› added 7 years ago

6470

TIL a philosophy riddle from 1688 was recently solved. If a man born blind can feel the differences between shapes such as spheres and cubes, could he, if given the ability, distinguish those objects by sight alone? In 2003 five people had their sight restored though surgery, and, no they could not.

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EgnXV TIL that despite being fluent in several languages, Kit Carson was illiterate
j9LQ TIL of 22 year old Herbert K. Pililaau, the first Hawaiian Medal of Honor recipient, who killed 40 advancing North Korean soldiers by himself to cover the retreat of his squad. His weapons- one rifle, his grenades, found rocks, a trench knife, and his bare hands.
pYrLb TIL gerrymandering is named after a famous case where an 1812 district signed into law by Massachusetts Governor, Elbridge Gerry, resembled a salamander. A political cartoon published in the Boston Gazette dubbed it the "Gerry-mander".
d8YyQ TIL Terry Kneiss studied/memorized the prices in every episode of the Price is Right, got on the show, and became the first player in 38 years to name the price of the Showdown Showcase right on the nose. Host Drew Carey was so shaken and certain Kneiss had cheated, his reaction was markedly subdued
mKWy TIL that over 10% of the population of a small Polynesian island has an incredibly rare form of colour blindness which renders them unable to see any colours at all. This is because a 1775 typhoon wiped out all but 20 of its inhabitants, and the ruler at the time carried this allele.