› added 4 years ago

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TIL that humans, aside from domesticating animals (livestock, pets) and plants (crops) also domesticate themselves. One characteristic that all domesticated animals including humans have in common, is a smaller brain compared to their wild ancestors.

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R9n6 TIL in chess, the queen used to be a relatively weak piece that reflected moral inferiority; that changed around 1500 with the rise of Queen Isabella of Spain.
N7yZ8 TIL The Earl of Barrymore was challenged to a race by a butcher who bet he could win if given a short start and choice of track. As he was overweight, Barrymore eagerly agreed. The butcher chose Brighton's narrowest lane and though the Earl quickly caught him up, he was unable to pass.
9Y1QB TIL before MRI scans were widespread, doctors used an extremely painful X-ray to look at the brain where the CSF was drained and replaced with air. They would strap patients into a rotating chair to angle them upside down so that the fluid would be fully replaced in different parts of the brain.
oR67 TIL The Malaysian government sprayed DDT to rid infested areas of mosquitos. This caused an ecological imbalance that ultimately forced planeloads of cats to be parachuted into the country.
KOnJ9 TIL that Gwyneth Paltrow marketed jade eggs for women to insert into their vaginas, and got sued for false claims and misleading information