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TIL a geneticist at Utah State University has created “spider-goats.” He took the gene that encodes dragline silk from an orb-weaver spider and placed it among the DNA that prompts milk production in a goat’s udders. The silk produced is stronger than Kevlar and is suitable for ligament repairs.

Read more theguardian.com

via reddit.com

Brl6L TIL The formal clothing of the Roman Citizen was the Toga. During Roman elections, those running for political office would rub their Toga with a dazzling white chalk to stand out. Called Toga Candida (pure-white) this clothing was the origin of the word "candidate".
5Vrxk TIL about the "boiling frog", an apologue describing a frog being slowly boiled alive. The story is often used as a metaphor for the inability or unwillingness of people to react to or be aware of sinister threats that arise gradually rather than suddenly.
VBmdD TIL that in 2012, a computer error caused all the fireworks in the San Diego's Fourth of July Celebration to go off at once, instead of over 18 minutes
OyGa TIL that only 11% of consumers know to tap the “57” on the neck of the glass Heinz bottle to properly release the ketchup.
e0al4 TIL that Data's cat Spot from Star Trek: TNG was played by 5 different cats (Monster, Brandy, Bud, Tyler, Spencer and Zoe) and an unnamed iguana