› added 12 years ago

100

TIL that in 1890 an Oberlin College professor gave a lecture on then-rare aluminum, stating ‘if anyone could make this on a commercial scale, he would be a benefactor to the world and would also make a great fortune.’ In attendance was Charles Hall, who took him up on the challenge – and succeeded.

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GAvJQ TIL that There is a ranking to measure a country's level of multiculturalism (ethnic, linguistic and religious). The most ethnically and linguistically diverse is Uganda and the most religiously diverse is South Africa.
NX508 TIL of Robert Stroud, the 'Birdman of Alcatraz,' who became a renowned ornithologist and published books on bird diseased while serving a life sentence for murder at one of the world's most infamous prisons.
695BZ TIL the Nigerian version of Big Brother is the most successful version in the global Big Brother franchise, with viewership of over 309 million. The 2023 season of it has its prize money at 154,989 USD, making it the one of versions with the most substantial prize money.
pYyB4 TIL St. Clare of Assisi, who died in the year 1253, is the patron saint of television. It's because when she was too ill to attend Mass, she had reportedly been able to see and hear it on the wall of her room.
QbLa TIL of Roald Amundsen, a Norwegian Explorer. In 1909, he tried to be the first man to reach the North Pole, but was beaten by Robert Peary. Upon hearing of Peary’s victory, Amundsen immediately mounted an expedition to the South Pole, which he became the first to reach in 1911.