TIL there exists a treatment for cystic fibrosis that involves actually inhaling genes to attempt to repair the disease

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5YJXr TIL A giant virus has been discovered with its own immune system. French scientists found these giant virus defence mechanisms work in a similar way to the CRISPR-Cas system, whereby the virus learns to recognise invaders, capture their genetic material and use this information to destroy them.
e0jK5 TIL lithium metal must be stored under argon as it can burn in a pure nitrogen atmosphere (no oxygen present) to form lithium nitride. Other reactive metals like sodium and potassium, however, do not react with nitrogen.
Lg40 TIL in 1933 Major General Smedley Butler proclaimed there was a Coup d'état plot against Roosevelt by the Fascist American upper class who were opposed to the New Deal. He was asked to lead half a million men to take the white house and establish a dictatorship.
9yMX TIL during the time of the devastating 2011 Joplin, MO tornado, a traveling circus was in town but couldn’t perform due to the weather. Instead, they enlisted the help of their circus elephants to remove damaged vehicles and heavy debris from the road to clear a path for first responders.
GYldG TIL Mathematician Leonhard Euler memory was said to have been so great that he was able to recite Virgil's Aeneid from beginning to end without hesitation. A text that is over 9000! lines long.