› added 8 years ago

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TIL That NY City used to use hollowed out trees as water mains in the early 19th Century. A working example was still connected to the city water lines as late as 2006

Read more nyc.gov

via reddit.com

yxNp TIL: A quarter of the world’s hazelnut supply is used to make Nutella
R7RM7 TIL George R.R. Martin proposed Westerosworld as part of a crossover with Westworld. It would be inhabited by sentient robot versions of the Game of Thrones characters.
PD9V TIL that in 1911 a lone man emerged from the wilderness in California, the last member of his tribe and also “the last wild Indian”. With the help of university professors he was able to preserve parts of his language and culture.
l7xA1 TIL about a $25.5 million lawsuit filed against Mattel over a Cabbage Patch Kids "Snacktime Kid" doll that was made to chew on plastic french fries and carrots. It allegedly gnawed a girl's hair down to her scalp and the lawsuit stated that the entire family would require psychological help.
ep6N4 TIL the FLIP (Floating Instrument Platform) is an ocean research vessel that can flip from horizontal to a 90° vertical floating position like a buoy. When vertical it's imperviable to wave motion and can withstand 80ft swells.