› added 9 years ago

125

TIL that there is a mutation of the gene CCR5, called Delta 32, which introduces a premature stop codon into the gene. This premature codon means cells that have this mutation can’t receive the HIV virus. Individuals with a homozygous CCR5-Delta 32 mutation are completely resistant to the HIV virus.

Read more wikipedia.org

via reddit.com

eoPJ TIL that the coefficient of friction of a banana on hardwood flooring is 0.083, while ice has a coefficient of friction of 0.05, making a banana almost as slippery as ice.
QmQX TIL that the Paul Hogan “shrimp on the barbie” TV commercials were very effective. Australia rose from #78 to #1 or #2 on Americans’ list of “dream vacations” after the TV ads began running from 1984 to 1990. They made Hogan famous in the US before ‘Crocodile Dundee’ (1986) made him a film star.
GY5eE TIL Rober E Lee inherited his Father-in-law's plantation and instead of emancipating the enslaved people as instructed by the will; decided to run the plantation himself splitting families and being so cruel it led to a slave revolt.
Bg1Yx TIL about the Haymarket Affair, an 1886 incident in Chicago where labors striking for an 8hr workday were dispersed by police w force, killing a protestor. In response at the next rally, a protestor threw TNT at the cops, killing several w several more on both sides dying in the ensuing gunfight.
VBkQZ TIL Mordecai Myers was the only member of his family of 15 to survive after their home was swept into the ocean during an 1822 hurricane. He buried each of them himself (including his parents)