› added 2 years ago

75

TIL a family in Georgia claimed to have passed down a song in an unknown language from the time of their enslavement; scientists identified the song as a genuine West African funeral song in the Mende language that had survived multiple transmissions from mother to daughter over multiple centuries

Read more harrisnecklandtrust.org

via reddit.com

9YZNm TIL that after struggling to sell his product in drug stores, the inventor of Vaseline would travel around the US intentionally burning himself with acid or an open flame in front of audiences. He would then spread the product all over the wounds and show off old lesions he claimed to be healed
e0VKJ TIL that the smell of the air after a storm is caused by Geosmin: A chemical released by dead soil bacteria. Humans are hyper sensitive to it, capable of detecting at a concentration of 5 parts per trillion. It's theorised in our evolutionary past this helped us seek out water.
JE9Q TIL: That in the dreams of deaf people, they still don’t hear but either the people in their dreams know sign language or all communication is essentially telepathic.
vx0r TIL that, in order to increase productivity, Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos employs a “two pizza” rule for his business meetings: he never has a meeting where two pizzas isn’t enough to feed everyone in attendance.
n7Nr TIL The pharma company Merck developed a drug called Ivermectin to treat river blindness. They donate it to 3rd world countries that can’t afford it, and sell it to farmers to treat worms in their animals. It has helped save millions of lives.