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Left-handed scissors need reversed blades, not just different handles.
Left-handed scissors need reversed blades, not just different handles. On right-handed scissors, the upper blade can hide the cutting line when used in the…
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Crew meals are part of an airline's safety precautions.
Crew meals are part of an airline's safety precautions. Gastroenteritis can incapacitate a pilot, so aviation guidance tells crews to follow their operator's…
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A medical case report described stubborn hiccups stopping after rectal massage.
A medical case report described stubborn hiccups stopping after rectal massage. The patient’s hiccups had resisted drugs and other maneuvers; when they…
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Harry Potter's owl post needed a lighter kind of letter.
Harry Potter's owl post needed a lighter kind of letter. The prop designers made lightweight versions for the birds to carry, alongside the detailed letters…
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Scientists tracked European eels to their ocean rendezvous.
Scientists tracked European eels to their ocean rendezvous. For decades, the youngest larvae pointed toward the Sargasso Sea as the breeding area. A study…
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Edgar Allan Poe practically invented the modern detective genre but died under bizarre circumstances that not even his most cynical fictional characters could solve.
Edgar Allan Poe practically invented the modern detective genre but died under bizarre circumstances that not even his most cynical fictional characters could…
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A psychology study connected guilty memories with cleaning products.
A psychology study connected guilty memories with cleaning products. In the 2006 experiments behind the “Macbeth effect,” recalling unethical acts increased…
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Automobile key fobs can actually have their wireless range significantly extended if you hold the remote directly against your skull while pressing the unlock button.
Automobile key fobs can actually have their wireless range significantly extended if you hold the remote directly against your skull while pressing the unlock…
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Garlic molecules are so highly penetrative that if you rub a raw clove directly onto the soles of your bare feet, you will actually be able to taste and smell the garlic in your mouth within an hour.
Garlic molecules are so highly penetrative that if you rub a raw clove directly onto the soles of your bare feet, you will actually be able to taste and smell…
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A hand dryer's air can carry bacteria from the room around it.
A hand dryer's air can carry bacteria from the room around it. In a 2018 study at a medical research center, plates exposed to dryer airflow collected far…
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Soviet cosmonauts did not actually just use cheap graphite pencils in space while NASA foolishly spent millions of dollars inventing a zero-gravity ink pen.
Soviet cosmonauts did not actually just use cheap graphite pencils in space while NASA foolishly spent millions of dollars inventing a zero-gravity ink pen.…
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A morning erection can be the last trace of REM sleep.
A morning erection can be the last trace of REM sleep. Erections occur repeatedly during REM sleep, whether or not a dream is sexual. Waking during one of…
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Eckhart Tolle popularized the concept of living entirely in the present moment with his book, claiming he achieved profound spiritual awakening after experiencing intense suicidal depression.
Eckhart Tolle popularized the concept of living entirely in the present moment with his book, claiming he achieved profound spiritual awakening after…
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An Egyptian pregnancy test waited for seeds to sprout.
An Egyptian pregnancy test waited for seeds to sprout. An ancient papyrus prescribed watering wheat and barley with urine and watching for growth. A 1963…
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Hermeticism is a philosophical and mystical tradition based on writings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus, a legendary syncretic combination of the Greek god Hermes and the…
Hermeticism is a philosophical and mystical tradition based on writings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus, a legendary syncretic combination of the Greek god…
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Oasis turned down the opportunity to write and perform the theme song for the iconic film Trainspotting because Noel Gallagher literally thought the movie was about actual train spotters hanging out at railway stations.
Oasis turned down the opportunity to write and perform the theme song for the iconic film Trainspotting because Noel Gallagher literally thought the movie was…
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King Philip II of Spain utilized one of the first recorded dedicated wheelchairs in 1595, which was essentially an immensely heavy wooden throne outfitted with tiny wheels and armrests.
King Philip II of Spain utilized one of the first recorded dedicated wheelchairs in 1595, which was essentially an immensely heavy wooden throne outfitted…
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Gum disease is linked to cardiovascular disease, giving researchers a reason to study what travels from mouth to bloodstream.
Gum disease is linked to cardiovascular disease, giving researchers a reason to study what travels from mouth to bloodstream. Inflamed gums can let oral…
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Ancient Romans frequently utilized defixiones, or curse tablets, which were small sheets of lead inscribed with magical spells designed to bind or harm their enemies before being…
Ancient Romans frequently utilized defixiones, or curse tablets, which were small sheets of lead inscribed with magical spells designed to bind or harm their…
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Witch hunters during the European and American trials fervently believed that the devil provided witches with familiars, which were demonic spirits shape-shifted into everyday…
Witch hunters during the European and American trials fervently believed that the devil provided witches with familiars, which were demonic spirits…
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Sleeping on the wrong type of pillow forces your cervical spine out of its natural alignment for eight continuous hours, severely straining your neck muscles and compressing crucial nerve pathways.
Sleeping on the wrong type of pillow forces your cervical spine out of its natural alignment for eight continuous hours, severely straining your neck muscles…
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The dollar bill has avoided the dramatic redesigns of larger notes.
The dollar bill has avoided the dramatic redesigns of larger notes. Low-value counterfeits offer less payoff, so security redesign efforts have focused on…
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United States quarters and dimes feature tiny ridges along their outer edges because historical coins were minted from solid silver and gold, making them prime targets for a highly lucrative scam known as coin clipping.
United States quarters and dimes feature tiny ridges along their outer edges because historical coins were minted from solid silver and gold, making them…
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Polybius is a famous urban legend about an arcade game supposedly deployed by the US government in 1981 to secretly brainwash citizens and harvest psychological data.
Polybius is a famous urban legend about an arcade game supposedly deployed by the US government in 1981 to secretly brainwash citizens and harvest…
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