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TIL a failed experiment of an 18 year old English chemist in search of a treatment for malaria in 1856 produced one of the world’s first synthetic dyes for the color purple, which severely impacted economic trade as some natural dyes were major commodities more valuable than silver or gold

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8eXQL TIL that when the first rail bridge over the Mississippi River was being planned, riverboat operators pushed for rigid standards in hopes of making the bridge impossible. Instead, the bridge pioneered multiple engineering techniques and still carries road and rail traffic 150 years later.
rNNm4 TIL hummingbird feeders need daily cleaning in hot weather bc nectar spoils in heat & sickens the birds. Several ways to protect their food from overheating include: place feeders in shade, freeze nectar into small cubes & fill feeders with them to delay heating, wrap in foil, use glass feeders.
PwRg TIL lions are called “king of the jungle” because “jungle” derives from a Hindi word meaning “uninhabited place”. They typically live in savannas and grasslands.
xVLKg TIL that when 13-year-old Ryan White got AIDS from a blood donor in 1984, he was banned from returning to school by a petition signed by 117 parents. An auction was held to keep him out, a newspaper supporting him got death threats, and his family left town when a gun was fired through their window.
mQNO TIL in 2013, the largest known discovery of buried gold coins, valued at $10M, was found on a couple’s private property in rural California. Known only as John and Mary, the couple has no idea who buried the coins, and they remain anonymous to prevent treasure-seeking trespassers.