› added 9 years ago

87

TIL Taurine, a common ingredient in energy drinks, was first isolated from the bile of an ox, but now is synthesized in labs. Cat food is required by law to contain taurine, since cats without a taurine-rich diet will go blind, and lose their hair and teeth.

4XwLo TIL William "Billy" Mitchell was an US army general who was an outspoken proponent of air power and its ability to defeat battleships. Due to his unrelenting criticism of high command's refusal to adapt, he was demoted and court martialed. Today he is regarded as the father of the US Air Force.
oBnYW TIL a Hiroshima policeman went to Nagasaki to teach other police officers to duck and cover in the days between the bombings. Not a single officer died in the Nagasaki blast.
oKd8 TIL Chris Paul, one day after his 61 year-old grandfather was murdered, scored 61 points in a high school basketball game, intentionally missed a free throw, and asked his coach to pull him out. He then sat on the sideline and wept.
X0ep6 TIL that the White House has contained several vegetable gardens since the 2nd president, John Adams, and they have been maintained by multiple (although not all) presidents and their First Ladies as a tradition.
kOe01 TIL that Albania, the only European country with a Muslim majority at the time, had their Jewish population triple during WWII due to a code of honor called 'Besa' where it was an honor to protect those in refuge. Almost no Jews were handed over to the Germans with exception to one family.