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TIL for 358 years mathematicians attempted to solve an equation scribbled in the margin of a text book with a note they had a proof but was "too large to fit in the margin". It's still debated today whether Fermat had a solution in 1637 or wrote that just to entice other mathematicians

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k5r4 TIL That the Soviet Union couldnt figure out how to weld titanium without cracking it, so they built 80% of the Mig-25 out of…stainless steel.
PY0vn TIL of Barry Marshall who challenged the scientific consensus that ulcers were caused by stress. After being ridiculed and having his papers rejected in 1984 he infected himself with ulcer inducing bacteria and proved the scientific elites wrong. He subsequently won the Nobel Prize in Medicine
GrbE TIL that Chick Sexers are trained professionals whose jobs are to determine the gender of a newborn chick. Average salary is $60,000/year.
VM0xQ TIL when Richard Feynman was in the State Curriculum Commission of California, he found out that some members of the committee which was responsible for choosing which books are used in public education had given a rating to not only unfinished, but completely blank textbooks [Page 173]
5YBXR TIL In the 300 BC the Greek mathematician Aristarchus created a formula capable of accurately calculating the distance of the Sun from Earth.