› added 6 years ago

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TIL days are gradually getting longer; the modern day is longer by about 1.7 milliseconds than a century ago.

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jNDdR TIL that Delphine Marie LaLaurie (Madame LaLaurie), who used to torture and kill slaves for amusement, let maggots fester in the skull wound of one of her victims. She was discovered by her neighbours when a fire broke out and they rushed to help. She then fled.
Rxw6 TIL a 2011 Johns Hopkins study gave healthy adults a few sessions of Psilocybin (magic mushrooms). A year later, 94% of the individuals said the experiment was in their top 5 most meaningful experiences of their lives; 39% said it was the single most meaningful experience of their lives.
vkV8 TIL that starting in 1910, a series of books were published featuring a fictional boy-inventor by the name of Tom Swift. One of these books was titled “Tom Swift and His Electric Rifle.” Many years later, this led to the naming of the TASER that police now carry: “Tom A. Swift Electric Rifle”
7r6RX TIL that the US uses customary units of measurement that, prior to 1959, were slightly bigger than the imperial system units. The Mendenhall Order established a set conversion rate between the US and metric systems, causing discrepancies with the imperial system over time.
gradX TIL there have only ever been six horror films nominated for the Oscar for Best Picture, and only one has won.