› added 2 weeks ago

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TIL about 8% of our DNA comes from ancient viruses and now helps our immune system and placenta form.

Read more bbc.com

via reddit.com

e0rRk TIL Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull was so annoyed at critics calling "Aqualung" a concept album when he didn't consider it one that he decided to make "the mother of all concept albums" - "Thick as a Brick", a 43:46-long single piece of music designed to spoof progressive rock.
PPjw TIL that Electronic Arts once tried to buy Valve for $1 billion.
vPKwj TIL of the "jury of matrons". In English law, a female plaintiff or defendant at trial who claimed to be pregnant was allowed to call a jury of older women to inspect her and decide if she truly was pregnant.
ZGQY TIL in 1994, the operational head of the U.S. Public Health Service was fired for saying masturbation should be encouraged in order to prevent people from engaging in riskier forms of sexual activity.
NXkkM TIL about Joseph Jumonville, a French officer in the French and Indian War who was killed by George Washington’s forces in 1754. Jumonville’s younger brother vowed revenge on Washington, and successfully made Washington surrender at Fort Necessity only five weeks later.