› added 12 years ago

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TIL that “Curiosity got its name from student Clara Ma, who as a sixth grader, entered an essay contest to name the next Mars rover. Her essay was chosen from 9,000 entries and as part of her winnings, Ma signed her name on the rover before it was packed for its journey to Mars.”

Read more jpl.nasa.gov

via reddit.com

VMWNm TIL that due to aristocratic ethos only amateurs could officially participate in the Olympics, professional athletes were banned. The Eastern bloc got around this rule with state-sponsored "full-time amateur athletes". The rule was eventually loosened in the 70s and abolished in 1988.
yQwwa TIL there is a disease called fatal familial insomnia which completely prevents sleep. You will continue to stay awake until death and there is absolutely no way for you to sleep, even with the strongest medication out there. It can begin subtle but with time it will always end in death.
Zp41o TIL "Burning Platform" means the necessity of change despite the fear of the unknown consequences. This metaphor was derived from the fatal explosion of an oil drilling platform in which one survivor had to choose to jump into a sea of burning oil rather than burn on the platform
8elNP TIL that Supai, AZ is the most remote community in the contiguous US. It is 8 miles from the nearest road and is only accessible by foot, mule, or helicopter. It is the only place in the United States where mail is still carried in and out by mules.
yQb1X TIL that Clara Peller, the actress behind the "Where's the beef?" slogan, had her contract with Wendy's terminated after she appeared in a tomato sauce commercial in which she said "I found it". Wendy's executive Denny Lynch stated, "Clara can find the beef only in one place, and that is Wendy's".