› added 1 year ago

174

TIL that laughter diminished the secretion of the body's stress hormones, cortisol and epinephrine, while enhancing immune response and boosts secretion of growth hormone, an enhancer of these same key immune responses

Read more theguardian.com

via reddit.com

69LVl TIL that helium gas can disrupt iPhones by interfering with their internal clocks. This interference affects the phone's MEMS timing oscillator, causing the phone to crash repeatedly and lose connectivity. As a result, exposure to helium makes the device unstable and unable to function properly.
OX7L TIL ants enslaved by other ant species (TIL ants get enslaved) rebel against their masters by neglecting the work they’re assigned to do, and even killing the master species’ young. The slaves may not be able to save themselves, but by rebelling they can protect nearby relatives from the same fate.
Bg4Ab TIL the practice of making New Year's resolutions is believed to have originated some 4,000 years ago where the ancient Babylonians would make promises to their gods to start the new year with a clean slate by paying debts and returning borrowed items, hoping to gain favor in the coming year
ZpvBY TIL that in the 19th century, a Portuguese writer was imprisoned and disowned for adultery. While in prison, he wrote a book featuring a character who commits similar crimes. After his death, this book made him very famous and a national hero.
rKYe TIL the original height of Mount Everest “was calculated to be exactly 29,000 ft (8,839.2 m) high, but was publicly declared to be 29,002 ft (8,839.8 m) in order to avoid the impression that an exact height of 29,000 feet (8,839.2 m) was nothing more than a rounded estimate.”