› added 11 years ago

105

TIL that “fire fighting” and “kite flying” were featured at the 1900 Olympics in Paris

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MeJGA TIL: Rabies Disease produces Hydrophobia ("fear of water"), since the ability to transmit the virus would decrease significantly if the infected individual could swallow saliva and water. Thus, attempts to drink or even suggestion of drinking can cause painful spasms in the throat.
4yQo TIL that MI5 once had a plan to use Gerbils to detect terrorists/spies at airports, as their sense of smell can acutely detect increased adrenalin in people. The project was scrapped when the Gerbils proved unable to tell the difference between terrorists and those afraid of flying.
lkw7 TIL in 1998 Britain started requiring paracetamol (Tylenol) to be sold in 16 count blister packs instead of 100 count bottles. This reduced suicides from Tylenol overdoses by 43%
rR9ae TIL search and rescue dog Trakr, who found the last survivor 27 hours after the 9/11 attacks, was successfully cloned in 2009. The five puppies produced then went on to be trained as search and rescue dogs
kJJEm TIL The flag of the East India Company was nearly identical to the original flag adopted during the American Revolution. In fact, there is a theory that this was intentional, as some saw the company as sharing grievances with the American colonies against the British Empire