› added 12 years ago

279

TIL that the time dedicated to commercials per half hour episode has more than doubled since the 1950’s.

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epYKn TIL the shrew (family Soricidae) has the fastest heartbeat of any mammal, with a rate of 1,200 beats per minute, which is similar to that of a hummingbird's when hovering.
kJO9m TIL that Eel blood is toxic to humans, but both cooking and the digestive process destroy the toxic protein.
9Ylx7 TIL blue raspberry flavor is based on a real fruit called Whitebark Raspberry, which bears blue/black fruit.
jNe8p TIL in the Phillipines, "some Catholics are voluntarily, non-lethally crucified for a limited time on Good Friday to imitate the sufferings of Christ. Pre-sterilised nails are driven through the palm of the hand between the bones, while there is a footrest to which the feet are nailed."
pjpb TIL of the steamship Eastland, which, in 1915, capsized while still tied to the dock in Chicago. New safety laws which rushed through Congress after the Titanic sinking mandated so much safety gear installed that the ship was top heavy and rolled over, killing 844 people.