› added 6 months ago

17

TIL that Samuel Howes Caldwell invented autocorrect in 1959. He did so specifically for Chinese speakers, even though he didn't speak the language, so that they could use Western keyboards.

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8eLnX TIL the Pacific beetle cockroach produces a super-food "milk" that is full of protein-dense crystals which are packed with essential amino acids, sugars, and healthy fat. It has been suggested as a protein supplement. However, it's very difficult to extract and not yet a viable food source.
N77Qe TIL That tootsie Rolls saved troops in North Korea.
yQKyw TIL that a massive solar flare in 2012 barely missed earth (by mere days). Had it hit, the power grid would likely have failed, causing unprecedented devastation. Scientists recently determined that it was of similar magnitude as the 1859 Carrington Event.
REGj TIL Water is used in rice fields to prevent weeds. Rice doesn’t actually need that much water, but since it can thrive in such conditions, whereas weeds cannot, it’s a natural protection against them.
Z8jpa TIL Mafia leader John Gotti and the Gambino crime family used an area in New York City called The Hole as a mass grave for mafia targets.