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TIL The Placebo Effect doesn’t really have clinical significance when you account for the myriad of variables present in clinical trials. Placebos do about as good as “no treatment arms” in most studies with objective criteria.

Read more nordic.cochrane.org

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XWPX TIL an amateur radio enthusiast in the UK heard Titanic’s SOS call using his homemade radio equipment. Titanic’s radio company president was so impressed by his homemade radio that he offered the man a job, where he worked for the next 35 years.
9wxZm TIL Farrant and Manchester were rival occultists who tried to defeat the Highgate Vampire. The "magicians' duel" to settle the rivalry on Parliament Hill in 1973 never occurred and Farrant was jailed in 1974 for vandalizing Highgate Cemetery. The rivalry ended with Farrant's death in April 2019.
8aRNb TIL that since 1937, hundreds of Santas a year have attended the Santa School in Michigan, with curriculum including Santa history, sign language, handling difficult present requests, sleigh flight lessons, and the habits of live reindeer.
X0wy8 TIL at the decisive Battle of Grandson in 1476, the entire Castle Grandson garrison surrendered only to be summarily hung from a rope and dragged through the lake until they drowned. They were executed just before Swiss reinforcements arrived.
DQmwp TIL the Giant Anteater is the most endangered mammal in Central America. They are the closest living relative to the sloth. Both anteaters and sloths are descendants of Megatherium, a 20 foot long ground sloth weighing 8000lbs