› added 7 years ago

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TIL the first living creature to orbit the earth was Laika, a stray Russian dog. Russian scientists figured a stray dog already learned to endure harsh conditions of cold temperature and hunger making it an ideal astronaut.

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via ift.tt

Y7Drv TIL some plants like kiwifruit, wild taro, pineapples have microscopic sharp crystalline needles called raphides.
NXgeb TIL DNA can be taken from parchment. The DNA taken from parchment can be used to determine the animal of origin and its relation to other parchments.
x6E6w TIL that the story of NASA spending millions on a space pen is a lie.The pen was invented by a man called Paul Fisher who sold it to NASA for $6 a pen.
D1BZe TIL that André the Giant grew so fast that his own parents didn't recognize him. He left home at 14 and returned at 19, having already become a professional wrestler. As he explained his career choice, they realized they had seen him wrestle on TV under his alias, without knowing it was their son.
d8PPK TIL that Richard Nixon, as VPOTUS, had an opportunity to attempt to claim Hawaii's 3 electoral votes in 1960, but graciously abided by the recount and awarded them to his opponent (JFK) instead.