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TIL: The disorder that causes “smooth brain” is called Lissencephaly. Males are more likely to inherit the disease and are more severely effected. Females who inherit the disease may have mild symptoms, or even appear completely healthy with no symptoms.

x4mk TIL that the rightful emperor of China head of the Qing Dynasty, Lord of Ten Thousand Years, Son of Heaven, and Imperial Highness of the Present Time works in local politics, and is a member of a local council
x60kb TIL that the old euphemism for a positive pregnancy test, "the rabbit died", came from a test developed in 1931 wherein the urine from a human female was injected into a rabbit. Soon after, the rabbit was euthanized and dissected to check for the reaction of the hormone hCG in its ovaries.
MgRA TIL there is no evidence that iron maidens were invented in the Middle Ages or even used for torture. Instead they were pieced together in the 18th century from several artifacts found in museums in order to create spectacular objects intended for (commercial) exhibition.
awrVM TIL about Konstantin Volkov, a would be NKVD defector. He offered to expose hundreds of Soviet agents operating in Britain. The man put in charge of his case was Kim Philby, who was secretly working for the Soviets. He promptly informed his handlers about Volkov who was then most likely killed.
rRLLd TIL that strawberries, raspberries and blackberries are not by definition "berries" but watermelon, pumpkin or eggplant are..