› added 10 years ago

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TIL that Steve Jobs contracted a form of cancer that was slow growing and most likely to be cured, and the reason he didn’t survive was because he chose to hold off surgery for 9 months in favor of alternative treatments like acupuncture, dietary supplements and juices

Read more forbes.com

via reddit.com

0wJZA TIL that in May 1620, southern Germany experienced arctic temperatures and so 900 men and women were accused and executed for witchcraft as scapegoats for the change in temperatures.
9lnQ TIL between 1932 and 1972 the US government tricked black citizens into believing they were receiving free healthcare so they could study the natural progression of untreated syphilis.
QNvkd TIL that while the Selective Service System only requires men between the ages of 18-25 to register for a possible draft, US federal law considers all able-bodied men between the ages of 17-44 as part of the militia, meaning all men in that age range can be conscripted.
Y7MdW Today I learned that using the word "period" to refer to menstruation is an artifact from the 19th century, when explicitly talking about menstruation was considered taboo, so euphemisms were used instead.
XEewD TIL a 2013 BBC study found that 56% of pilots fell asleep while flying, and 29% had woken up to find the co-pilot also asleep.