› added 10 months ago

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TIL while abiotic synthesis of chiral molecules always yields an equal mixture of their enantiomers, the biomolecules that make up life are always chiral and single-handed. Sientists believe that figuring out how life emerged from a racemic prebiotic world is key to undersanding the origin of life.

Read more ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

via reddit.com

ODgR TIL there is no evidence to suggest that Marie Antoinette ever said, “let them eat cake.” Scholars think the phrase was a common insult used to criticize aristocratic figures in the 18th century.
7rpyL TIL about The Indestructible Alkemade. A WW2 RAF Airman who survived a fall of 18,000 feet without a parachute, and suffered only a sprained leg. His descent was slowed by pine trees and he landed in 18 inches of snow.
KB7J TIL that all domestic golden hamsters are descended from one female – probably one captured in 1930 in Syria
4koo5 TIL that the cows living on Queen Elizabeth's estate sleep on waterbeds.
Jl0V TIL in response to Million Dollar Baby, a disability rights group criticized Eastwood for having a vendetta against the disabled. Eastwood responded: I’ve gone around in movies blowing people away with a .44 magnum. But that doesn’t mean I think that’s a proper thing to do.