› added 8 years ago

333

TIL A German biologist who claimed measles is psychosomatic, offered 100,000 Euros to anyone who proved measles is a virus. A German doctor presented evidence of the virus; the biologist dismissed the evidence, but the local court ordered him to pay up.

Read more bbc.com

via reddit.com

wodaE TIL In 1969, Nixon appointed a Space Task Group which presented recommendations including building an Earth-orbiting space station, a lunar-orbiting space station, a base on the lunar surface, and a human expedition to Mars. They were too expensive, so Nixon directed NASA to build the Space Shuttle
v1jDD TIL the bearded vulture is the only known animal whose diet consists almost entirely (70-90%) of bone. It is capable of swallowing a sheep's vertebrae whole. The bird's stomach acid has been estimated to have a pH of 1, so even large bones are digested within 24 hours.
drpB TIL Hugh Trenchard, a British soldier in the Boer War was shot in the chest and spine, becoming partially paralysed, took up bobsledding as a pastime, and after a major accident regained use of his legs
xvPg TIL the summit of Mt. Everest is marine limestone made up of fossilised remains of ocean creatures
W7Q4o TIL more than 30 million viewers watched Luke and Laura's wedding on General Hospital in 1981, a soap opera record that still stands today