Martha Stewart once said, “If you learn something new every day, you can teach something new every day.” An excellent place to follow Miss Stewart’s advice is the subreddit r/TodayILearned. With an impressive 27.4 million members, Today I Learned (or TIL for short) is a source of infinite knowledge for curious readers. Since 2008, users have been gathering to share interesting facts they just learned about anything and everything, and we want to pass some of the knowledge along.
Whether you’re looking for conversation starters to impress your colleagues or pointless fun facts to whip out at parties, TIL is the place to be. We’ve gathered some of the most interesting facts that have recently been shared on the page, so you can definitely learn something today. And when you’re looking to continue your education even more, check out some of Bored Panda's previous TIL publications here, here, and here!
This post may include affiliate links.
TIL that Alan Turing (cryptographer responsible for breaking the Nazi Enigma code during World War II) was also an Olympic-level runner and he developed a new field of biology out of his fascination with daisies
Mark Twain famously said that "truth is stranger than fiction", and this subreddit seems to support that claim. Learning interesting facts is more than pure entertainment, though. Acquiring knowledge is actually like exercise for our brains. According to Health Navigator, keeping our brains active can "improve cognitive functions such as concentration, attention to detail, memory recall and problem solving", as well as reduce risk of dementia.
Harvard Health Publishing even has an article titled "Train Your Brain" encouraging readers to take up a new hobby or practice a challenging activity to keep their brains in good shape. "Eventually, your cognitive skills will wane and thinking and memory will be more challenging, so you need to build up your reserve," says Dr. John N. Morris of the Institute for Aging Research. "Embracing a new activity that also forces you to think and learn and requires ongoing practice can be one of the best ways to keep the brain healthy."
TIL about Theo van Gogh, Vincent's younger Brother, whose unfailing financial and emotional support allowed his brother to devote himself entirely to painting. He also died 6 months after his brother's suicide and today they are buried next to each other at the cemetery of Auvers-sur-Oise
TIL dogs "play sneeze" when they're feeling excited or playful. "Play sneezes" mean your dog is having a good time and indicate to other dogs that their behavior is only play
All my dogs do this, If I sneeze at them they will run to get a toy and come running back to play, it's cute as.
TIL Virgin Atlantic kept having passengers steal their popular salt and pepper shakers. Instead of removing them from the plane, they placed the words "pinched from Virgin Atlantic" at the bottom. The shakers then became dinner table conversation pieces and free advertisement
Even physical activities can help improve our cognitive abilities when combined with mental requirements. Many sports have complex rules to keep in mind and are more than simple physical exercises. Swimming, for example, is obviously a full-body workout, but it also requires mental stamina as well. Swimmers must stay mindful of their breathing techniques, stroke execution, kicks, speed and more. But if you don't consider yourself an athlete, have no fear. Creative outlets such as painting, sculpting, writing and learning a new language are also excellent ways to keep your brain active.
TIL that cats are not nocturnal or diurnal, they are crepuscular: a circadian rhythm where they are most active during dusk/dawn (low-light hours)
TIL Tommy Davidson, comedian and actor from "In Living Color," was abandoned in a pile of trash at eighteen-months-old. He was rescued and adopted by a white family
Wth 18 months!? OBVIOUSLY not saying it is EVER ok to leave a baby anywhere other than a hospital/ fire station, but jeez at 18 months, they're already walking and talking & aware enough to be scared and confused :/ I hate people sometimes
Dr. Morris states that the task itself is not as important as the commitment to it. He lists three rules of thumb to keep in mind when choosing a brain-enhancing activity. The first rule is that it must be challenging. But not everyone is required to reinvent the wheel. Dr. Morris mentions the possibility of delving deeper into an existing skill. "You don't have the challenge of learning something new," he says. "But rather the challenge of increasing your skill set and knowledge."
TIL that songwriter Joni Mitchell only released a greatest hits album, "Hits", on the condition that she released a "Misses" album to go with it
TIL “Terminal Lucidity” is the brief return of mental clarity or memory right before before death, in people who suffer from severe dementia and other neurological disorders
The next rule Dr. Morris states is that whatever task is chosen must be complex. "A complex activity not only strikes a match of excitement, but forces your brain to work on specific thought processes like problem solving and creative thinking." Don't choose anything that allows you to go on auto-pilot. Lastly, he shares a rule many of us are familiar with: practice makes perfect. "You can't improve memory if you don't work at it," says Dr. Morris. "The more time you devote to engaging your brain, the more it benefits."
TIL that the Aboriginal people of Australia have occupied the land for more than 60,000 years
While you're reading this list, remember that you're doing something good for your brain. (Perhaps this time even counts as a workout!) Don't forget to upvote your favorite interesting facts, and let us know in the comments something you recently learned!
