/f/todayilearned
TIL the U.S. Department of Defense spent $41.6 million on Viagra and $84.24 million total on drugs for erectile dysfunction in 2014. Less than 10% of prescriptions were for troops, the rest went to retirees or family members covered by military health plans.
cbsnews.comSubmitted by DioriteLover t3_zt2s24
TIL Salisbury steak was invented as a result of a doctor, James Salisbury, wanting to cure diseases like diarrhea, which killed Civil War soldiers more than combat. He believed vegetables produced toxins and suggested the steak be eaten 3 times a day, with water to cleanse one's digestive system.
bratenahlhistorical.orgSubmitted by electricmastro t3_zscbpv
TIL the Supreme Court established "the reindeer rule" determining that sufficient secular elements can counterbalance religious components in a public display, meaning that municipalities include reindeer in addition to religious holiday displays to avoid violating the First Amendment.
mtsu.eduSubmitted by SisyphusWasLucky t3_zrnd75
TIL that for a period of 20 years, Argentina ranked as one of the wealthiest nations on Earth, having the highest GDP per capita in 1895 and being among the 10 richest until 1920. Today, the country is in crippling debt, and is considered one of the biggest economic downturns in modern history.
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by lenny_the_pope t3_zrm02m
TIL the chief medical examiner of LA county, who performed most of the high profile celeb autopsies in the 60's, was forced to resign after allegations that on hearing the news of RFK being shot, he was seen dancing in his office, saying "i'm going to be famous, i hope he dies"
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by Ainsley-Sorsby t3_zrh9p7
TIL A 2009 survey concluded 65% of Americans educated up to a high school level believe they possess above average intelligence despite data showing only 47% do. Alternatively, 73% of college educated respondents feel they possess above average IQ while data shows 84% do.
ncbi.nlm.nih.govSubmitted by Occulatica t3_zr43z9
TIL Salvia Divinorum, a plant in the Mint family, produces the most potent naturally occurring hallucinogen by mass. The most intense peak is reached in roughly a minute & lasts for 1–5 minutes. Users usually return to a sense of the everyday & familiar, then to baseline, after about 15-20 minutes.
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by The_Critical_Cynic t3_zr2ons
TIL about Eric Simons, a then 19-year-old entrepreneur who secretly lived at AOL headquarters in California for 2 months in 2011. He ate the food, used the gym, and slept in conference rooms, all while working on his startup "ClassConnect". Employees just assumed he worked there during this time.
cnet.comSubmitted by Kyleforshort t3_zr01ga
TIL when Frank Zappa was a kid, he always played with mercury that his father brought home from work, often covering his entire bedroom floor with the element. Childhood exposure to mercury is known to increase the risk of prostate cancer as an adult. Frank Zappa died from prostate cancer at age 52.
faroutmagazine.co.ukSubmitted by waitingforthesun92 t3_zqwsom
TIL The first man to report a rogue wave was Jules Dumont d'Urville in 1826, d'Urville was then publicly ridiculed because such a wave was believed impossible. A rogue wave was not measured until 1995 and the lack of earlier reporting is likely due to few wooden ships surving the encounter.
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by jamescookenotthatone t3_zqmv45