› added 10 years ago

158

TIL geneticists believe that everybody on earth is at least 50th cousin to everybody else.

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kOx67 TIL that the oldest genetic proof of malaria was found in King Tutankhamun’s body. He had more than one strain of malaria, indicating that he had multiple infections throughout his life. The strains belonged to the most virulent and deadly form of the disease.
VBnKQ TIL Laconia incident during WWII. A U-boat sank RMS Laconia mistaking it for a Supply vessel horrified, the Germans tried helping survivors, but Allies attacked, leading to the "Laconia Order" restricting aid to survivors.
QJLxX TIL that risking Court Martial, Pilot Gail Halvorsen, made parachutes out of hankies to drop chocolate bars to German children during the Berlin Airlift. This eventually led to Operation Little Vittles which dropped more than 23 tons of candy to the children of a besieged West Berlin.
yQdVJ TIL Keanu Reeves was sued for assault by a paparazzo who slipped while taking Reeves picture. It took 18 months for the case to go to trial and 1 hour for the jury to dismiss it.
rN1R1 TIL When a horse and donkey mate they make a mule (or hinnie). Mules are stronger than horses and donkeys of the same size and are more resilient to disease.