› added 10 years ago

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TIL In 1903, a large pocket of underground gas was found in Dexter, KS. In the hopes of economic prosperity, a celebration was planned. The burning of the gas was to “light the entire countryside for a day and a night,” but it just wouldn’t ignite… and Helium was discovered.

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WkpQB TIL that the candy bar THREE MUSKETEERS was so named because the package originally contained THREE bars: vanilla, chocolate and strawberry. WW2 sugar restrictions led to consolidation into a single chocolate bar.
oRDEK TIL that the largest volcanic eruption in recorded history, in 1815, led to a "Year Without a Summer," causing widespread famine and the death of horses. This, in turn spurred, the invention of the bicycle as a new means of transportation.
R7bD6 TIL in the 1880s, many farmers communicated by connecting their phones to barbed wire fences. This process often allowed for up to 20 people to be connected at once, everyone’s phone would ring regardless of who called, and the invention helped many farmers overcome depression and loneliness.
dDYO8 TIL that in 2014, the beard of Tutankhamun's golden mask fell off during cleaning at the Egyptian Museum. Workers used epoxy glue to reattach it, causing permanent damage and leading to their prosecution in 2016.
nR7P TIL Grizzly bears were so feared and respected by Native Americans that hunting them required a company of 4 to 10 warriors and was done with the same preparation and ceremoniality as intertribal warfare.