› added 9 years ago

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TIL the 1883 eruption on Krakatoa produced the loudest sound ever known it reverberated around the globe 7 times before diminishing. It could be heard 4,000 miles away, and people with in 100 miles had permanent hearing loss.

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WkOZX TIL that University College in London created a tube map showing the average life expectancy of those born near each train station. Some born just 1 stop apart had differences of over a decade.
Bn9r TIL that Ryan White, an HIV/AIDS spokesman in the 80s, was expelled from middle school after contracting HIV from an infected blood transfusion. 117 parents and 50 teachers campaigned for his ban, after being told that the students would catch HIV if they were in the same class as he was.
nJvd TIL: Humans have odor receptors in the lung.
awkkM TIL that Vesna Vulović, a former flight attendant, holds the world record for surviving the longest free fall without a parachute (10.1 kilometers). Following the plane crash (of which she was the sole survivor), she was willing to resume working flights, however the airline gave her a desk job.
nWa4G TIL that a money raising attempt by former Mexican President and General Santa Anna (responsible for losing the Texas Revolution) led to the invention of chewing gum in the United States.