› added 9 years ago

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TIL that you can literally die of a broken heart; Broken heart syndrome, also called stress-induced cardiomyopathy can cause severe heart muscle failure, and can be the result of the severe stress hormones released after serious emotional trauma.

Read more nhlbi.nih.gov

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PYKJV TIL there was a natural nuclear reactor in present-day Gabon that produced about 100kw of energy 2 billion years ago, running for thousands of years. This is the only known example of naturally occurring nuclear fission.
D1KyJ TIL of JNG Whistler, who was part of a famous military family, and cousin to James Whistler, who was the painter of Whistler's Mother. JNG would find himself in Dakota Territory, where he would save the lives of countless Dakota Indians.
J8Xk TIL that the soviets launched an 80 tonne orbiting battle station equipped with a megawatt laser. It fell to Earth due to faulty guidance systems.
nWBdr TIL paleontologist Xu Xing has named more new species of dinosaur than any other living person and is one of the most prolific paleontologists to ever live. He's described so many new species that he's actually lost track of how many; he estimates the number is somewhere around 80.
Bg0vk TIL Daughter from California syndrome is a phrase used in the medical profession to describe a situation in which a disengaged relative challenges the care a dying elderly patient is being given, or insists that the medical team pursue aggressive measures to prolong the patient's life