› added 11 years ago

116

TIL 50% of human DNA matches a banana

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Owja TIL Scotland Yard uses a national computer system developed for major crime inquiries by all British forces, called Home Office Large Major Enquiry System, which is a backronym for HOLMES, in honor of Sherlock Holmes
a86Eo TIL today in 1895, the Japanese violently slayed Empress Myeongseong (aka Queen Min) of Joseon Korea. She was an intelligent woman and the most important reformist in Joseon court. Western historians later describe the act "unspeakably barbaric"
7rylX TIL that when America declared war on Germany in 1917, the majority of Texas A&M cadets enrolled in class were excused by the university and joined the war effort. “Graduation” was conducted at the cadets’ training facility.
xVbv1 TIL that in Sweden, a single anonymous phone call to the tax authority is enough to find out what someone has paid and tabloids often publish lists of the highest earners in different neighborhoods.
9Yr1D TIL that the R in APR is not an INTEREST rate, but the OVERALL rate of a loan; that is, how much the loan costs fees AND interest!