› added 10 years ago

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TIL Pop Rocks were the result of Tang inventor William A. Mitchell’s attempt to create an instant carbonated soda.

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via reddit.com

0wvmR TIL that a slave rebellion broke out on slaveship La Amistad in 1839, resulting in two deaths. The slaves were captured and stood trial. It was ruled that they acted as free men, and were entitled to take any measures necessary to ensure freedom, including force. They were all returned to Africa.
owW7 TIL Halitosis is a made up word that was invented in order to sell more Listerine.
695xZ TIL that Bee orchids mimic the shape and scent of bees in order to lure them into ‘pseudocopulation’, where the male insect attempts to mate with the flower. While the bee gets nothing but a wasted effort, the orchid transfers some of its pollen to the bee
nW5BY TIL before Saladin died in 1193, he had given away all his wealth to his poor subjects. His estate consisted of 1 piece of gold and 40 pieces of silver, not enough to pay for his funeral.
wL5nY TIL Stalin once sent 6,000 people to an island now known as 'Cannibal Island'. They were given no food except flour, with no ovens to make it into bread