› added 4 years ago

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TIL at one point, if you lived in Washington DC you could get free goldfish from the government.

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nQPr TIL of a horse named Jim who was used to make diptheria anti-toxin. One day Jim got tetanus and by the time anyone noticed 12 children who received his serum had died, leading to the creation of the 1902 Biologics Control Act.
0X9L TIL in 1953, Ronald Maddison, a 20-year old Royal Air Force engineer died while acting as a guinea pig for sarin gas testing at Porton Down, England. Maddison was offered 15 shillings for the experiment, which he planned on using to buy an engagement ring for his girlfriend.
ryGe TIL a man went over a year without food. When he started, he weighed over 450 pounds, and was about 180 when he finished. Doctors monitored him during this time, giving him supplements as needed.
v1jmL TIL John F Kennedy revoked Sammy Davis Jr's inauguration invite due to his planned marriage to white actress May Britt
lovA7 TIL that between 1871 and 1885 Marianne North, a Victorian biologist, and botanical painter painted in oil over 800 paintings while visiting 17 countries on 6 continents. Towards the end of her life, she presented her life's work - 832 paintings - to the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew.