› added 8 years ago

520

TIL that Brazil used its (huge) surplus of coffee to fuel trains during the Great Depression.

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v4BD TIL The Islamic world was a dominant player in the history of slavery. Muslims continued to trade in European slaves by raiding European coasts up to the 19th century.
MeWmB TIL until the Anatomy Act of 1832 (UK) there weren't enough corpses for medical schools and body snatching proliferated to a point grieving families had to guard graves after burial. Robbers didn't steal jewelry/clothes as that was a felony punishable by death/transportation; a body was only a fine.
epBxJ TIL that some historians believe Zachary Taylor, 12th President of the United States, died from eating too many cherries and drinking too much fresh milk.
v6x TIL that in 1972 a radio was designed that ‘sneezed’ every 6 months in order to protect the microprocessors from dust
jRGn TIL that if your second toe is longer than your big toe it is a condition called Morton’s Toe and that some statues, including the Statue of Liberty, have feet sculpted that way.