› added 12 years ago

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TIL that Tesla invented a light bulb called the “Carbon button lamp” that is 10 times more efficient than a standard Edison incandescent bulb.

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v1j7R TIL the "Sex Raft" was a 1973 experiment in which five men and six women of various religions, nationalities and social backgrounds drifted across the Atlantic on a raft for 101 days in order to study sexual and physical aggression. It produced little in the way of worthwhile scientific results
kOPxE TIL that when a child actor is cast in California, a trust fund, or Coogan account, is setup to store at least 15% of their earnings. This was after the parents of Jackie Coogan, a child star from some early Charlie Chaplin movies, squandered nearly all of his fortune before he reached adulthood
Yyex TIL that a Russian 4 year old left his abusive parents to live with a pack of wild dogs. Before his capture by police, he became the pack leader and escaped authorities three times. He later studied in Military School and served in the Russian Army.
GYQRN TIL that 21 years ago, nearly five million LEGO pieces fell into the sea when a huge wave hit the cargo ship Tokio Express, washing 62 containers overboard. One contained over 4.7 million pieces of Lego, much of it sea themed. The Lego is still washing up.
PYVrJ TIL The history of animated characters wearing white gloves has ties to caricaturing black people, partially inspired from minstrels who often wore them during shows, as well as jazz which influenced many early 1900's cartoons. It was also practical to help distinguish hands from their black bodies.