› added 10 months ago

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TIL scientists in 2007 managed to resurrect an ancient retrovirus using virus DNA fragments embedded in the human genome.

Read more rockefeller.edu

via reddit.com

ADpVl TIL Keanu Reeves often foregoes some of his paycheck so that producers can bring on other notable actors. On The Devil's Advocate, he reduced his salary by a few million dollars so that they could afford Al Pacino, and he did the same thing on The Replacements to be able to work with Gene Hackman.
dN0K TIL Charles Darwin wasn’t the first choice to go on the voyage in which he theorized the Theory of Evolution. He got the spot because other candidates turned down the captain’s invitation. Meanwhile, the captain just wanted a travel buddy because commanding a ship was very stressful and lonely.
Vpxp TIL a man named C.B. Fry is history’s ‘Ultimate All Rounder’: having attended Oxford University; represented England in Cricket and football; played in the FA Cup final; equaled the world long-jump record; as well as having proficiency in teaching, writing, broadcasting, and politics.
5xMp TIL that Spiral stairs in medieval times were typically wound in a clockwise direction, to place attacking swordsmen (who were most often right-handed) at a disadvantage.
Kk84 TIL that at least 60 wealthy Osage Indians where murdered in the 1920s for the oil rich land they owned.