› added 6 years ago

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TIL that Shakuntala Devi, also known as the human computer, gave the 23rd root of a 201 digit number in 50 seconds. The answer(546,372,891) was verified at the US Bureau of Standards by the UNIVAC 1101 computer, for which a special program had to be written to perform such a large calculation.

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e06QE TIL: The Belly Button Biodiversity Project. Scientists examined the genetic makeup of the bacterial found in the bellybuttons of 60 volunteers. One individual, who hadn't washed in several years, hosted 2 species of extremophile bacteria that typically thrive in ice caps and thermal vents.
8GKK TIL that prior to Harry Harlow’s controversial experiments on infant rhesus monkeys, the medical community in the US believed that physical contact between mother and infant wasn’t necessary beyond feeding. His findings were considered revolutionary at the time, but are now widely accepted.
8a7xb TIL that 31 inmates of Louisiana's Angola prison cut their Achilles' tendons to protest deplorable living conditions. This prompted national news agencies to write exposé stories on inmate life, leading to prison reform.
8PbG TIL that an Indian airline only hires women because they are lighter, so they save up to $500,000 per year in fuel
GG17 TIL during a delay in filming, Jon-Erik Hexum from 80’s show “Voyagers!” was playing with a gun used for an upcoming scene. While passing time he shot a blank into his temple and the blunt force from point blank range propelled pieces of his skull into his brain. He died 6 days later.