› added 12 years ago

135

TIL that sapphires and rubies are actually the same material, and only look different because of slight impurities.

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ROrQ TIL of astronomer Guillaume Le Gentil who in 1760 went from France to India to measure the transit of Venus. He missed out on both chances to do so, contracted dysentery and nearly went insane. When he made it home he learned he had been declared dead, his wife remarried and his estate plundered
4kdgN TIL there are so many "Florida man" stories because Florida's public records laws allow journalists to access basic crime information almost in real time.
jJoE TIL Five Native American Tribes recognize same-sex marriage
7V7b TIL In 2011 an artist placed 4 frat boys in a plexi box with 30 cases of beer, a bucket, and a Sharpie
69epX TIL that the iconic Rosa Parks bus photo was staged by the UPI after her victory in the Supreme Court. The man behind her is UPI reporter Nicholas Chriss.