› added 4 days ago

1

TIL that Michael Corke, a Chicago man with fatal insomnia, was so sleep-deprived that he was fully awake for 6 months before he passed away in 1993. He was 42 years old.

Read more neuroscientificallychallenged.com

via reddit.com

MeEGA TIL in the midst of anti-Vietnam War protests, President Nixon left the White House to talk to the protesters face-to-face. When the Secret Service grew concerned for his safety, he told them to wait.
VMgEp TIL sailors aboard submarines work 6 hour shifts so that it is easier for them to give their undivided attention to the equipment they operate during a shorter shift. The military also switched submarines from an 18-hour work day to a traditional 24-hour one, improving morale significantly.
PPrn TIL that “Bride Kidnapping” is a tradition in many countries, and is responsible for up to 75% of the marriages in Kyrgyzstan, although it’s illegal.
eJvJ TIL when Australia abolished their inheritance tax in 1979, a disproportionate number of parents died in the week immediately after the abolition went into effect, suggesting that many of their heirs were doing everything to keep them alive just long enough for the inheritance tax to expire.
rONw TIL A Japanese artist named Hananuma Masakichi created a wooden sculpture of himself so life-like, people couldn’t distinguish between the statue and the artist. He even included his own hair, nails, and teeth!