› added 8 years ago

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TIL that in 1912, Teddy Roosevelt was shot in the chest while campaigning, but the bullet was slowed by a steel eyeglass case and a 50-page speech. After determining the bullet hadn’t pierced his lung, Roosevelt proceeded to give his 90 minute speech as planned.

0w0pA TIL Japanese researchers transplanted lab-grown heart muscle cells onto a human patient's damaged heart as a successful alternative to whole heart transplant. They turned adult stem cells into heart muscle cells, placed the cells on degradable sheets, & covered the damaged parts of the heart.
7DEX TIL that in December 1943, mustard gas caused 628 allied casualties, with 83 killed, following a German bombing raid on Bari in southern Italy. In 1959, it was revealed that the gas had actually come from an anchored US transport ship that was carrying 2000 mustard gas bombs.
4XY5N TIL about the illusion of explanatory depth, which leads people to overestimate how knowledgable they really are, but can be counteracted by asking them to explain how things work
yQvkp TIL some densely populated countries use Election Ink to prevent double voting. The ink uses silver nitrate which stains the skin and is only removed by shedding of external skin cells, therefore providing a sure way of knowing who has or hasn't voted.
xVbG5 TIL that scammers wore a realistic silicone mask and impersonated a prominent public figure via video chat in order to steal €80m (£70m; $90m) from French CEOs and other wealthy victims. The fake figure said he needed the money to make secret payments to hostage takers.