› added 6 years ago

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TIL that over 90% of the ocean's plastic waste comes from just 10 rivers, 8 of which are in Asia, and 2 of which are in Africa.

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W7epo TIL Brazilian composer Hermeto Pascoal wrote a song for every day of the year (including February 29th), so that everyone would have a song for their birthday.
p8RGN TIL that in an attempt to make his spy novels feel more authentic, author John Le Carré is credited with coining a number of terms for his fictional intelligence agency (terms like mole, honey trap, pavement artist, asset babysitter) which have become common terms used in real intelligence agencies.
Jyg4 TIL that people have intentionally contracted tapeworms as a way of losing weight, and you can still find tapeworm pills online
awVoo TIL the Irish Hunger Strike in 1981, led to prisoner Bobby sands being elected Member of Parliament during the strike, it gained media interest from around the world. The strike ended after ten prisoners had starved themselves to death—including Sands, his funeral was attended by 100,000 people.
XpyQ TIL a Seattle man known for his frugality left a $187.6 million trust to charitable causes upon his death. 40% went to pediatric research even though he never had children of his own.