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TIL the plasma globe was invented accidentally by an MIT undergrad, who was working in a lab to create electrical rocket engines. Right after inventing it, he naturally brought it to his girlfriend's house party.

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neXZr TIL the 1993 film Philadelphia, the story of a man who was discriminated against due to having AIDS, was itself subject of a lawsuit. The family of the late Geoffrey Bowers sued, claiming that the film heavily borrowed from the story of his own lawsuit without giving him compensation or credit.
4kvDg TIL of Père Fouettard, the antithesis of Santa Claus (St. Nicholas) who would accompany Santa and dispense coal and beating to bad children while Santa gave presents to the good ones.
R7xM4 TIL sharks have been around MUCH longer than trees
Kgoa TIL that Andrew Carnegie funded an organization whose goal it was to simplify spelling in the English language. Teddy Roosevelt began using the reformed spelling in his official communications and tried to get the federal government to follow suit, but Congress unanimously voted to stop him.
kJ6dB TIL Brooke Shields's guest appearance on ‘Friends’ impressed NBC so much that led to the creation of 'Suddenly Susan'.