› added 4 years ago

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TIL that there's an actual term for the act of using scientific sounding facts to trick people into a false conclusion or belief. It was dubbed "Zohnerism" after a student called Nathan Zohner tricked 86% of his school's 9th graders into wanting to ban "dihydrogen monoxide" (water)

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rNOMe TIL Otters have skin pockets for their favorite rocks
xVj70 TIL that on the Mississippi River in the 1850s, the word "two" was often pronounced "twain." When leadsmen measured a depth of two fathoms, they shouted "mark twain!" The American writer Mark Twain, a former river pilot from Missouri, got his pen name from this phrase.
m18Vo TIL only humans, orcas and pilot whales undergo menopause.
pPkZ TIL during World War II, a U.S. soldier was ambushed by 5 Japanese tanks. He single-handedly destroyed all 5 and was eventually awarded the Medal of Honor.
b6Bj4 TIL the original Pilot Episode of Gilligan's Island used music written by John Williams (the famous composer). The pilot wasn't aired and had roles changed and recast with a new theme song when the show aired