TIL that Harry Houdini had skepticism of anything mystical and had intense anger at miracle workers, spiritualists, and mediums that preyed on vulnerable people
He was friends with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Sherlock Holmes author) but they had a falling out when Doyle tried to convert him to Spiritualism. Doyle was the one who took offense and never spoke to Houdini ever again. Not very brainy of the consulting detective's author.
TIL Queen Elizabeth has an official shoe-wearer who breaks in her shoes so they don't give her blisters
TIL in 2011 a couple from Florida turned the tables and received a judgement against Bank of America for mistakingly foreclosing the family’s home and to cover subsequent legal fees. A court issued the family a writ of execution giving them permission to seize bank assets
They are not the only ones to have turned the tides on predatory banking practices. One guy who owned his house outright was given an eviction notice, dude fought the bank in court and won. Bank ordered to pay court fees snd a fine to the home owner. After six months of attempting to get his award without success, the home owner went back to court. Judge said it was okay to seize bank assets from the local branch. Next day the home owners and sheriff went into the local branch, home owner asked to see the manager. Home owner handed the papers to the management letting the manager know he was there to collect his award signed by the courts. Manager refused to pay, home owner said, great, asked all the customers to leave and he began to assess what he would be removing from the bank. Manager had a cow, claiming the home owner had no authority, home owner turned to look at the Sheriff. Sheriff said cut a check or go home. Check cut, cashed and home owner left. I love underdog wins
TIL : Val Kilmer has lost his voice, quite literally. The only way we may hear speak again is through a computer program
Interesting. And sad. That is my worst nightmare. I love speaking so much, but somehow every time I get sick that's the first thing to go.
TIL The Mapuche of South America were one of the very tribes successfully resisting Spanish control, staying independent for over 300 years. They called the Spaniards "New Incas", because the successfully resisted the Incan Empire as well. They were only subjugated in 1883
They are still fighting though. Hopefully, In the new Constitution they will be recognised as an independent nation. Many people believe that they were never really conquered by the spanish. WALLMAPU LIBRE!
TIL, while you can go any speed on the Autobahn when indicated by signs, the recommended speed is 130 km per hour. If you are in an accident going 170 km per hour and it could have been avoided at the lesser speed, you will be automatically partially or fully faulted for the accident
And most of the Autobahn is not "as fast as you can go". There are quite a lot places where you can only go 120 or even 100. When there is a construction, it's almost always 80, unless it is 50 or 30. LOL. AND the Autobahn is NOT one very long road, but several roads. "Autobahn" is basically our word for Highway/ Freeway/ Motorway. Do you have only one Highway/ Freeway/ Motorway? I did not think so.
TIL there are at least 10 other men who left genetic legacies that rival Ghengis Khan's, and we only know the name of one of them: Giocangga, a 16th century ruler and ancestor of the Qinq Dynasty.
Am I understanding right? There are at least 10 men who sired as many children as Genghis Khan?
Not any known evidence that Giocangga raped anyone - he was not a conqueror. He had several wives, being a chieftain, which is what his numbers are related to. There is no evidence that he was a rapist.
Load More Replies... Giocangga's legacy is similar but nowhere near Genghis Khan's in numbers though, so I wouldn't say "rivals". Genghis Khan's is 16 million male descendants, Giocangga's is 1.5 million. Did find the original article, it's interesting but I am not sure how the number of 1.5m was reached from only studying 5000 people in the whole of Asia. Giocangga btw was the paternal grandfather of Nurhaci, the Khan that united the Jurchen as the Later Jin and later declared first Emperor of the Qing.
They’re not men and it isn’t a ‘genetic-legacy’. They’re derang3d males with no manhood that clearly r@p*d and had children from those r@p*s. That’s not a legacy; that’s psychopathy and lunacy on those males’ parts for behaving like rabid animals like that (a man is fair, so just like he wouldn’t want anyone to attack him in any way, then fairly, he wouldn’t attack anyone. So he wouldn’t have r@p*d, or assa*lted or k!lled or abused anyone).
I mean, sure, it is weird how most people ignore the fact that most of Genghis Khan's descendants are probably so due to rape, but Gioccanga was a king with maaaaany wives, concubines and lovers and his descendants probably spring from those relationships. It's not the same case.
Load More Replies... 
It's not how many you sire; it's how many survive over time, which is essentially random due to accidents, illness, wars etc. Go back far enough and we are all related to kings but only because they are an identifiable historical person. We are alsorelated to cartloads
Unknown exactly who. Giocangga was just the easiest to narrow down as we know some of his descendants are his descendants.
Load More Replies...
That Ghengis Khan good grief, we've got his eyes in my family. They're quite attractive really. Epicanthic fold. The doc commented on it when I had my daughter.
Well, geneticists say that everyone currently on earth is descended from one of 7 women who made it out of Africa, so...
How can we say that "there areat least 10 other men who left genetic legacies that rival Ghengis Khan's"?
