› added 12 years ago

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TIL that St Jude’s Hospital, which has treated thousands of children with cancer, is not religiously affiliated, and instead was founded by actor Danny Thomas because of a promise to the patron saint of lost causes after he found success in Hollywood

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R1vQ TIL Hedy Lamarr, an actress in the 40’s and 50’s and “the most beautiful woman in the world”, co-patented the technology that would lead to Wi-Fi, GPS, wireless phones, and others.
OGkwa TIL that "hybrid" tomatoes (Supermarket tomatoes) have up to 75% less nutrients, are virtually tasteless and cost farmers €400,000 for 1kg of seeds. The cost is associated with a bred growth defect, resulting in a 3 week shelf life (vs 3 days)
4kajR TIL: In 1994, the DEA seized a supercomputer from a drug cartel. The cartel acquired an IBM AS/400 and used it to record bribes, vehicle and telephone data of enemies, and the entire Colombian DMV record. The cartel had computer analysts using it to locate individuals to wiretap. The DEA was stunned
gLNL TIL In 2002, a brothel in Fremantle (Western Australia) had to be closed down because U.S sailors pushed prostitutes to exhaustion.
bxe0 TIL Bruce Banner’s name was changed to David for The Incredible Hulk television series because “Bruce sounded gay.”