› added 3 years ago

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TIL astrophysicist Jocelyn Bell Burnell, who as a student discovered pulsars, credits her discovery to impostor syndrome and a fear of being kicked out of college; “I’m a bit of a fighter, so I decided until they threw me out I would work my very hardest". That discovery earned the 1974 Nobel Prize.

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b9VNj TIL Cats were often mascots on Navy ships in WWII. They kept the rodent population down and improved morale for the crew!
Mr7b TIL that “Nutraloaf”, a bland nutrition loaf served in U.S. prisons has been challenged in court and called cruel and unusual punishment.
0wDE5 TIL putting the lid down in a porta-potty causes the smell to go out through the vents, which will make it not smell nearly as bad for the next person who uses it.
wyRE TIL Nicky Barnes was a notorious drug trafficker who posed on the cover of The New York Times Magazine as “Mr. Untouchable”. Then President Jimmy Carter was so insulted by this he ordered his attorney general to prosecute Barnes right away. He was convicted and sent to life in prison.
JvGj TIL that in 2002, a 15 year old boy inspired by 9/11, stole an airplane and flew it into a skyscraper in Tampa, Florida. It damaged one office room and he was the only person that died.