Because they genetically tested 5000 men across Asia and compared their genomes for a Y-chromosome marker. Think they actually did two - at least one study found Giocangga's "genetic surname" in 3% of the people tested.
Load More Replies...
My book on Emperor Nurhaci only names Giocangga's five sons - Lindun Baturu, Erguwen, Jaikan, Taksi, and Taci Fiyanggv. Quite likely had several daughters too but book doesn't say their names. Taksi, Nurhaci's dad, had nine kids (and wasn't creative on naming his sons - I know three were Nurhaci, Xurhaci, and Murhaci), and Nurhaci had 22 kids.
Load More Replies...
Given that the Y chromosome doesn't change much from one generation to the next, is it possible that some of the descendants attributed to these men were sired by their fathers, brothers or other male relatives?
Possibly. Though then why did they state Giocangga as the starting point? It's not like we don't know his father (Fuman), his grandfather (Sibeoci Fiyanggv), or his great grandfather (Cungxan). Can't be because Giocangga was the first Jianzhou chieftain of his line because I think they all were - at least I know Fuman was and Sibeoci Fiyanggv may have been.
Load More Replies... 
Genetically you absolutely can. Some markers on the Y chromosome are pretty constant on the family line. The named guy here, Giocangga, has multiple known living relatives and it would be hardly an issue to match a sample from the 5000 in the study with a known descendant.
Load More Replies...
TIL about the Gibson Nine, an Australian aboriginal family who were still living a traditional nomadic lifestyle in the outback until 1984, when they settled in a town. The children have gone on to have successful careers as painters, although one of them later returned to the desert
Their family name is Pintupi and they are referred to as the Pintupi Nine. And what this TIL leaves out is that they had no clue that Australia had been colonised by Europeans prior to 1984 when they came across some other aboriginals - people from their own family they hadn't seen in over 30 years (due to the government "rounding up" aboriginal people in the 50s-60s). The Pintupi were just living out in the vast desert of Western Australia travelling back and forth between two lakes.
TIL in 2006, William Shatner sold a kidney stone for $25,000 to an online casino. Shatner then donated all the proceeds to charity
TIL that wearing glasses actually increases a political candidate's electoral success, despite many politicians avoiding them as they think it makes them look less attractive
TIL that 67% of all fire departments in the United States are entirely or mostly staffed by volunteers
TIL at least 33 people have died by electrocution from practicing Fractal Wood Burning
TIL in 1714 the British government offered £20K (~£2m today) to solve the longitude problem - which had cost thousands of lives due to a lack of ship positioning. John Harrison, a carpenter, took 40 years to make the perfect clock - his final version only lost 39.2 seconds over a voyage 47 days
Yeah, and once he had solved it hey prevaricated, added stupid new conditions for payment and then didn't pay him in full. Basically they were total d***s about it and sent him nuts.
TIL in the 70's and 80's, dead acidic lakes were fairly common in the US, Europe and Canada because of acid rain. The acidity in lakes killed all microbes and aquatic life, resulting in crystal clear water that allowed the lake bottom to be visible
TIL A century before Martin Luther, Jan Hus criticized the Catholic Church for selling of indulgences and church positions. Hus was invited to the Council of Constance, arrested, charged with heresy, and burned at the stake on 6 July 1415
TIL that in 2014 the state of Alabama paid $75,000 for the right to use the phrase "Sweet Home Alabama" on road signs at the state line
Hmm, could have spent the money on education, or food, or housing, but an image is just passing by at 60+ MPH.
TIL Susan Sarandon, who play a cellist named Jane in "The Witches of Eastwick", learned only after being cast that she would have to quickly learn how to play cello, and was told that she would be sued if she left the production
Jane Spofford (Susan Sarandon) plays the Dvorak cello concerto, not an easy piece for a novice cellist to play to say the least, but she nailed it.
TIL that, for 25 years, "Goodnight Moon" wasn't carried at the New York Public Library because it was hated by the children's librarian
TIL that Charles Lindbergh’s son, Charles Lindbergh Jr., was kidnapped at 20 months old. The kidnapper picked up a cash ransom for $50,000 leaving a note of the child’s location. The child was not found at the location. The child’s remains were found a month later not far from the Lindbergh’s home
Lindbergh's abduction is the reason kidnapping is a federal crime, (US).
TIL that in 1940 Hitler decided to change the name of the battle cruiser “Deutschland” to “Lützow” recognizing that the sinking of a warship was a propaganda disaster if it bore the name of its country
TIL there is another photo, taken at a different angle, of the same famous Victory Day kiss in Times Square; unlike the original, the other photograph was taken by a government photojournalist on official duty, and is thus in the public domain and not protected by copyright
Note: this post originally had 57 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
TIL that you learned the things in this post. ;-)
Load More Replies...
TIL that you learned the things in this post. ;-)
Load More Replies...