› added 8 years ago

190

TIL that the Russian F.S.B. (formerly KGB) figured out a way to open and then reseal a tamperproof urine specimen jar to cheat in the 2014 winter Olympics.

Read more nytimes.com

via reddit.com

eRk5 TIL Freddie Mercury’s powerful voice spanned over a four octave range.
lxNK TIL that Lawrence of Rome became the Patron Saint of cooking and firefighters after saying “I’m well done, turn me over!” while being burned alive
m08Y TIL the African continent had a native species of bear “The Atlas Bear” which suffered great populations declines due to the Roman empire’s demand for animals for gladiatorial events. The animal was hunted into extinction by the 1870s
GYxY5 TIL that China has a strategic pork reserve of over 10,000 tonnes of frozen pork and has been eating it since Swine Fever hit the industry.
N7GxM TIL in the Middle Ages, Catholic women were prohibited from having sex on Sundays, Wednesdays, or Fridays, on feast days, while fasting for Lent or Advent or while "impure" (menstruation, pregnancy, 40 days after giving birth & while nursing). Everything but missionary position was considered sodomy