› added 13 years ago

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TIL that a massive 1km^3 particle detector sits under the South pole.

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JYrj4 TIL When the term ‘veggie burger’ was used in 1976, it meant a regular ground beef hamburger topped with vegetables.
PoLG TIL originally, jeans were cuffed because workers would purchase jeans larger than they fit to deal with shrinkage, and it later served for cowboys to place tobacco, cigarettes and coin in the cuffs as well
E1XXw TIL John Cage's 4'33" composition in which no instruments are played was partially inspired by a visit to a sound-proof chamber at Harvard University. Expecting to hear complete silence, he instead heard the sounds of his own body functioning—therefore realizing the "impossibility of silence."
QOap TIL that polar bears often hunt walruses by simply charging at a group of them and eating the ones that were crushed or wounded in the mass panic to escape. Direct attacks are rare.
Zr1D TIL Vladimir the Great of Russia was confronted with the choice of converting Russia to Christianity or to Islam. He eventually chose Christianity, because of Islamic teaching on alcohol, saying, “Drinking is the joy of all Rus’. We cannot exist without that pleasure.”