TIL there's a type of broccoli called Romanesco that naturally grows in a fractal pattern https://ift.tt/6sVU1nw

TIL that Sirhan Sirhan, convicted assassin of Robert Kennedy, was granted parole last year and almost got out but Governor Newsom blocked his release in January 2022. https://ift.tt/ZCMPKnw

TIL during the rise of Japan as a major economic power, seen as an economic threat to the US, anti-Japanese sentiment was so high that a Chinese American was beaten to death before his wedding on the assumption that he was Japanese. In 1987, US congressmen smashed Toshiba products on Capitol Hill https://ift.tt/ch5EQmC

TIL landlords in Glasgow, Scotland tried to increase rent by 25% on women whose husbands were fighting in World War 1. The women organised a rent strike and stopped bailiffs entering their buildings by throwing flour bombs at them and pulling down their trousers. https://ift.tt/GNmA9qL

TIL the set for the 1989 movie "The Abyss" was constructed inside an abandoned nuclear power plant, modified to hold water. When filming wrapped, the set was just left there rather than deconstructed. It remained there until 2007 when it was finally demolished. https://ift.tt/O8mpfsu

TIL about the "sleeping sickness," a disease that attacks the brain, which leaves some in a statue-like condition—speechless and motionless. The disease spread around the world between 1916 and 1926, infecting over 1 million people and directly causing over 500,000 deaths. Its causes are uncertain. https://ift.tt/N13u6qw

TIL that a descendant of the Ancient Egyptian language is still used, albeit as the liturgical language of the Coptic Orthodox Church and of the Coptic Catholic Church https://ift.tt/JnFxp5t

TIL The American edit of Godzilla 1985 was originally meant to be more comedic but the actors refused. Raymond Burr would not treat Godzilla as a joke because the character was an anti-nuclear war allegory and Warren Kemmerling just refused to do comic material. https://ift.tt/aDn2MXe

TIL That Nicola Tesla invented and patented the first rotating speedometer. https://ift.tt/j3AiKYh

TIL of Mario Salcedo who, with a few exceptions, has been living permanently on Royal Carribbean cruise ships for over 20 years https://ift.tt/E6Y7ax4

TIL closed-cup white mushrooms, common in supermarkets, are all descended from one mutant Agaricus Bisporus (usually brown) mushroom found in 1925. https://ift.tt/RjQMlUp

TIL in the late 1990s, a Paraguayan girl emerged from a coma; when given a wish, she chose a trip to Ohio to see the Hayes Presidential Center. https://ift.tt/nma2R7o

TIL dolphins actually have names for one another, using a unique whistle to distinguish between different members within their pod. https://ift.tt/Rne9bIE

TIL an earth year had more days in the far past. scientists made this discovery after comparing corals/clams which have corresponding growth rings for each day. depending on the age, fossils record 400 to 420 days instead of our typical 365 a year. https://ift.tt/RdTKvh9

TIL of Sonya Thomas, a competitive eater. In 2005, she held 22 world titles at a bodyweight of 99 lbs. and defeated elite male and female competitors twice her size or more. https://ift.tt/wdmfXPE

TIL the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 CE was so hot it turned one victim’s brain into glass https://ift.tt/ueIGS0A

TIL the ice cream that Dairy Queen uses isn't considered ice cream by the FDA. They classify it as 'ice milk' instead because the milk fat content in Dairy Queen soft serve is less than what regular ice cream has. https://ift.tt/JYcinR6

TIL the "tank" was named by the British military during WWI to make the enemy think they were developing a kind of water carrier instead of a secret new weapon. https://ift.tt/FPrTjJ2

TIL over 30% of the US population lives in four states: California, Texas, Florida, New York. https://ift.tt/yenmRhp

TIL about Grey Owl. A famous indigenous Canadian conservationist during the 1930s. When he died, it was revealed that he wasn't actually First Nations at all - instead he was a British immigrant that was putting on an act. https://ift.tt/TuWrvGy

TIL there are wasps that will paralyze lady bugs with a virus and then put a cocoon of its larvae between the ladybug's legs. The larvae emerge and intentionally only eat non-vital organs/parts. About 25% of the hosts regain control of their body afterwards https://ift.tt/7C0l8Uv