› added 11 years ago

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TIL That a Y2K bug caused incorrect Down sydrome test results being sent to pregnant mothers, resulting in two abortions.

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4Xppo TIL a bill named the COVFEFE Act was introduced in 2017 to ensure internet communication from the President, via Twitter or other means, is preserved and stored in the National Archives
Vewp TIL Most greenland sharks are blind due to a 3cm long parasite that latches onto their eye. The sharks have not evolved a defence because the parasite is bioluminescent and is theorised to attract prey to the shark’s head
xVAOb TIL Jean-Claude Van Damme was originally cast as the Predator with the intent that the action star would use his martial arts skills to make the Predator an agile, ninja-like hunter. It was reported that Van Damme constantly complained about the suit being too hot and caused him to pass out.
Ooylg TIL a woman in France accidentally received a phone bill of €11,721,000,000,000,000 (million billion). This was 5000x the GDP of France at the time. It took several days of wrangling before the phone company finally admitted it was a mistake and she owed just €117.21. They let her off.
VBoPD TIL there is a North Korean novel in English about a couple falling in love while studying at university in Pyongyang who later flee to China. The author Ann Shin met and interviewed many defectors