› added 11 years ago

129

TIL that the president of the World Chess Federation believes that chess was invented by aliens

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gM6rb TIL of Judit Polgár, the youngest and strongest of 3 chess prodigy sisters, who is widely considered the best female player of all time. She and her sisters were intentionally raised to be chess masters by their father, László Polgár, to prove his theory that "Geniuses are made, not born."
KYYa6 TIL the song 'Mac Arthur Park' was written with its odd time signatures and lyrics by Jimmy Webb, at the request of a record producer. It was rejected, but later recorded by the actor Richard Harris and unexpectedly became a hit.
5VoOk TIL that there are approximately over 10,000 atomic bombs / nuclear warheads worldwide.
awAKy TIL Hans Zimmer isolated himself for 30 days in his apartment to help him compose the soundtrack for Interstellar
W79nY TIL that San Marino used to be the only communist republic west of the Iron Curtain until a "coup d'état" from the Christian Democratic Party ousted the communists and socialists from ruling the country. The new government was immediately recognised by France, United States and Italy.