› added 10 years ago

80

TIL that in some parts of Poland, it’s uncommon to casually celebrate birthdays, and instead, “name days”, the day a patron saint a person has been named after is dedicated, is celebrated by coworkers, etc.

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nevMb TIL much of St Peter's Basilica was funded by selling indulgences, meaning letters excusing you from sin. Rich people sometimes even bought these in advance, for sins they planned on committing.
eGR4 TIL that a molten-salt reactor, a piece of technology conceived during the Cold War that forgoes solid nuclear fuel for a liquid one, can generate energy with far greater efficiency than any power technology in existence.
gYyX TIL that Green Arrow’s Chili is the spiciest food in the DC Universe. Only Green Arrow himself and Batman can eat it without screaming in pain.
LkOyV TIL that in 1965, a morbidly obese man didn't eat food for over an entire year. The 27 year old was 456lbs and was put under an experimental fast by doctors. He ingested only multivitamins and potassium tablets for 382 days and defecated once every 40 to 50 days. He ended up losing 275lbs.
bKo9 TIL That while the United States has no legally mandated paid parental leave, Lithuanian women get 1 year at 100% pay or 2 years at 70% for the first year and 40% pay for the second. Men get at least one month off for each child.