› added 10 years ago

91

TIL that the main flavoring for root beer and the drug MDMA come from the same plant

Read more wikipedia.org

via reddit.com

rnm1 TIL that the Movie “Paranormal Activity” cost less than $15,000 to make but grossed over $193,000,000.
YpDdZ TIL a British mathematician William Shanks famously took 15 years to calculate π to 707 digits, but made a mistake in the 528th digit, rendering all subsequent digits incorrect.
neK4r TIL Near the end of filming the movie Matilda, Mara Wilson's mother passed away from breast cancer. Director Danny DeVito was able to show a near final cut of the film to her so she could see her daughters performance. The movie is also dedicated to her memory.
x66ND TIL I learned about Herschel "Woody" Williams. The last surviving WWII Medal of Honor recipient.
4kvDg TIL of Père Fouettard, the antithesis of Santa Claus (St. Nicholas) who would accompany Santa and dispense coal and beating to bad children while Santa gave presents to the good ones.