› added 6 years ago

658

TIL that in 552 AD two monks successfully smuggled silkworm eggs in their walking sticks from China to the Byzantine Empire, essentially ending the silk monopolies of China and Persia, and bringing silk manufacture to Europe

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yVGvX TIL the Geneva Convention prevents the use of the graphic + cross symbol (and crescent) in almost all circumstances — except to indicate or to protect the medical units and establishments.
WkoKL TIL Kidney transplants do not replace the old diseased kidneys, but instead adds 1 or more kidneys in the lower abdomen of the body.
kO8V4 TIL Ancient solar storms can be detected in tree rings
kJ541 TIL During WW2 the USA developed grenades to match the size and weight of a baseball so that any young American man could throw a grenade with accuracy and distance.
nrpb TIL Scientists estimate that 86% of land creatures and 91% of sea creatures remain undiscovered.