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TIL the Greek physician Hippocrates thought that a malignant tumour surrounded by swollen blood vessels reminded him of a crab in sand calling the mass karkinos, the Greek word for crab, hence the origin of the name cancer.

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9jQG TIL when Yuri Gagarin was a child, he and his family had to live in a 10ft x 10ft mud hut for 21 months after Nazis occupied their farm and home. He later grew up to become the first human in space.
LkEA9 TIL aluminum was the most valuable metal on Earth until the 20th century. When Napoleon the third entertained guests, his guests would use a gold spoon and he would use an aluminum spoon.
ADXRd TIL about the longest papal election in history, that lasted nearly 3 years (1268–71). At one point people became so fed up with the indecision, they unroofed the building where the cardinals met, imprisoning them until they had nominated a new pope. This happening marked the birth of the conclave.
KwW9 TIL that in 1966 two men climbed up a hill in Brazil, placed lead masks over their faces, and apparently killed themselves for unexplained reasons. The only clue left behind was a note that read, “16:30 be at agreed place, 18:30 swallow capsules, after effect protect metals wait for mask signal.”
VMA0Z TIL that in 2006, 75% of Chinese didn't know that sharks were killed to make shark fin soup. But now, 91% of Chinese support a nationwide ban, thanks to activism work by Yao Ming and others